Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has said his side didn’t get the rub of the green in their 35-16 defeat to France in Paris on Saturday.
Victory handed France the Six Nations title but Scotland provided a tough test for Les Bleus at the Stade de France.
However, the hosts proved too slick in key moments as Scotland finished fourth in the standings.
“We asked the players to deliver a performance of effort and physicality and they did that,” Townsend told ITV.
“Our forwards played outstanding rugby at times, really fronted up.
“We didn’t get the breaks, the bad luck before half-time [with a disallowed try] and then a mistake and they scored just after half time. We were in that game for a lot of it.
“We were a bum cheek away from converting in the first half when Blair Kinghorn was just in touch and they are a very good defence. You need to have patience and accuracy and that was little bit missing today.”
France hooker Peato Mauvaka was sent to the sin bin for head-on-head contact with Scotland scrum-half Ben White during a scuffle, but Townsend wouldn’t be drawn on if he thought it should have been upgraded to a red card.
“These things can be decisive as we know. I am just proud the team fronted up tonight and even at the end to deny France another try, a maul try, they were very aggressive.”
– Overreactions: Marcus Smith cements fullback spot? Ireland need reset?
– Tom Hamilton from Twickenham: England do Italian job, keep title hopes
– Who could replace Warren Gatland as Wales head coach?
– WATCH: Relive some of Six Nations’ classic games
– Six Nations and Women’s Six Nations: Full fixture list