Scotland 17-23 France, Six Nations
Lamont suffers suspected broken leg
ESPNscrum Staff
February 26, 2012
Scotland's Rory Lamont is stretchered from the field, Scotland v France, Six Nations, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland, February 26, 2012
Scotland's Rory Lamont is stretchered from the field at Murrayfield with a suspected broken leg © Getty Images
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Teams: France | Scotland

Scotland wing Rory Lamont suffered a suspected broken leg in his side's 23-17 loss to France in their Six Nations clash at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Lamont was winning his 29th cap and was replaced after 30 minutes after landing awkwardly while contesting a restart. the Glasgow Warriors back was taken from the field on a stretcher, with Scotland leading 10-7. Lamont required lengthy treatment before going off, with Mike Blair (dead leg) and Greig Laidlaw (head knock) also leaving the field prematurely.

Robinson said: "We lacked a little bit of composure when Rory Lamont went off just before half-time, which allowed France back into the game."

Rugby World Cup finalists France clawed back an early 10-0 deficit and responded swiftly to going 17-13 down midway through the second half to triumph, although there were numerous positives for Scotland. Stuart Hogg and Lee Jones scored their first Test tries, Greig Laidlaw kicked five points and Duncan Weir two, but France responded with tries from Wesley Fofana and Maxime Medard, 10 points from Morgan Parra and a Lionel Beauxis drop goal.

Scotland, who lost to England and Wales earlier this month, have beaten France once in 13 attempts in Six Nations competition - in 2006 - and have now lost five successive Test matches for the first time since 2004, when they finished with the Wooden Spoon.

It is a record which will lead to further conjecture over the future of Robinson - now with two wins from 13 Six Nations fixtures in charge - but there were further illustrations of why the former England boss retains belief in his charges.

Robinson, who has a contract with the Scottish Rugby Union until after the 2015 World Cup, was asked whether he intends to remain in post or if he might resign at the end of the tournament.

"I can't hide away from what you're saying and you're right to bring it up," said Robinson of the damning statistics. I have total belief that we have the ability to win and that belief was strengthened even more today, as it was against Wales and the England game."

Robinson lamented the decision of referee Wayne Barnes to award France a second-half penalty, when the head coach believed it should have been given to the hosts for two indiscretions by visiting centre Aurelien Rougerie, who went through a ruck and to ground before kicking the ball while on the floor.

Robinson added: "I think the turning point of the game was at 17-13 and a penalty which I believe - and I have watched it - should go Scotland's way in front of the referee. It doesn't and France go and score seven points. There were two offences which we felt could have been picked up - and pretty clear as well. That was a key moment of the game. It changed the balance of it."

France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre had no complaints about Barnes' performance, but when questioned about Robinson's reaction to Medard's try, wondered about the validity of Jones' score, which came after John Barclay won the ball cleanly.

He said: "Maybe I can complain about the (Jones) try in the second half. It was so quick, for me it was a ruck and after I saw the ball it was a try. I need to watch the game again to say exactly. I found the referee very consistent. It was a very quick game with a lot of turnovers by both sides."

Saint-Andre praised the character of his side and paid tribute to Scotland's display. He added: "I'm proud of my team because it was physical, it was hard, but we didn't panic.

"Scotland were fantastic in the first 20 minutes. They played very well. They play a quick game and it was tough for us, but after the 20 minutes and after we were 10 points down we controlled the game. Second half our scrum was good, in the ruck we did very well. It's a good win, but I'm sure if Scotland carry on like this they can beat any team in the world."

France now play Ireland in a postponed game due to a frozen pitch, England and Wales in successive weeks. "It's a huge game for us next Sunday in the Stade de France, if it's not freezing," Saint-Andre said.

Medard went off midway through the second half with a knee injury and is set to undergo a scan tomorrow.

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