Chalmers urges Scotland to learn French lessons as England await

Craig Chalmers has warned Scotland against becoming consumed with anger over the manner of their dramatic Six Nations defeat by France.

Chalmers, a former Scotland fly-half, was as frustrated as any home fan at Murrayfield last Saturday when referee Nic Berry and television match official Brian MacNeice decided they had insufficient video evidence to award the Scots what would have been a match-winning try as replacement Sam Skinner appeared to ground the ball on the line in the last play of the game.

Berry had initially signalled no try on the field and, after a lengthy discussion with MacNeice, ruled there was not enough conclusive evidence to overturn that decision.

As a result, France clung on to win 20-16, ending any hopes of a Scotland Grand Slam following their opening 27-26 defeat of Wales.

“I just don’t understand how the referee didn’t see it,” said Chalmers, speaking to promote Prostate Cancer UK’s Big Golf Race.

The BBC reported Tuesday the Scottish Rugby Union had written to World Rugby asking the 15-a-side code’s global governing body to publicly acknowledge the officials had made a game-changing mistake.

But Chalmers insisted lingering resentment should not obscure how Scotland could have kicked for points when on top against France, rather than going in search of tries.

“It’s frustrating because Saturday was a game we should have won but the players and coaches have to get over it now,” said the 55-year-old.

He added: “I think we should have taken our points at times, especially at the end of the first half, just get the three points over the bar and keep the scoreboard ticking…You’ve got to do that at this level, especially when France are missing their two talisman players at half-back, (Antoine) Dupont and (Romain) Ntamack.”

Scotland, however, have lost just one of their last six meetings against England and Chalmers said they had reason to be confident of another Calcutta Cup success at Murrayfield on February 24, when the Six Nations resumes after a rest week.

“We’ve just got to try and focus on England and winning that one because we can still win a Triple Crown and the Championship,” insisted Chalmers.

“England have become a team we like beating over the last five or six years, and I don’t think this year should be any different.”

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AFP

(NAMPA / AFP)