After frustrating defeats by Wales and England in the opening two weeks of the Six Nations, France took advantage of a weakened Scotland team to clinch their first win of this year's campaign.

France crossed the line three times in the first half, but had two of those tries ruled out by the TMO for knock-ons. The lone legal try of the first half came from Romain Ntamack, who scored his first international try after a flowing French move of the highest quality.

Scotland, shorn of key playmakers Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg due to injury, were struggling to make inroads in French territory, and they could not even take advantage of France being reduced to 14 men when Yoann Huget was yellow-carded in the 28th minute. Greig Laidlaw did convert one penalty to become the second highest points scorer ever for Scotland, but he also clattered the post with a straightforward effort in a lacklustre first half for the visitors.

It took barely a minute of the second half for Huget to punish Scotland and make amends for his earlier spell in the sin bin, darting over the line from close range after another scintillating French move.

France delivered the final blow in the last five minutes, pushing over from a five-metre scrum with substitute Gregory Alldritt touching down. Scotland did strike back very quickly with a try of their own from Ali Price, but it was too little, too late in terms of the outcome.

There was time, though, for a fascinating finish as both teams went in search of a bonus point. France were again denied a try by the TMO as Alldritt came up just short of the line, but he was not to be stopped from the resulting scrum, with his second try of the match clinching a four-try bonus point for the French.

The result means Scotland's wait for a win in Paris will extend beyond 20 years, with their last victory there coming in the final Five Nations season of 1999.