Finn Russell narrows the margin to five.

France defend the Scottish maul perfectly, first managing to stymie and then beginning to shovel it towards the touchline, forcing Ali Price into hasty action. Sam Johnson is also well managed as he hits an unders line into the inside defence.

An uncomfortable cartwheel from George Turner as French legs inadvertently take the hooker out trying to support the player carrying in front of him, but Scotland go on, and that is a moment of illegality – France off their feet, and to the posts Stuart Hogg points.

Impact from Kebble! He’s from strong South African stock but has really developed at Glasgow and helps anchor the Scotland scrum as it gets half a nudge into the French eight, the penalty awarded on the opposite side as Cyril Baille steps his left boot out and drives across at an askew angle under pressure from the advancing Zander Fagerson. A double boost for Scotland – Stuart Hogg’s back, and watches Finn Russell find the corner.

A worry for Scotland as Rory Sutherland stays down at the end of the next passage of play. Still down to 14, with a minute or so still to run on Stuart Hogg’s yellow, and they will be forced into an early change – Oli Kebble will join proceedings as Sutherland heads off with the team doctors.

With points on the mind, France might wish the penalty try was awarded as Ntamack’s conversion slides past the posts. Still, reward for a fine finish from Penaud.

Scotland win the ball back, and that’s adventurous – from all of 48 metres, or thereabouts, an attempted drop goal from Finn Russell! He has the distance, you know, but not the accuracy – a bit of a shank, in all honesty.

WHAT A TRY! This is simply magnificent from France!

Scotland again kick the ball away, deep into the French 22, where Brice Dulin claims a mark. The Scottish defence pauses, momentarily, and Dulin taps quickly, abandoning thoughts of a kick and popping beautifully for a surging Romain Ntamack to breach the line.

Possession maintained, and Virimi Vakatawa weaves like a riled black mamba, a deadly flick of the right arm to propel the ball from beneath his arm pit at real pace and allow Damian Penaud a chance to stretch his legs. Penaud chips over the last Scottish defender, who can’t help but grab a piece of his shorts as the wing sprints past him. A penalty try would have been awarded as a result, but Penaud has the calm to toe on once more and plant the ball against the floor in the in-goal. A simply scintillating French score.

Scotland clear again but space now for France. Virimi Vakatawa sends Arthur Vincent bouncing onwards, cut down impressively by Chris Harris, but not before 30 counter-attacking metres are made.

To the left, and Gael Fickou meanders with intent. A step from the right boot, springing out of a tackle and driven further onwards as teammates arrive. Momentum now, Antoine Dupont whips the ball to the right, but Scotland just about have enough bodies to quell Cyril Baille’s charge in open pasture. Left again, but Scottish hands to the ball, and French arms make contact with the neck in a bid to remove them – penalty to Scotland! A fine defensive stand in the end for the 14 men in dark blue.

That’s a lovely little grubber from Brice Dulin. He takes Price’s kick, charges into the Scottish line, bounces back to his feet, dusts himself down and threads along the diagonal inside and past Darcy Graham into the under-resourced Scotland backfield where Stuart Hogg might usually be. Graham herds the ball into touch, but Scotland will have the lineout.

Scotland take Romain Ntamack’s kick off nicely, and a brief moment of aerial ping-pong also sees the ball fall into Scottish hands. Down to 14, there is little cause for experimentation in their own half – Ali Price’s boots the ball away.

The second half has begun.