Scotland 20 lost to France 22
Internationals 1997 | ||||||||
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Match URL | www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/3071 | |||||||
Status | Completed | |||||||
Date | Wednesday, 9th July, 1997 | |||||||
Referee | Thierry Alibert | |||||||
Venue | Firhill (Glasgow) | |||||||
Crowd | 2,233 | |||||||
Match Stats | ||||||||
Halftime Score | 10 | – | 12 | |||||
Penalties | 3 | – | 4 | |||||
Scotland | Scoresheet | France | ||||||
Gary CHRISTIE | T | Frederic BANQUET | ||||||
Matt CROWTHER | Fabien DEVECCHI | |||||||
Stuart McCARTHY | Arnaud DULAC | |||||||
Danny RUSSELL | Jérôme GUISSET | |||||||
Matt CROWTHER | 2 | G | 3 | Eric VERGNIOL | ||||
Scotland | Teams | France | ||||||
Nick MARDON [London] |
1 | FB | 1 | Benoit BOURREL | ||||
Stuart McCARTHY | 2 | W | 2 | Frederic BANQUET [Wakefield] |
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Matt CROWTHER [Sheffield] |
3 | C | 3 | Arnaud DULAC | ||||
Jim McLAREN [Wakefield] |
4 | C | 4 | Eric VERGNIOL | ||||
Gary CHRISTIE [Bradford] |
5 | W | 5 | Regis PASTRE-COURTINE [Keighley] |
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Phil VEIVERS [Huddersfield] |
6 | FE | 6 | Jean-Marc GARCIA (c) [Sheffield] |
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John DUFFY [Warrington] |
7 | HB | 7 | Fabien DEVECCHI [Paris St Germain] |
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Jon NEILL [Huddersfield] |
8 | FR | 8 | Frederic TEIXIDO [Paris St Germain] |
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Danny RUSSELL (c) [Huddersfield] |
9 | HK | 9 | Stephane TENA | ||||
Dale LAUGHTON [Sheffield] |
10 | FR | 10 | Didier CABESTANY [Paris St Germain] |
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Glenn BELL [Dewsbury] |
11 | 2R | 11 | Jacques PECH | ||||
Paul CARR [Sheffield] |
12 | 2R | 12 | Gael TALLEC [Wigan] |
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PJ SOLOMON [Lancashire] |
13 | L | 13 | Pierre CHAMORIN [Paris St Germain] |
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Iain HIGGINS [London] |
14 | B | 14 | Laurent CAMBRES | ||||
Mike DIXON [Hull] |
15 | B | 15 | Abderazak EL KHALOUKI [Paris St Germain] |
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Danny McKELVIE [Dewsbury] |
16 | B | 16 | Jérôme GUISSET | ||||
Andrew DUNCAN [London] |
17 | B | 17 | Bruno VERGES | ||||
George FAIRBAIRN | HC | Ivan GRÉSÈQUE | ||||||
Team Info
Scotland
- Previous Game:
- [no comp] - vs. Ireland
- Next Game:
- European Tri Nations Championship 1998 - Game 1 vs. France
- Out:
- Alan Tait (fullback), Graham Thompson (wing), Darrall Shelford (centre), Jimmy Cowan (wing), Mark Keenan (halfback), Billy Gamba (front row), Martin Ketteridge (front row), Darren Shaw (second row), Lee Milner (second row), Sean Cusack (lock), Scott Gilmour (bench), Jason Syme (bench), Gary Murdock (bench), Alasdair Blee (bench)
- In:
- Stuart McCarthy (wing), Jim McLaren (centre), Gary Christie (wing), Phil Veivers (five-eighth), John Duffy (halfback), Jon Neill (front row), Dale Laughton (front row), Glenn Bell (second row), Paul Carr (second row), PJ Solomon (lock), Iain Higgins (bench), Mike Dixon (bench), Danny McKelvie (bench), Andrew Duncan (bench)
- Changes:
- Nick Mardon (centre to fullback), Matt Crowther (five-eighth to centre)
France
- Previous Game:
- Internationals 1997 - Game 1 vs. Ireland
- Next Game:
- Internationals 1997 - vs. South Africa
- Out:
- Laurent Lucchese (fullback), Patrick Torreilles (hooker), Jason Sands (front row), Pascal Jampy (lock), Hadji Boudebza (bench)
- In:
- Regis Pastre-Courtine (wing), Stephane Tena (hooker), Pierre Chamorin (lock), Laurent Cambres (bench), Abderazak El Khalouki (bench)
- Changes:
- Bruno Verges (wing to bench), Benoit Bourrel (bench to fullback), Frederic Teixido (bench to front row)
Match Notes
French referee Thierry Alibert was at the centre of controversy, after awarding a try to France, that cruelly snatched the victory away from Scotland. He allowed Arnaud Dulac to score the match winning try, with just seconds remaining on the game clock, after a most blatant knock-on. Referees' Director Greg McCallum, who was at the game, said, "An obvious error took place which changed the outcome of the game. The touch judge clearly indicated an infringement, but in a moment of excitement, the referee decided to go with his own instincts. The guy's distraught about it and realises that he has made a mistake."
Scotland had the better of the early exchanges, but failed to convert this into any points and it was France who were first on the scoreboard when Frederic Banquet went over, under the posts in the 17th minute, after an Arnaud Dulac break down the right wing. Scotland hit back almost immediately, with two tries, form Danny Russell and Gary Christie, but right on the stroke of halftime, substitute Jerome Guisset scored, to give the French a 12-10 lead at the break.
When Fabien Devecchi went over, just after the re-start, to extend the French lead to 18-10, they seemed to be taking control, but the Scots were not finished. First Stuart McCarthy crossed and then, with just ten minutes to go, Matt Crowther also went over and put Scotland 20-18 in front. Then came Dulac's dubious try, which gave the French the victory at 22-20.
Scotland's coach George Fairbairn said after the game, "The guys are all gutted about it and I am gutted for them. They had come back so well after a mediocre first half. The way the guys played for each other, after only getting together for the first time yesterday, was really impressive." The history books will show this as a win for France, but the moral victory was certainly with Scotland.
This match is a part of the following:
Contributions:
Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson