‘We were celebrating’: Controversial TMO call denies Scotland win over France in Six Nations

France stayed in the Six Nations title hunt when it benefited from a controversial call by the Television Match Official to deny Scotland a last-second try at Murrayfield on Saturday.

France won 20-16, taking the lead only in the 71st minute.

In the last minute, Scotland gathered French ball near the French tryline and hammered away. The clock passed 80 minutes when Sam Skinner drove over the line and was tackled by Yoram Moefana and Sebastien Taofifenua. Referee Nic Berry said Skinner was held up but wanted a video check.

The ball was seen to roll off a French boot under the pile of bodies, but after four minutes of replays, TMO Brian MacNeice said there was no conclusive proof Skinner scored.

“We were celebrating in the coaches box,” Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said. “We could hear the TMO’s conversation with the referee, saying, ‘The ball was on foot then the ball was down,’ and then he changes his mind and says, ‘Stick with the on-field decision.’

“We were in control of the game and in control most of the way in tough conditions. We had to play a different way and I’m really disappointed we didn’t win the game. We felt we won the game. We saw the ball on the tryline.”

Nic Berry signals held up for the last play of the game.Credit: Getty

France celebrated rebounding from the humiliation at home inflicted by defending champion Ireland last weekend in the opening round.

Scotland, on the back of an historic first win in Cardiff in 22 years, had visions of a statement win over the French but wasted leads of 13-3 and 16-10.

The French stayed in the match despite 13 handling errors, 12 turnovers and tighthead prop Uini Atonio’s sin-binning, during which France didn’t concede a point.

Atonio’s yellow card drew a dramatic end to the first half, too.

The Scots had turned down two kickable penalties. Then Atonio was sin-binned for a no-arms tackle while defending the tryline. Scotland elected to scrum again, forcing France to send in reserve prop Dorian Aldegheri and take off wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey. But the French scrum came up trumps as Scotland’s collapsed, and Berry called halftime.

Louis Bielle-Biarrey celebrates after scoring a try.Credit: AP

France easily handled the first eight minutes of the second half a man short, but as soon as Atonio returned they lost workhorse captain and No. 8 Gregory Alldritt, who badly twisted his left leg while jackalling.

Captain Finn Russell’s fourth goalkick — he’s 100% off the tee in the first two rounds — sent Scotland 16-10 up heading into the last quarter but the home side sat back in a period when nobody took charge.

Out of nowhere, France struck. From ruck ball, 21-year-old replacement scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec’s fast, flat pass gave 20-year-old Bielle-Biarrey time to chip a crowd of Scots, burn past them, regather and score. Thomas Ramos converted for France’s first lead and added a 77th-minute penalty from a dominant maul for good measure.

Scotland had late chances. Winger Kyle Rowe reeled off a 50-meter break that was stopped by Le Garrec and then the siege of France’s tryline.

But Scotland couldn’t finish off a match it led almost until the end.

England’s Fraser Dingwall celebrates after scoring.Credit: AP

“Above all, we didn’t give up,” Alldritt said. “We managed to score after their opener, we resisted well at the end of the first half, we didn’t give up for 80 minutes. It was very hard but the ending was magnificent in terms of emotion.”

England came from behind at Twickenham to subdue Wales 16-14 in Six Nations rugby on Saturday.

With two wins from two games, England moved to the top of the standings with defending champion Ireland having a game in hand against Italy on Sunday.

A rebuilding England was down at halftime for a second straight test after Italy last weekend and managed to prevail without looking compelling.

It climbed from 14-5 behind at halftime — it was down to 13 men at one point — by controlling the second half thanks to a better kicking game, defense, and a far more experienced bench. The sustained pressure earned England a try and two penalties to get in front for the first time in the 72nd minute and comfortably stay there as Wales ran out of ideas.

AP