Six Nations: Scotland boss Gregor Townsend left frustrated by two-week wait 'to put things right' as Chris Harris update given

Gregor Townsend cut a frustrated figure as he faced up to the end of Scotland’s Six Nations title challenge with two rounds of fixtures still to be played.

The 36-17 home defeat by Grand Slam-chasing France leaves the Scots fourth in the table, nine points behind the leaders and five adrift of England, the team they beat on the opening weekend.

Compounding the coach’s vexation is the fact that he and his squad will have to wait two weeks before they can try to return to winning ways.

There are no fixtures next weekend and Scotland will return to action on March 12 when they take on Italy in Rome before rounding off the campaign against Ireland in Dublin seven days later.

“I think we’d all like to play France tomorrow and get another opportunity to put things right,” said Townsend who is presiding over his fifth Six Nations campaign as Scotland head coach.

“Italy will be a different game, a different opponent and we’ll have a different team I would imagine depending on who’s available for us in two weeks' time. We’ll have a different focus on how we get our best game out.

“When you've got a two-week gap in the Six Nations, like we’ve had in the last two games, and it’s on the back of a defeat you feel very frustrated that you can’t get back out there and show who we are as a team for 80 minutes.”

Scotland were second best against an impressive French side who ran in six tries but the home team were left to rue two golden opportunities to score tries just before half-time when the score was 12-10 to the visitors.

It wasn’t to be and Fabien Galthie’s side punished the Scots in ruthless fashion.

“They won more moments than us in the game and we didn't put them under enough pressure for the 80 minutes,” added Townsend. “We