John Barclay was sin-binned tonight It was a grim night for the U21s as the most experienced side Scotland have ever fielded at that level went down 37-0 to their French counterparts at Falkirk Stadium.
An uninspired display meant the visitors never had to rise above the mundane to cruise to victory.

France movedf into a 6-0 lead with an early drop goal from Lionel Beauxis followed by a penalty by the same player when the Scots made their own trouble as two men went to the sin bin within 90 seconds of one other.

First Ryan Grant pulled down a maul; then Glasgow Warriors' John Barclay followed him off for killing the ball on his line.

From that penalty, France worked a blind-side try for Maxime Medard - with Beauxis converting.

Then full-back Iain Kennedy chipped ahead only for France to pocket the ball and run through the Scottish defence, with Florian Denos touching down.

No sooner were Scotland back to full strength than another kick ahead was run back, with Arnaud Mignardi touching down at the posts for Beauxis to convert to see France go in 25-0 ahead at half-time.

The Scots at least managed to occupy French territory for the bulk of an insipid third quarter.

The final stages were little better. But Loic Jacquet did get over for France's fourth try, and Fulgence Ouedraogo closed the night with the fifth - which Beauxis converted.

Scotland coach Iain Paxton said: "We gave them 19 points from our mistakes while we had two men off the field - very annoying."

This article was posted on 4-Feb-2006, 09:07 by Hugh Barrow.