A record defeat to Ireland in their opening fixture was compounded by yesterday's 38-3 mauling by the French, who equalled their highest-ever winning margin over Scotland.

It was not the ideal way for Redpath to mark his 50th cap and the Sale Sharks scrum-half admitted his side are struggling to compete with Europe's big-guns.

"It's very disappointing to lose a match in a similar way to last week when we were beaten by Ireland," he said.

"We played well in parts and deserved to do better, but the fact is if you don't take the opportunities that you create then you will be punished.

"At the moment we are not performing at a level which will see us compete with the likes of France, England and Ireland. It was a very sombre changing room after the game."

A solitary penalty from Chris Paterson was all the Scots could muster.

If a lesson was needed in the art of finishing, then the Scots need only have looked at France, who gratefully took everything that came their way, showing the clinical edge so lacking in their opponents' game.

Fabien Pelous, Clement Poitrenaud, Damien Traille and Aurelien Rougerie all crossed and fly-half Francois Gelez was in immaculate form.

He missed just one kick at goal and finished with 18 points.

Redpath added: "France are a good side but we lost so much ball in the contact area, and then we conceded free-kicks and penalties which gave them a good platform to work from.

"We virtually gave them points in the first half thanks to our discipline - we gave them too many penalties in our half. Because of that we struggled."