Here’s a match report - thank you for reading and see you soon for more. Bye for now.

So there you have it - Hogg’s insistence that Scotland were the better side for 75 minutes is surely wide of the mark - but by the same token the fact they ended up losing was not because they played badly. France did not let them play. Les Bleus are displaying an increasingly potent mixture of forward power and traditional flair along with defensive discipline instilled by Edwards. The likely Autumn Nations Cup final between England and France should be great to watch.

On the subject of French players being released back to their clubs, rather than featuring for France against Italy next week, Shaun Edwards diplomatically responds: “I’ll just concentrate on trying to get the squad I’ve got together, and I’ll let the powers sort that out.”

Jill Douglas puts it Shaun Edwards, France’s defence coach, that they showed maturity today: “I totally agree with that,” he responds. “I just said that to our backs in there. I thought it was a very mature performance against a very good Scotland team. All the way through the game, I thought the match was in doubt ... we were quite resilient ... we made a few adjustments to our defence this week, and credit must go to Fabien Galthié because it was his idea, and it certainly worked.

“[It was about] patience in the kicking battle - people don’t realise at home how wet the ball was, how incredibly slippy it was out there. We had one bit of magic from a scrum, it was a marvellous try wasn’t it? It was a joy to see.”

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend speaks to Amazon: “It was a bit of an arm-wrestle, we never got ahead on the scoreboard, a lot of times we came back ... first half tactically we were very good, but second half after they scored that try we were up against it.”

“Around the penalty count ... you can get so much from a penalty, field position or three points, and they certainly did that today, they kicked all their goals.

“The players are down. I’ve said to them, you learn in defeat. The effort was outstanding ... the character to come back and create an opportunity [Hogg’s late penalty kick for touch] ... that was a credit to the players.”

The Scotland captain Stuart Hogg speaks: “For 75 mins we were probably the better team ... we slipped up for 30 seconds [after half-time] and they scored a try, so that’s frustrating ... but we didn’t turn rubbish overnight. We’ll go back to the drawing board.

On the late, missed kick for the corner: “I made a mistake, I’ll take it on the chin, I am old enough and ugly enough to know that, I don’t need people to tell me.

“We talked about being patient and backing our kicking game ... we got ourselves into some good positions. We’ll get back on the horse and go again.”

On the France try by Vakatawa, Barclay adds: “They’ve defended the player, not the play ... It was about Dupont’s reputation.”

John Barclay speaks: “Scotland couldn’t get anything going today ... there was no continuity, they couldn’t create anything, there was no cutting edge to their game and that is unusual for a Gregor Townsend team.”

Habana adds: “Scotland’s execution and their decision-making wasn’t there. They struggled to get going. When they got opportunities it was epitomised by that kick by Hogg at the end. Their precision was not good enough.”

Today’s man of the match Vakatawa speaks to Amazon Prime, and is asked if he’s happy with the result: “Absolutely, we are so happy for the win today, we’ve been working so hard for the last few weeks and we’re so happy to get the win ... it’s a good feeling.

“We know it’s going to be tough coming here, we stuck to our game plan, and we managed to score the try. It was teamwork.”

VICTOIRE! - France’s first at Murrayfield since 2014

80 min + 2: Scotland attack from their own half. Hogg makes a strong burst. He is tackled ... and Scotland get a penalty ... Hogg chooses to kick for the corner but misses touch! It’s over!

79 min: Scotland have the ball in France’s half and are searching for the converted score which would secure a draw. They move forward slowly with some strong carries but then they are penalised for crossing - and France can clear as the final few seconds tick away. But now Scotland have a scrum! Just when it looked like France were about to close it out.

77 min: Ritchie gives away another penalty for not rolling away. Ramos tries to kick it from 54 metres. It falls short.

75 min: Fickou tries to shepherd a good, searching kick by Stuart Hogg safely out in the corner. He gets pushed in the back by Duhan Van der Merwe and out into touch, and it looks a clear penalty, but Barnes gives the line-out to Scotland. In the resulting phase of play Scotland are penalised for a push in the face by Jamie Ritchie. Meanwhile, France still lead by seven points, and we are inside the final five minutes, so Scotland have to find something from somewhere.

72 min: The French No 8 Alldritt runs into contact in the Scottish half and is absolutely marmalised by a huge, textbook hit from George Turner who has just come on. He goes low and drives Alldritt back, which takes some doing. Scotland, in turn, celebrate that big tackle ... then they win a penalty at the resulting scrum.

70 min: Scotland have a scrum. It collapses, and France win the penalty. They celebrate passionately as a result. Gregor Townsend is looking increasingly concerned up in the stands. Bhatti, who has just come on, was penalised by Barnes there. “Let’s face it, no-one knows anything about scrummaging,” I think the Amazon co-commentator just said.

68 min: George Turner, Jamie Bhatti and Sam Skinner are all on for Scotland now.

Meanwhile, emails about anthems ...

Peter Webster: “Don’t write off the Irish anthem. Not the sterilised and politically correct Ireland’s Call but Amhrán na bhFiann – particularly relevant given the events in Croke Park 100 years ago.”

While Christopher Foley takes a different view:

“I’m Irish and have no love for either Amhrán na bhFiann or the risible Ireland’s Call. The two anthems that get my blood pumping are the French, and the Russian, preferably performed by the Red Army Choir.”

67 min: Here’s that France try via Amazon’s Twitter feed:

60 min: Safe to say that Scotland are looking increasingly stretched. The French pack are starting to beat up their opponents, entirely legally that is, and that is creating space for the back line. Stuart Hogg pulls off a superb rip after France nearly get over the line in the left-hand corner. But it’s taken back for another penalty to Les Bleus ...

56 min: Mohamed Haouas, who was sent off here in March, now comes on. France then rumble a driving maul many metres into the Scottish half. The power in the French pack seems to be starting to tell. Vakatawa makes a dart for the line, passing up some options outside him, and he’s tackled very well by Weir. Then Fickou has a go, but like Vakatawa he is repelled, and Jalibert hoists up a high crossfield kick which he thinks is a free hit - but Barnes had called the advantage over.

53 min: Scotland try to make inroads in midfield. France hold firm. Cyril Baille and Julien Marchand are on for France. Chat goes off along with Gros. France have a put-in at the scrum around halfway in a central position and Marchand makes an immediate impression having come on in the front row.

52 min: France have a line-out in a handy spot, in the Scottish half, but it’s over-thrown by Chat and Scotland stream back down the pitch with a flowing attack. But then the ball is knocked on by Scottish hands and it will be a put-in for France in their own half, on their own 22.

50 min: An email from David Rea, entitled “Best National Anthem.” It’s a fair call:

“I’m Scottish, but surely the Welsh one, sung en-masse, outstrips them all?”

48 min: Vakatawa pops up on the right wing for France now, and clips a smart little grubber kick infield, where the Scottish No 8 Matt Fagerson is on hand to tidy it up.

41 min: France have an early scrum put-in after the restart.

During half-time analysis, some surprise was being expressed that France opted to kick that last first-half penalty for touch rather than take the three points. But I don’t agree - France even got over the try line, and were unlucky not to get the five points to reward their positive decision.

40 min + 1: France well on top in the scrum. They win a penalty at the latest set piece and then have a free attack with the advantage played by the referee Barnes. It’s brought back for the penalty, France kick for the corner on the instruction of Galthié, and will try and drive a maul over at the end of this first half. It takes about four men to bring down Camille Chat as he tries to bash over in the corner following the line-out ... then France go again, they get over the try line, but Barnes says it’s held up! No try.

40 min: Chat smashes into contact with Jonny Gray in the Scottish half. He puts his right arm out to brace for contact rather than to cause any damage to the tackler. Wayne Barnes looks at multiple replays after being alerted to the incident by the TMO, and decides it is fine. Chat looks a little concerned as he awaits his fate - but it’s all good. Scrum for France for a knock-on.

35 min: France shove Scotland back at the scrum, but then their No 8 Alldritt fails to control things at the base, and the ball squirts out of the side of the scrum, where Scotland manage to claim it on the floor. A touch of good fortune for the hosts after that mistake with the kick by Kinghorn.

33 min: We’ve now had two scrums in the space of three minutes, the first coming from a knock-on after Scotland’s restart. Scotland surge down the left, but France manage to turn it over with some strong counter-rucking. Kinghorn has a chance to kick, but sends a booming effort too long, into touch at the French end beyond the in-goal area, and Les Bleus will have an attacking scrum as a result.

27 min: Rain is falling now although it doesn’t look to be a serious deluge. There is another attacking platform for Scotland, who win a penalty, again for the tackler not rolling away. Barnes is being very strict on this and consistent with both teams. Weir can kick another penalty from infront of the posts ...

22 min: Now the hooker Fraser Brown is pinged by Barnes for not rolling away after a tackle. France kick the penalty for touch and have an attacking line-out just outside the 22.

19 min: More ball in hand for Scotland, around halfway. France rush up in defence. They are penalised by referee Barnes as Camille Chat tries to affect a turnover with Alldritt lying all across the tackle area. Barnes communicates with the French players in their native tongue and explains his decision.

It’s looking pretty good so far, Guy.

15 min: For the first time, Scotland have a sustained spell of possession and territory following a superb touch-finder which pins France back. Scotland win a penalty with Demba Bamba going offside and the captain Hogg points for the posts.

13 min: France threaten again. The wing Vincent Rattez flies down the left wing and tries a flamboyant offload to the scrum-half Dupont, who as always is running a good support line. But it doesn’t come off. Still, every time France have the ball in hand, they look dangerous. Up in the stands, Gregor Townsend is wearing a slightly concerned expression.

9 min: France come again after winning a penalty for obstruction. They battle into the Scottish 22, with Camille Chat and Grégory Alldritt both carrying powerfully. And Vakatawa thinks he’s in at the corner after a lovely little kick by Fickou! Barnes thinks no try ... let’s see.

No try! Vakatawa tried to get his hands on the ball over the try line, but Blair Kinghorn was there to challenge him and it’s no try - but France do now have a penalty for Scotland going offside.

6 min: A chance for Scotland to build some phases of possession for the first time. They keep the ball for a few phases around halfway. Barnes tells them to use it - so Ali Price, the scrum-half, puts a box kick towards the right-hand corner which France manage to deal with. Jalibert then cannons a superb clearing touch-finder nearly 50 metres from the in-goal area.

3 min: France looking good already. Vakatawa, having already made one good break, is now on the crash ball in the Scottish 22. France win a penalty for not rolling away after three Scottish defenders try to smash Vakatawa.

‘La Marseillaise’, which is obviously the best national anthem in the world, followed by ‘Flower of Scotland’, which is up there too. And we are ready to go.

The teams are in the tunnel and we’re less than 10 minutes away from kick-off.

France, in fact, are out on the pitch a good couple of minutes before Scotland. Hogg now leads his side out on to the pitch - he’s in no rush, and sends an intimidating stare in France’s direction as he walks on to the pitch. You get the feeling that even with the lack of fans, this could be another highly-charged encounter following that lively bust-up back in March.

Scotland fans and France fans - what are your expectations, hopes, dreams for this one? You can email me here.

The weather is bright, cold and a bit breezy up in Scotland - and they’ve just had a spot of rain. It doesn’t look likely to be a heavy downpour though. Here’s hoping for a feast of free-flowing, attacking rugby. These teams are certainly capable of it.

Back in March, just before the Covid-19 lockdown, Scotland beat France here in a spicy encounter as Mohamed Haouas was sent off for punching Jamie Ritchie.

Here are some more thoughts from Scotland captain Hogg, speaking yesterday, looking back on that match:

“They were playing high in confidence, they had played some very, very good rugby. Even when they played against us they played some very good rugby. But we shut them down, we fronted up, we hustled well in our defence and we got ourselves into some good positions in attack.

“I’ve read a fair bit this week and all they were kind of talking about is the fact that the red card changed the game. Have you ever seen a French team rattled like that before? We fronted up, we got in their faces and got stuck into them and I don’t think they’d ever come across anything like that. So tomorrow we need to be doing the exact same

“We can’t change what’s happened. What’s been written has been written. We believe in ourselves, we believe in our own ability to front up in defence and knock teams backwards. We spend a lot of time in the tackle, we spend a lot of time working on our defence because that’s what wins you Test matches. And it’s all about having that clinical edge in attack as well.”

The Scotland coach Gregor Townsend speaks to Amazon: “We were disappointed to hear that our final game [against Fiji] will be called off ... but we were focusing on this game ... France are so full of confidence just now that we’ll have to be our best to win. We have to make sure we don’t give France any easy opportunities. They’ve been pragmatic this year, they’ve looked for counterattack ball ... we need to ‘look after’ two or three individuals.”

Betsen gives his thoughts on Jalibert, the 22-year-old France fly-half: “He needs to stand out today ... he shows great leadership playing for Bordeaux ... today he is going to start as first-choice and he has to show his progressing talent ... he’s a bit arrogant, and he needs to control that energy.”

John Barclay speaking on Amazon about how this Scottish side is shaping up: “When Gregor Townsend came in there was a clear plan to make Scotland very attacking, a global force, and it worked for a while ... but before the World Cup it was clear we needed to make our defence better, our kick-chase better ... but now they’re starting to understand that you don’t need to score five or six tries, it’s winning matches that’s important.”

As I mentioned, Scotland captain Stuart Hogg is planning to take it to France today:

“We are aware of what’s potentially on the line,” he said. “But we’re focusing on the first 20 minutes. We’ll take it quarter by quarter. We can’t look too far ahead or else we’ll slip up. We need to be there from minute one. Hopefully the French will tire and we can really take the game to them. We have to be in a position to keep going after them time and time again and not get bored of it.”

Amazon have drafted in some big guns for pundit duty: Bryan Habana, Serge Betsen and John Barclay.

“Jonny May’s [second] try was average,” jokes Barclay as the panel discuss that England win against Ireland yesterday.

“The back row were immense. Underhill was immense. Their rush defence was really positive,” adds Betsen.

If you missed it, Wales scored a much-needed win against Georgia in Llanelli last night. Louis Rees-Zammit of Gloucester scored a try on his debut and James Botham, grandson of Ian, had a very impressive game at No 6. Here is Paul Rees’ match report: