France 16-9 Scotland

MATCH SUMMARY France: 16 Tries: Traille Cons: Michalak Pens: Delaigue 2 Drop goals: Delaigue Scotland: 9 Pens: Paterson 3 As it happened Pictures from Paris Who won the key battles? Match statistics

Damien Traille's late try handed France a narrow win against Scotland in the opening match of the 2005 RBS Six Nations in Paris.

Three penalties from Chris Paterson had given the Scots a 9-0 lead two minutes into the second period but Yann Delaigue cut the gap to three points.

Scotland thought they had scored a try when Allister Hogg went over only for it to be ruled out for a foot in touch.

Delaigue's drop goal levelled matters before Traille went over late on.

Scotland played a limited gameplan but they executed it much more efficiently that France managed theirs for most of the match.

The French made a host of mistakes in the first half and they were little better in the second.

France often get away with playing really badly against the Celtic nations From SC Have your say on Scrum V

Scotland were first on the board through a Paterson penalty after Andy Craig had made the initial break after three minutes.

France struggled to create anything, bar one Christophe Dominici break, as the Scots controlled the first 20 minutes.

When they were handed the chance to score Delaigue, who is only third choice kicker for his club, twice missed kickable penalties.

Five minutes before the break the French fly-half declined to try his luck again and Traille took over, but his effort was even worse than Delaigue's two attempts.

Scotland are going to be absolutely gutted BBC pundit Jeremy Guscott Read our pundits' verdict

Chris Cusiter's lively break then set up a penalty chance for Paterson and he slotted a simple effort to send the Scots in 6-0 up at the break.

France launched a sustained assault at the end of the half but the Scots' defence held out and the hosts left the field with the jeers and whistles of the home crowd ringing in their ears.

Paterson slotted his third penalty two minutes after the break but was penalised for holding on when the ball went dead and Delaigue finally landed the first points of the day for France.

The French fly-half soon added a second penalty and with 25 minutes to go the hosts only trailed by three points.

That game was won by Scotland and it was terrible, terrible decisions that cost us Matt Williams Scotland coach Scotland reaction Laporte furious with players

Hogg thought he had raced over from the 10m line but was called back for a foot in touch, in which case it could only have been a stud.

France levelled at 9-9 through a Delaigue drop goal after Jon Petrie had been yellow carded and they finally went ahead with two minutes to go.

Southwell was faced by three Frenchmen as he tried to clear and when his kick was charged down Traille was on hand to power over.

Frederic Michalak converted to put a gloss on the scoreline as France escaped with a fortunate victory.

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France: P Elhorga; A Rougerie, B Liebenberg, D Traille, C Dominici; Y Delaigue, P Mignoni; S Marconnet, W Servat, P de Villiers; F Pelous (capt), J Thion; J Bonnaire, S Chabal, P Tabacco.
Replacements: S Bruno, O Milloud, G Lamboley, Y Nyanga, D Yachvili, F Michalak, L Valbon.

Scotland: C Paterson; S Danielli, A Craig, H Southwell, S Lamont; D Parks, C Cusiter; T Smith, G Bulloch (capt), G Kerr; S Grimes, S Murray; J White, A Hogg, J Petrie.
Replacements: R Russell, B Douglas, N Hines, J Dunbar, M Blair, G Ross, B Hinshelwood.

Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales).