Scotland beat France 29-18 Sunday to help its bitter rival England win its first Six Nations title since 2011. Having won the title with a game to spare, England can clinch its first Grand Slam since 2003 — the year it won the World Cup — by beating France in Paris next weekend to make it five wins out of five. England has been transformed under Australian coach Eddie Jones, who took charge following England's shambolic World Cup campaign, where it failed to get out of the pool stage. At Murrayfield, fullback Stuart Hogg and center Duncan Taylor scored first-half tries for Scotland, while France hooker Guilhem Guirado and center Gael Fickou also crossed for tries as the Scots led 18-12 at the break. After France pulled back to 21-18 and looked like it was getting on top physically, Hogg thrilled the home fans at Murrayfield with a brilliant piece of opportunism as he jumped up to meet a pass and flicked it over his head to left winger Tim Visser. Scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw slotted over another penalty to put the lackluster French out of sight with five minutes left. Although Fickou thought he had his second try moments later, it was ruled out for a forward pass from replacement scrumhalf Sebastien Bezy. "We're delighted to finally get that win against France, it's 10 years that we've been waiting for," Hogg said on French television. "Credit to France, they came over with a massive pack, but it comes down to taking your opportunities." Guirado followed up his late try in the 19-10 loss to Wales last month with one in the fifth minute. He started and finished the move, as France wingers Virimi Vakatawa and Wesley Fofana combined to work the ball to the right flank, where Guirado showed some decent running skills to power through. "We might have started the game too well, perhaps we all wanted to congratulate each other rather than staying focused," France coach Guy Noves said. "But we made far too mistakes and when you do that, little by little, your opponent gets back in the game." Recalled flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc missed the conversion and fluffed a penalty from 35 meters. France was made to pay for those five wasted points as Laidlaw slotted over two penalties in quick succession to put the Scots ahead, before Hogg showed his pace and skill to finish off a phase of Scottish pressure in the 33rd minute. Flanker Pete Horne and lock Richie Gray broke through tackles, the ball was recycled to Hogg and he sidestepped inside Fickou before stretching his right hand just over the line. Laidlaw's penalty drifted wide. Taylor's try came three minutes later. Vakatawa missed a routine tackle as Taylor wriggled through and lock Alexandre Flanquart failed to pull him down as he sprinted down the right. Laidlaw nailed the conversion from wide right, even if it was much more difficult, making it 18-5 and moving England closer to the Six Nations title. But Fickou gave the French hope on the stroke of halftime following a line-out drive. Scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud moved the ball quickly to the left, and Fickou spotted a gap and surged through. France changed kickers and Machenaud slotted over. But Hogg showed he can kick as well as run, booting over a huge kick from 55 meters seven minutes into the second half, although Machenaud's effort canceled that out. With Scotland leading 21-15 10 minutes into the second half, France cranked up the pressure. But Guirado decided against kicking for points and appeared to go against team orders by choosing an attacking lineout. The same initiative led to fullback Maxime Medard's winning try in the 10-9 win against Ireland, but failed this time. France got another penalty straight away and Machenaud landed it to pull France within three points as the Scots began to tire. The French, however, struggled to turn its possession into anything other than minimal territorial gains and Hogg showed the way with an instinctive piece of magic. Scotland moved above France and into third place, with both sides winning two matches. Scotland ends its Six Nations at Ireland next weekend, while France will look to ruin England's Grand Slam party plans.
