Here’s Michael Aylwin’s report from a scintilating game. I particularly love this opening line: “Another breathless, brilliant encounter to ridicule the idea that rugby was somehow better in the old days”.
With that I’ll bid you all adieu. Thanks so much for keeping me company. How good was that? Til the next one. Au revoir!
Here’s Shaun Edwards, France’s defence coach:
[Scotland] dominated territory and they dominated possession. They seemed to be attacking in our 22 for a lot of the game. They’re got creative halfbacks and big carriers up front. We’re happy to have got the bonus point.
[On the read card] It didn’t really affect both teams that much.
I thought our kicking game was better than last week. This week we were a lot more disciplined which helped us.
Gael Fickou for me is a world class player. He’s one of the best centres in the world.
We’ll have a beer because it’s been a tough couple of weeks.
Jonny Wilkinson praising Finn Russell’s game management. It’s been said before but Russell is so much more than his tricks and flicks. He’s an outstanding operator who knows how to bring his players in the game. Great off the boot as well. What a player.
“Do you still fancy the French outfit Daniel?”
That’s from Nora Mulcahy. And of course I do. If by fancy you mean do I like them. Fancy to win the WC? They just seem to get over the line on home soil. So yes again, I still expect them to lift that golden trinket later this year.
Chris Healy has got in touch and it’s worth sharing here:
“Fraser Brown, dear oh dear. Scotland had done brilliantly to repel the French and win a penalty. They have momentum, possession and decent field position and he basically blows any chance of a Scotland win with that overthrow. A disappointing end to a brilliant Scottish performance considering the awful start. Ireland and Italy to come at Murrayfield. There is still the title and the Triple Crown to play for, but that was a blow to lose that after playing so well and taking the game to a great French team.”
Ah mate, hard to be too critical of a hooker in that situation. Such a difficult skill to execute under pressure. Thought he played well otherwise. But you’re right, of course. In the game of fine margins that was a turning point.
Huw Jones, who was unbelievably good in the Scottish midfield, has this to say:
We felt like we could win that. After a really tough start we got back in it. We had ascendency in the second half and played a lot of rugby. We couldn’t get over the line. It’s a tough one to take.
Both teams had to adjust [to the red cards]. We had a lot of attack in their half. We felt we were chasing the game. Maybe that got to us. I thought we had that.
We came here with a plan and wanted to stick to that. We wanted to get the ball wide. It’s nice to get over the line but would have been nice to do it again and get the win.
Two red cards, seven tries, a thousand reasons to declare that rugby union has never been better. France and Scotland dished up a classic.
It started with France cantering over to open the scoring after five minutes through Ntamack. Gilchrist was then shown red for a dangerous shoulder hit on Jelonch’s face and immediately after Dumortier, a try machine in the making, dotted down.
But a red card from Haouas for a cynical head shot of his own meant it was 14 against 14. Would that extra space create a more open game.
Damn right! Russell was thriving but cost his team seven points when his over exuberant pass was intercepted by Ramos.
Not that the error stopped Russell from playing. His combination with Jones proved lucrative as the hard running centre scored two tries and Russell bagged one for himself. From 19-0 down Scotland had made it 25-17.
France, though, would have the final say as player of the match Gael Fickou scored at the death to seal a bonus point win.
Stick with me as I gather some quotes from those on the telly.
FULL-TIME: France 32-12 Scotland
Wow. Just wow. What a game of rugby. More measured and interesting analysis to come shortly.
TRY! France 32-21 Scotland (Fickou, 80)
Just as he’s named player of the match Gael Fickou scores a try that breaks Scottish hearts. France tap their and go with their penalty and keep it tight. They keep hammering the line, busting tackles here and there. It goes back to the blindside where Fickou is waiting, He gives a show and go and slides under the challenge to score.
Ramos slots the conversion as the final whistle sounds.
Updated
79 mins: A monster French scrum forces Scotland to rush things. Hogg has it on the right but can’t find space. France swarm and smother Richie who is accused of holding the ball. He protests but it’s a France penalty.
78 mins: Taofifenua wins the line-out on the floor (it misses its intended target) and shovels it swiftly for Faletea. But Scotland hold up the ball carrier and it’s a maul. That means they win the ball back and scrum down with their heels touching their own try line. They’ll need to move 100 metres.
Reminder that Scotland were 19-0 down after 20 minutes. If they can hold firm here they might just nick it. France go to the corner though. They want the bonus point.
76 mins: Scotland lose the ball from their own line out, over throwing it. So France on the front foot. Ramos has it on the left wing. Fickou gets close. They’re keeping it short. It goes to the right again. Jalibert darts back in field and for a moment the world opened up for him. Nothing doing though. They all go back for an off side penalty beneath the poles. Three points would open a seven point gap. What do they do?
74 mins: Quick ball from the back of the scrum allows Moefana opportunity to straighten and shove over the gainline. But Scotland’s defence is good and France give up a penalty as Falatea loses his bing in a supporting role and goes over the top.
72 mins: France get a free kick in the scrum. Will they go there again? They do. They’ll want to kill the game now with another try.
71 mins: France have the scrum after Kinghorn knocks on under a high ball. It’s their first visit this far into Scottish territory for some time. This is on the 22 all the way to the left. Dupont glances at the blindside before feeding…
70 mins: France win the ball from their line-out and send it down the line. It goes all the way down the line and out of play as Jalibert, on for Ntamack, passes it beyond the touchline.
TRY! France 25-21 Scotland (Russell, 68)
Just phenomenal rugby. Not just this try. All of it. Scotland win another penalty from the scrum. Tuipulotu carries well but is hauled back five out. Price gathers over the ball and delays just enough to find Russell on the wrap around. The flyhalf who plays his club rugby in Paris brushes off the tackle to dot down. He then brushes himself off and converts the extra two points. Sensational. Six Nations rugby at its best.
Updated
France shove early. They’re jittery. Duhan is lurking on the outside channel.
65 mins: Scotland’s new front row win a penalty. Brown carries well. Russell dinks a ball over the shallow French line but it’s asking too much from Jones. Still, penalty. They pack down again in just about the same spot as before.
Updated
Right. Scotland scrum five out just to the right of the posts….
64 mins: Turner makes a lot of ground off the back of another clean line-out. Ntamack has trouble bringing him down. Russell’s chip over the top is gathered by Ramos but Hogg tackles him over the line so Scotland will have the ball just as they change their entire front row. What’s Scottish for Bomb Squad?
62 mins: Russell finds Jones again. Zander Fagerson with his second big carry in as many minutes. But France turn it on their own 22. Rather than kick Ramos passes wide for Durmortier but the attack fizzles out after a hopeful chip and chase. Jones receives treatment on the floor. Maybe the medic is making sure he is in fact human.
60 mins: Clean ball from the scrum. Russell darts to the blindside. He can’t get the offload off so Price, on for White, starts again. Richie Gray catches on the standstill. France defend like zealots. Rusell spins it left to Jones who wriggles over the gainline. Jonny Gray darts at close quarters. Russell, now on the right, pokes a kick but gets too much on it and Steyn has no chance as it dribbles over the dead ball line.
58 mins: Jones goes on a run for the umpteenth time and makes a kilometre on his own (I’m exaggerating). He practically hands the ball to Hogg who continues with momentum. Scotland win a penalty and choose to scrum it five metres out.
Updated
PENALTY! France 25-14 Scotland (Ramos, 58)
Ramos doesn’t miss many and he makes no mistake this time from the right of the poles.
57 mins: Monster carry from Ollivon from the restart. Tuipulotu does well to collect a chipped kick but he has no mates on the floor and concedes the penalty on the floor. Dupont opts to have a shot at goal.
54 mins: A solid scrum allows the space on the left. France spin it wide all the way to Penaud whose run gets the crowd going. They take it close under the shade of the posts. It’s over the line in the arms of Dumortier but White has held him up. Brave defence. That has kept Scotland in the game. First bit of French flair for some time.
53 mins: Russell mustn’t get carried away here. He’s a little casual, chucking two rash offloads. The second ends in a knock-on so France have the scrum just as their tight five looks like its running out of puff.
Ah, what the hell. Go on Finn! Keep those circus tricks coming!
52 mins: That Scottish line-out has been so, so good today. They have one on the 22 on the left after Duhan’s chase puts the French under pressure. Dupont’s clearing kick is rushed. Clean ball goes down to the maul and it makes ground. Turner breaks and goes himself. Schoeman makes a big carry. Tuipulotu’s short ball is knocked on though so Dupont rakes a clearance.
51 mins: This is champagne rugby, but not from the French. Russell with a cross field kick to Steyn who gathers above his head near the touchline on the right. As he lands hi finds Hogg on the inside who then stabs it forward. Ramos’ clearing kick doesn’t go deep so Scotland have the line-out inside French territory.
CONVERSION! France 22-14 Scotland (Russell, 50)
This one’s worth a mention in its own right as Russell puts it through the middle from an acute angle. What a game he’s having.
TRY! France 22-12 Scotland (Jones, 48)
Jones has his second! He’s having a wonderful game and Russell keeps finding him on the angle. Another robust charge takes it close but not close enough. There’s a devastating clean out so White has the ball. He gives it short to Tuipulotu who then shovels it short for Jones. Dupont is the tackler but he’s brushed aside.
Updated
46 mins: Scotland go back to what was working and win their third penalty from the line-out drive. Side entry from France. So Russell happy to whip it down the line. The forwards attract attention until space opens on the right. White goes down the blindside. There’s a floated pass for Steyn in space but it’s called forward. Not sure it was to be honest. But Scotland have the penalty and hoof it out up field.
44 mins: Huge scrum from France. Dupont executes a superb box kick which goes beyond the half way line, but that could have been a penalty scrum if he delayed just a fraction longer.
43 mins: Ah, that’s no good. Rather than go to their functioning maul Scotland go long on the line out. Ricthie pops it first time to van der Merwe on the angle but the winger can’t hold it. Scrum France on their 22.
42 mins: Scotland have the ball. Russell shapes to throw the long pass to Duhan but decides against it. Richie Gray with a big carry and France stray off side. Scotland take the lineout about 8 metres out.
41 mins: It won’t make the highlights reel, but that overhead catch to claim a mark before a superb clearing kick from Russell was exhibit #4965 that he’s a pretty handy ball player.
Updated
Second half already? I’ve barely caught my breath. Right then. Here we go!
“As a natural born grump, I’m getting fed up having to say “what a brilliant half of rugby!”
Sorry, not sorry, Frank Quinn from Sussex.
Some chat around Gilchrist’s red card.
First from Chris Healy: “Should there be mitigation when it’s not possible to wrap your arm? Nobody wants to see players injured. But as fans we also want to see a contest and you can’t help but feel with 15 against 14 with over 70 minutes on the clock we’re not likely to see much of one now. “
And this from Henry C: “So, what now? Players wont be allowed to bend down when carrying the ball? Coaches aren’t stupid - guaranteed they are training ball carriers to go in as low as possible.”
Look, ultimately we have to make the game more safe and any contact to the head must be taken seriously. Personally, I think Gilchrist was high. No accusations of intent (unlike Haouas, who, for my money, will cop a lengthy ban) but it was sloppy from the Scottish lock. If you’re asking me, a red card was the right call.
HALF-TIME: France 22-7 Scotland
Phew. What a game of rugby. It’s easy to over hype the Six Nations but there’s no exaggerating when I say that was outstanding. Some sloppy errors – two red cards and a terrible pass from Russell for Ramos’ intercept try – will hog the headlines, but between that there was some outstanding play from both teams.
Apart from his blunder, Russell has been magnificent and daring. He’s taking the ball flat at the line and working it for runners on the angle, which he did for Jones to score. France are immense up front with Ollivan having a great game himself.
Scotland are a long way adrift but they’ll back themselves to do something miraculous.
40 mins: Scotland back on the ball. Schoeman gets his head down and bustles into contact. Jones darts left but is met with a meaty hit. Richie, on the righgt wing can’t work a gap and White, under pressure coughs up possession.
France have the chance to counter if they can work it left. Dupont sees thew opportunity so kicks a diagonal for Penaud to chase. Jones mops up except he doesn’t and is pushed out. France take the line-out quickly and Olivon dives over to score! What’s that? Half time has already been called. France protest, the fans boo but that is the end of the action for now.
39 mins: Ramos calls for a mark. He signals to his teammates to calm down (at least that’s how I interpreted those hand gestures).
38 mins: Scotland with the ball soon after their restart the game. Russell’s short pass to Mat Fagerson allows the No 8 to get over the gain line. Short exchanges from the big men has the ball snaking back in field. Russell sees van der Merwe in space out left and loops a pass his way. He finds him, but the ball drifts forwards. Scrum for France.
PENALTY! France 22-7 Scotland (Ramos, 36)
Yup. Ramos slots that over, just to the right of the poles about 30 metres out.
35 mins: France so clean off the top of their line out. Ramos joins the line but is snaffled before he cam make the decisive pass to his left and release Durmotier. So the ball goes back into the tighter channels. France inch their way forward so Scotland look to stifle their progress any way they can. Matt Fagerson, perhaps sensing the threat of another seven pointer, goes off his feet and willingly concedes the penalty. Should be an easy three for Ramos.
33 mins: Cros, off the French line-out, wriggles past three challengers which allows for a better angle on the clearing kick. It’s not a great one so Scotland have the feed to the line-out on the 22. They drive before spinning it left. Tuipulotu makes some metres before White goes even further. But France turn it and have the advantage as well. Scotland off their feet. Schoeman the guilty man.
31 mins: First Russell and then Ramos fumble deep kicks. Neither are knocked on so it’s a Scottish lineout 10 metres in the French half. Jonny Gray off the top before Jones carries it up. Russell stabs a grubber that puts the ball out close to the French line. Scotland’s line-out has been faultless.
30 mins: Ntamack’s drop goal attempt dribbles below the post. The crowd didn’t like that.
28 mins: Gray is lifted high to catch the restart. White hoists a box kick to Ramos on the right win. Fickou’s short ball finds Ollivon who marches over the gain line. France sharp in possession. Penaud carries three tacklers with him. France putting on a show. Fickou drives close but, BUT!!! Scotland have turned it five from their own line. White hoofs it out. Skill, power. All 28 men have all of it in abundance today.
Updated
TRY! France 19-7 Scotland (Jones, 25)
Scotland will not go away! In fact, they believe they can do anything. And why not? Another superb lineout drive after a penalty gets them on the front foot. Turner breaks and goes to ground. Price fizzes it and Russell plays a flat line pass for Jones on a scything angle and he darts over under the posts. Russell nudges the easy conversion over and, oh wow, I’m just loving this!
Updated
25 mins: Scotland are on fire here. They’re held up over the line in the left corner after some delicious interplay. Pop pass of the shoulder, runners on the angle. White at No 9 is having a stonking game.
Jelonch is off for Cros. Two big hitting loose forwards are off for France.
Brilliant break from Russell that. He might cost you an intercept but he can rip any game apart.
23 mins: France are so calm in everything they’re doing. Scotland are frantic. Van der Merwe joins the line and charges into traffic.
But it opens when Russell drops a shoulder and finds open ground in front of him. Scotland are in here, they just need to move it right. Ritchie’s ball to van der Merwe on the wing is a little loose so the burly winger has to halt his run. He catches and darts for the corner but is shunted in to touch. It’s only a toe that’s out, but he’s out, even though he wormed the ball on the ground.
What a game this is!
22 mins: France have to throw the ball in inside their own 22 as Dupont’s box kick is charged down. They’re not bothered, though, as they consolidate before Dupont box kicks again, this time finding touch 10m inside his own territory.
TRY! France 19-0 Scotland (Ramos, 19)
Ramos has picked Russell’s pocket! Scotland were building momentum. Russell was finding runners with every pass. But he’s chanced his arm one too many times. It was a poor pass and was never on as he went for a miracle ball to his right. Ramos read his mind and snatched it at its apex around the half way line. He slides over and then converts his own try.
Updated
18 mins: Scotland collect the clearance from France and are attacking with zeal. Russell zipping it this way and that. They fancy it.
Key event
NO TRY! Zander Fagerson splinters from another perfectly set maul. He reaches for the line but knocks on.
Updated
16 mins: Scotland’s line-out drive is working well. They have one of the best mauls in Europe actually and they win another penalty from this one. Confident, they go to the corner, and the maul, again.
16 mins: That is an inch perfect kick from Russell who wins a 50-22 about seven metres from the French line. They’ll have the feed and momentum behind them.
Updated
15 mins: Jelonch returns to the field after passing his HIA. France don’t go anywhere with their line-out from their penalty. Scotland have one of their own and kick deep. Dumortier takes a mark. And we all take a breath.
13 mins: France win a scrum penalty five metres from their own line. Is that Falatea’s immediate impact? He’ll have to last almost 70 minutes. A tough ask for any tighthead.
RED CARD! France (Haouas, 12)
It’s 14 against 14. Mohamed Haouas has been shown yellow for what can only be described as dirty play. He’s launched his head straight into the head of a Scot (I didn’t catch who, give me a sec). The Scottish player was on the ground and not involved in the play but the French prop, I guess in an attempt to clear the ruck, did it in a way we don’t want to see. A lifeline for Scotland.
France have to make a change to rebuild their front row. Aldritt is sacrificed for Falatea.
Updated
Another red card incoming!!! This one’s for France. Standby.
11 mins: Scotland get a line-out within striking distance and form a cohesive maul. They’re shoving with all they’ve got but are repelled. Illegally though and so get the penalty.
Scotland have made a change. Jonny Gray is on to bolster the tight five. Hamish Watson is the man to go. What a shame for him personally.
“Goodbye hope. Hello despair. Normal service is resumed. Just how I like it.”
Simon McMahon speaking for many Scots.
TRY! France 12-0 Scotland (Dumortier, 10)
So good. France are so clinical. Dupont with a huuuge pass down the left to Ollivon as he knew he had numbers. Fickou involved as well with Ntamack playing the final pass. It’s seconds after the red card. Ramos misses the conversion but he’ll have plenty more chances, I’m sure.
Updated
RED CARD! Scotland (Gilchrist, 7)
What a shame. It was unquestionably the correct decision but with no mitigation, that shoulder hit to Jelonch’s face left the referees with no choice. That’s Gilchrist’s first card in Test rugby. It might have killed this game already.
Updated
The referee is Nika Amashukeli, by the way. I think a red card is coming.
Oooo, a replay of Gilchrist’s hit on Jelonch has caught the eye of the referee. The Scottish lock not only came in from a questionable angle but it seems his shoulder has caught the Frenchman’s head.
In fact, no question about it. Definite head contact. Could be trouble here for Scotland.
7 mins: France gather the restart and kick it straight out. Maybe they fancy their chances against the Scotland line-out. Or maybe they don’t want to risk a counter from Scotland’s back three. One to keep an eye on.
TRY! France 7-0 Scotland (Ntamack, 5)
It started with the line-out and Marchand’s break from the back. From there it was just momentum. Willemse with a big carry. Penaud on the angle. They went left then right and sucked in defenders. With the advantage they moved it quickly and Dupont found Ntamack who straightened from five metres out to go round Steyn and score.
Ramos with the extras.
Clinical.
Updated
4 mins: France win the penalty and release Marchand from the back. They get within five of the Scottish line. Ntamack pops short to Penaud. The forwards get close. Advantage is theirs.
2 mins: The line-out is won by Richie Gray. Ball goes left then right. France, big in the contact, win it back and kick to Russell. Van der Merwe is also nailed in the tackle by Jelonch and France win a penalty on the ground. Big defence from the hosts in white.
1 min: Peeeeeeeeeeep! The 100th meeting between the two gets under way with Scotland kicking off. France gather and hoof it up field. Line-out for Scotland on the half way line.
Hearing “La Marseillaise” in Paris before a rugby match is right up there. I got to experience it in Marseille last year when the Springboks were in town. It really is special.
They’ve just finished up. Almost time…
Five minutes to go. The teams are getting ready for the anthems. There’s a moment to think of the people in Ukraine a year on from an invasion of their homeland. France in white jumpers, Scotland in blue. Flower of Scotland blasts out via bagpipes.
Because this is getting a bit of buzz on the socials, and because I like to stir, what do you make of this? Forward pass or no?
England score with forward pass at Principality Stadium. #WalesEngland < @BBCScrumV @BBCSportWales @GabbyLogan @JiffyRugby @5liveSport @WelshRugbyUnion pic.twitter.com/dd79bK1d79
— * D a n I n n e s * (@DanInnes) February 25, 2023
This, from Alexandre [no last name attached], is lovely so here it is in full:
“Hello Daniel,
First of all thank you for your coverage of today’s match. As a Frenchman I will hope for the hosts winning it, even if the title is gone now. Scotland do look very much up for this though and who can win at Twickenham can win in Paris.
“I was just wondering. You know, a lone Six Nations title can be won by a fairly average team. If you get lucky enough to host 3 times, have some of the weakest teams away and have an open field with other teams being average you can win without being exceptional. Which makes back to back titles quite a lot more exceptional - it means you have won titles while having to go to Dublin, London, Edinburgh, Paris or Cardiff depending on who you are (sorry Italy, but even with the notable improvements you’re still a way off winning this short term).
“But if you extend the reasoning a bit.... There’s clearly nothing more exceptional than back to back grand slams, which means you won everywhere. But now one grand slam.... If lucky enough, this can be done without being that good. Raising the question: who do you think it’s the better team, the one managing to win a grand slam or the one winning back to back titles (but obviously no slams in either) ?
“Sorry I’m in the train in the south of France, it’s raining as if to make the Promenade des Anglais look like a South English resort town, and I’m very obviously bored.
“Have a good match!”
Thanks for that. And you’re right. There’s a reason no team has won back to back grand slams in the Six Nations era. I really thought France would do it, or at least I hoped they’d do it. No anti-Ireland sentiment, just really like this France outfit.
Shaun Edwards, France’s genius defence coach, is chatting on the screen now:
The fact that Scotland were the only team to have beaten us here in the last three years, that is a huge part of [the scale of this match].
We want to regain momentum. We went 14 games unbeaten.
We made nearly 250 tackles [against Ireland] but there were one or two tries we could have stopped. With the discipline, having made all those tackles, we only gave away five penalties. We’re back to being one of the most disciplined teams in world rugby.
I’m on ITV and listening to Sir Ian McGeechan talking about Gregor Townsend and Finn Russell’s relationship and how they’re now on the same page.
I’m with the good Knight. Russell is too good to be left in the cold and Townsend is too pragmatic to not find a way to make it work. Glad those two stubborn Scots could find a way. They clearly bring out the best in each other and the whole rugby ecosystem, even beyond the borders of Scotland, is better for it.
A quick recap of yesterday’s events.
Ireland beat Italy to keep their grand slam hopes alive. England and Wales played out a game that wasn’t exactly a thrill a minute, but Project Steve Borthwick has another win at least.
Read those reports below:
Scotland are daring to dream. Bryan Palmer says it would be a “heist” but it’d be more Oceans 11 than a smash and grab, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, enough of my nonsense, read this cracking piece instead:
“Afternoon Daniel.” Hey there Simon McMahon. Good to have you on board.
“Your preamble has given me hope and, like Brian Stimpson, I don’t like it. I can stand the despair, it’s the hope. Things were much simpler when we were rubbish all the time.”
As a South African, currently with one eye on the Women’s T20 World Cup final, I know all about the dangers of hope. But how much better is hope thatn abject despair? Scotland genuinely have a chance, and not just a puncher’s chance, of doing something special.
Scotland welcome back Watson to a dynamic back row
A fit again Hamish Watson rejoins the team and just look at that those loose forwards. They’ll need to be sharp to combat their counterparts with a rooster on their chests. Keep your eyes on Finn Russell (duh) who is in his home away from home. For those who aren’t aware, the Scotland 10 plays his club rugby for Racing 92 in Paris. That’s got to count for something.
Scotland: Hogg; Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu, van der Merwe; Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, R Gray, Gilchrist, Ricthie (c), Watson, M Fagerson
Replacements: Brown, Bhatti, Nel, J Gray, Skinner, Dempsey, Price, Kinghorn.
Your Scotland team for this afternoon’s game 🏴#AsOne pic.twitter.com/Cbng92m5Hb
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) February 26, 2023
France roll out the big guns
Just the one change for the home team as the suspended Uini Atonio – absent after a dangerous tackle in the defeat in Dublin – is replaced by the equally imposing Mohamed Haouas at tighthead. Otherwise, it’s the plethora of household names throughout.
France: Ramos; Penaud, Fickou, Moefana, Dumortier; Ntamack, Dupont (c); Baille, Marchand, Haouas, Flament, Willemse, Jelonch, Ollivon, Alldritt
Replacements: Barlot, Wardi, Falatea, Taofifenua, Cros, Macalou, Couilloud, Jalibert
🇫🇷🆚🏴 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘/𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗘, c'est dimanche à 16h au @StadeFrance ! #FRAECO
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 24, 2023
🔥💪 On compte sur vous pour soutenir votre #XVdeFrance ! #NeFaisonsXV pic.twitter.com/mEJlmRygV8
Preamble
Let’s start with a disclaimer. Scotland will probably lose in Paris this afternoon. The French are an imposing outfit, one filled with hot-steppers and behemoths, a team of individual superstars knitted together in a cohesive unit. Sure, Ireland will likely win this year’s grand slam, but you’d be a fool to doubt the credentials of Fabian Galthié’s juggernaut.
Notice, though, that I said ‘probably’. That in itself is noteworthy. Because today’s result could turn either way and for that Scotland deserve immense credit.
They possess a backline that can cut any team to shreds. Duhan van der Merwe has beaten more defenders (20) than anyone else in the Championship and Finn Russell leads in try assists (three), metres kicked and is second only to France’s Thomas Ramos with 19 points scored.
Their forward pack, now with a back row that’s as good as any in the competition, poses a real threat either side of the ball. And though they won’t have the grunt of the French heavies, they’ll provide enough guile to work the space.
In short, we’ve got a game on our hands. Scotland won the last time they were in the French capital two years ago. But that was in front of empty seats due to the pandemic. They’ll receive a hostile welcome here. Russell will get booed every time he takes a shot at goal. If Gregor Townsend’s troops leave the mainland with a victory, they’ll reach a place they’ve never gone before.
You’d be a fool to doubt them.
Kick off at 3pm.
Updated
