Unbeaten visitors earn stunning six-try win

France effectively ended Scotland's Six Nations hopes and maintained their own Grand Slam ambitions with a bonus-point victory at Murrayfield.

The French crossed twice in the first 13 minutes, and they would never give up their lead.

Scotland responded admirably, and were within two points thanks toRory Darge's debut try, but went in at the break nine in arrears after a missed chance by the hosts.

The French were punished for their profligacy when Jonathan Danty benefited from a fortuitous bounce and Damian Penaud scored twice in the second half to put the dominant French out of sight.

Scotland will travel to Italy knowing they are playing for little more than pride after another campaign of what ifs and maybes, while France will travel to Wales with a first title in 12 years in their sights.

• Reaction & as it happened

France came to Edinburgh with a bad history and a string of defeats to avenge. The defeat of the Irish a fortnight ago was proof that this incarnation of Les Bleus was different from the flaky versions that preceded it.

They were ruthless. A powerhouse but also a beauty. Scotland is staring down the barrel of a disappointing season because they were too clinical.

In the first half, the Scots had two chances but failed to take them. In Paris, Murrayfield's angst would have been heard. They made too many mistakes but they were seized upon by the visitors.

Scotland has not suffered a Six Nations beating of this magnitude in a long time. While the game was still alive, they were frustrated by France's breakdown and their own ability to look after the ball.

The French won easily. Too much strength, too much strength, too much strength. You would back them for a Grand Slam now.

France took only eight minutes to lead and it was that wee magician who sparked it, gathering Finn Russell's aimless grabber and scampering away downfield. The hooker gave the scoring pass to the lock and it was vicious.

It was a dream start for France. France scored their second try after Russell got a penalty, even though he was poor again. It was a corker.

France went to the right after attacking the left. Scotland tried to scramble, but couldn't, not when Penaud offloaded to big Cyril Baille and not when Baille sucked in a posse of defenders before popping it to Moefana for the score. When your props are capable of being subtle, then you are in business.

Scotland got going. They got the ball midway through the first half. Ali Price appeared to have found his way over. Fagerson appeared to get it done in the next wave. We came for a penalty. A scrum and over went Darge. Russell made it 12-10). One of the bright sparks was Darge.

Scotland had a period to make hay. They failed. When a pass to hand might have seen the wing thunder away to the line, Nick Haining threw a pass behind Van der Merwe.

Van der Merwe attacked himself, cutting through the French and eating up ground. Chris Harris supported him. Harris threw a pass to Hogg. Scotland might have scored if Hogg had held it. He dropped it as he stretched.

Their own ill-discipline at scrum and lineout gave France a platform to attack just before the break and Fickou finished with aplomb. The French are showing what ruthlessness looks like.

The Scots got worse. Price was mugged early in the new half while he was in attack. Danty was over when Fickou and Penaud kicked through a counter. The conversion made it 26-10). France got a bonus point.

Scotland continued to suffer. They had a lineout five metres from the French line. They had another lineout from the same range. They made it stick when France had a chance. Scotland were stretched and Penaud galloped away to score. It was very bad.

Not content with their work, France added a sixth score late on when Romain Ntamack spotted the narrowness of Scotland's defence. Had he wanted to, he could have moonwalked his way over.

Blair Kinghorn broke and set up Van der Merwe. It did not cut it as a damage-limitation exercise. This was a sad day for the Scots. A slap in the face with a wet kipper.

France's rise looks inexorable. Good luck to Wales and England.

Teams

Scotland: 15-Hogg (capt); 14-Graham, 13-Harris, 12-Tuipulotu, 11-Van der Merwe, 10-Russell, 9-Price, 1-Schoeman, 2-McInally, 3-Z.Fagerson, 4-Skinner, 5-Gilchrist

Replacements: 16-Turner, 17-Kebble, 18-Nel, 19-Hodgson, 20-Christie, 21-White, 22-Kinghorn, and 23-Bennett.

France: 15-Jamient, 14-Penaud, 13-Fickou, 12-Danty, 11-Moefana, 10-Ntamack, 9-Dupont (capt), 1-Baille, 2-Marchand, 3-Atonio, 4-Woki, 5-Willemse.

Replacements: 16-Mauvaka, 17-Gros, 18-Bamba, 19- Taofifenua, 20-Flament, 21-Cretin, 22-Lucu and 23-Ramos.

The referee is from England.

Chris Busby (Ireland) is a touch judge.

Tom Foley is from Ireland.