France 7s 19, Scotland 7s 21
The Scotland 7s team have made it through to the Plate semi-finals at the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai where they will face Portugal.

The Portuguese edged Scotland’s bogey team, Canada, to book their place in the second-tier competition. Scotland’s semi-final showdown with Portugal kicks-off at 12:02pm GMT.

Scotland’s quarter final clash with France was an even closer affair than the Portuguese had experienced as a single conversion from Colin Gregor was all that separated the two sides come the final whistle.

Scott Forrest was first to find the whitewash with Roland Reid following suit later as Scotland continued to learn from their day one mistakes and have both the physical and competitive edge in an extremely tight match. Captain Gregor converted both scores.

Half-time score: France 7s 5, Scotland 7s 14

Scotland survived a late second half surge from France as they crossed for two converted scores.

Roddy Grant crossed for a blockbusting try to send Scotland through to the semi-finals, however, Gregor’s conversion made the difference, with both sides scoring three tries each.

After the game, Scotland 7s coach Stephen Gemmell said: “We’re obviously happy to get the win.

“The boys showed a lot of character but we maybe got caught playing them at their game sometimes which doesn’t suit us.

“Credit to the players though, there was a lot of hurt after yesterday’s games so I was delighted with how they defended at the end.”

Full-time score: France 7s 19, Scotland 7s 21

Scotland 7s team v France: Roland Reid (Edinburgh), Scott Forrest (Ayr)*, Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN, Jim Thompson (Edinburgh), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)
Substitutes: Scott Riddell (Blaydon), Andrew Easson (Edinburgh) for Thompson

Scotland 7s squad to compete at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai from 5-7 March: Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN, Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Rob Dewey (Ulster), Andrew Easson (Edinburgh), Scott Forrest (Ayr)*, Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, Rory Hutton (Hawick)*, Roland Reid (Edinburgh), Scott Riddell (Blaydon), Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors), James Thompson (Edinburgh), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)

* = Member of Scottish Rugby’s Contracted National Academy