Key To Scotland’s Rampant Win Over France Was Fast Start, Says Kyle Steyn

Kyle Steyn said nan cardinal to his side’s stunning 50-40 Six Nations victory complete France connected Saturday was striking first. The 32-year-old was named man of nan lucifer aft he and his chap helping Darcy Graham scored 2 tries each successful a lucifer they really led 47-14 astatine 1 point.

That would person been a grounds Scottish triumph complete France but alternatively Steyn and his teammates had to settee for a highest ever people aft outscoring France by 7 tries to six.

“I deliberation we knew you couldn’t travel and effort to incorporate them, you had to occurrence shots astatine them,” Steyn told nan BBC. “You conscionable knew it was going to beryllium a awesome day. It was each astir making judge we fired nan first shot. I was much worried astir really overmuch we were celebrating, we needed to get our feet connected nan crushed and support going.”

The Scotland caput coach, Gregor Townsend, paid tribute to his players, saying that “painful moments and defeat” had inspired nan rampant Scots, who produced 1 of their greatest-ever performances to rustle Fabien Galthié’s squad away.

He told BBC One: “It was a superb day, superb time for our supporters. Not conscionable nan rugby we played, but nan mindset to support attacking, a batch of teams would beryllium connected that lead against France. We cognize nan champion measurement of winning is playing for illustration what sewage america that occurrence successful nan first half. I believed successful nan team.

“Our crippled is built to put immoderate of our champion onslaught players successful nan crippled into abstraction and they built shape aft shape and grew successful confidence. You request achy moments and conclusion to make you nan squad you’re going to be. Italy is portion of nan journey.”

Despite their chastening afternoon, France earned a try-bonus constituent that kept them connected apical of nan array pinch a immense points quality advantage complete Scotland earlier nan last information of matches adjacent Saturday. Scotland recreation to Ireland, who tin besides still triumph nan title, pinch France hosting England. France and Scotland some person 16 points to Ireland’s 14.

The France fastener Charles Ollivon bemoaned his team’s sick discipline. “It conscionable sewage distant from us. A batch of indiscipline, not capable commitment,” he told nan French transmission TF1. “Now it’s done, it’s down us. We person to beryllium capable to move backmost connected this coming week. We person to get complete it and commencement again from a coagulated guidelines to spell aft nan title adjacent week.” To that end, nan prize constituent was crucial.

“That was nan aim, to people 4 tries. We managed to do that successful nan 2nd half to support our destiny successful our ain hands.”