After their best start in the history of the Six Nations, Scotland face the acid test of their title credentials against wounded France.
In the end, they dug out a win without him, Adam Hastings throwing a Russell-esque pass out to Duhan van der Merwe for the winning score at the end - with the help of France's Brice Dulin bizarrely keeping the ball in play with his team ahead and the clock red. But given his red-hot form, the stage is set for him to turn in a complete performance in one of rugby's most daunting arenas and lead his team to victory, as they pursue something much more tangible than a reel of jaw-dropping highlights. France will come after him, and as he enters the final months of his time there - which threatens to end trophyless - before a switch to Bath, there persists a narrative of a brilliant, but inconsistent player. The fog in question is the tension there seems to be between the urge to run and play freely, and Galthie's previously - very successful - plan to kick a lot and to squeeze teams, turn them over, and deploy the litany of X-factor players to finish the job. The 30-year-old gave some fascinating insight into his detailed preparation on opposition defences this week, and will pitch up in Paris, the city he has lit up in a Racing 92 jersey and has called home for the last five years, with a point to prove too. Unlike in 2021, the Stade de France will be packed and noisily expecting a home win while the stacked France team will be keen to put on a show and right some wrongs in their first home match of the championship. But there are reasons to believe in Scotland this time, and they are not all based on the good things that have come in the two wins so far, or Townsend's solid recent record against the French. Scotland have come to Paris 11 times and won once in the Six Nations, and been dismissed by even poor France sides in the process. The Scottish rugby public will rightly be sceptical of their team's chances of winning the game given the paucity of success in the last 23 years. So, after efficiently dispatching England and Wales - teams who are currently relatively limited in attack - how good are Scotland when it comes to the top of world rugby? A wounded France side ranked second in the world is lurking, one that has just tasted defeat for the first time in 574 days and had their Grand Slam hopes dashed seven months out from a home World Cup. So the head coach would presumably have to come up with a whole new category if Scotland were to repeat the feat on Sunday and go three from three with two home games still left to play.
Who will be commentating on the France v Scotland Six Nations game at Paris' Stade De France and how to watch.
This is the 24th Six Nations Championship to be contested by the national teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. [BBC](bbc.co.uk) and [ITV](itv.com) will be showing every game of the tournament between them - in fact their current Six Nations TV deal makes them the official broadcasters until 2025. For those who can’t watch from the stands, you don’t have to miss a minute of the action.
Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for France v Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday.
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Kevin Millar tries to gauge how Scotland match up to hosts France as the visitors go looking for a third win in the 2023 Six Nations.
– There are only 4 Exiles in the 23 versus France. Both sides will have to keep fingers and toes crossed that injuries in the backs don’t expose the limitations of this setup… The development of Matt Fagerson has been a significant one for balancing out Scotland’s breakaway trio. French rugby Twitter (assuming nothing is being lost in the automated translation!) seems to be keen on Matthieu Jalibert replacing Romain Ntamack in the starting lineup. Grant Gilchrist’s own maturing as a player in his 30s has garnered less attention, but the man from Alloa has owned a starting lock’s jersey in 19 of Scotland’s last 21 Tests. Both hookers have a big role to play for their respective sides. In Julien Marchand’s case, he is France’s primary threat at the breakdown whereas George Turner should be operating as the supporting turn in a scavenging trio alongside Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson. The Muscle doesn’t have the added pressure of captaincy and is well capable of managing his training load though! Returning to a hypothetical Earth v the ROTMW* lineup, a partnership of Antoine Dupont and Finn Russell in the half backs would certainly provide some excitement. The key for each side is how many opportunities they can hand their star wide men in a game. If a World XV was required to play against the rest of the galaxy next week then on current form the starting wings might well be Damian Penaud and Duhan van der Merwe. While there is definitely a feeling that the Scots have been, for the most part, on an upward trajectory since that match their mental preparation will still need to be spot on to overcome any lingering doubts there might be about being able to compete with last season’s Grand Slam winners.
Gregor Townsend has backed a highly motivated Hamish Watson to put Scotland on the front foot against France on Sunday after restoring the Edinburgh flanker ...
Last season’s grand slam champions may have made an indifferent start to the defence of their crown, scraping a win over Italy and being well beaten by Ireland, but Townsend is wary, particularly on their return to play in Paris for the first time in this season’s championship. But also a team that we’ve come up against a few times in the last few years. But Stuart has done very well for us in the past and he's good to go this weekend. “Luke got himself into the team by what he has been doing for Edinburgh, he’s defended really well for us in the opening two games but Hamish is now back fully fit so it becomes a discussion around who is right for this weekend and not as much about who’s played better the week before. Knowing we have someone who can cover at ten, in the back three and is in really good form but also physically in such good shape is a positive for us. Townsend’s side have entered uncharted territory: never before have they won their opening two games in the championship since it was expanded to include Italy in 2000, so the prospect of a third victory on the bounce is one which excites and daunts in equal measure.
The Stade de France holds some special memories for Richie Gray. The last time he played here he helped Toulouse win the Top 14 final.
“Playing in the Stade de France is always a privilege and there is a lot on the line in the championship. The locks may be a more sober shade but he remains one of the bright lights in a talented Scotland squad and determined to add to his Parisian highlights. Gray may not possess the dynamism he did in 2011 but his value to the team has increased exponentially in terms of his lineout work and game nous. There is a real positive feeling in the camp. Townsend is in no doubt that his return to Glasgow and the careful management of his workload has been crucial to his reintegration into the national squad. “I’ve got happy memories of the last time I played here at the Stade de France. We know how big the game is but there is a danger of hyping it up too much potentially and playing within ourselves.” Gray expects to be worked hard on Sunday, particularly as both sides have opted to put six forwards on the bench. “If you look at the first half against Wales there is a lot to improve on.” Scotland certainly did that in the second 40 against the Welsh, Finn Russell tearing them apart en route to a record 35-7 win, but Gray is refusing to get carried away. Gray will win his 72nd cap on Sunday and agreed the game held extra significance given his long connection with France. The remarkable thing, though, is that by common consensus he is playing better than ever. It takes a special talent to do that and Gray later reciprocated, spending seven seasons in
French fitness could be their downfall if Scotland can play with both control and tempo in Six Nations round three clash.
France are one of the best teams in the world when it comes to broken play but so too are Scotland. The Englishman will be hurt by Dublin because, I read somewhere, that it was only the second time in the Six Nations that a defence he had coached had conceded four tries. When France played the Springboks last November the ball in play time was just 28 minutes but the players were still gasping, such was the physicality of the Bokke. I am reluctant to talk RWC’23 in the middle of the Six Nations but it may be relevant. Alldritt could be playing for Scotland in a parallel universe but the French No 8 has looked tired, being subbed off against Ireland after just 51 minutes and no one should be surprised. The Scots have the wind in their sails and they will arrive in Paris full of confidence.
Scotland face a real test of their Six Nations title credentials as they travel to Paris to face defending champions France on Sunday.
France take on Scotland today in the third round of the Guinness Six Nations. Reigning grand-slam champions France saw their dreams of a second successive ...
Scotland - 11/4 Scotland have won their opening two games against Wales and England. France - 3/10
Les Bleus played out a classic in Dublin in round two, but their loss to Ireland meant their hopes of grabbing two consecutive Grand Slams were quashed.
Going into a game like this on the back of wins is a much better place to be than if you’re coming off the back of defeats. But at key moments, between the 40th and 60th minute, when we could take the score, the Irish were able to be even stronger. I think the players realise what a big test this is going to be, playing one of the best teams in the world on their home patch, at a venue we haven’t had much success (at) over the past 100 years. France head coach Fabien Galthie, on bouncing back from the defeat to Ireland: "We moved to the world number one. We have fallen, we must get up. Until the 72nd minute, we were six points (away). This result also secured Wales the 2021 Six Nations. So, able to win the match. Scotland, meanwhile, are fresh off the back of a hugely impressive performance against an under-performing Wales in Murrayfield, which came a week after their third consecutive Six Nations win over England. It’s going to be a tough challenge but we can match that challenge. It's interesting how men function in defeat." Who is the France v Scotland referee?
Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli (GRU) will take charge, with assistance coming from Karl Dickson (RFU) and Andrea Piardi (FIR). Ben Whitehouse (WRU), meanwhile ...
Motivated by the previous season’s loss and the potential of a Grand Slam, France proved far too strong. Ben Whitehouse (WRU), meanwhile, will be television match official (TMO) for the day. That loss ended No 2-ranked France's 14-match winning streak. - TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) - Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (FIR) - Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Scotland second-row Richie Gray made a big impression againstFrance at Stade de France on his first Six Nations start back in 2011.
“Both teams will be searching for parity and if we get the upper hand, we know we have the back line that can cause some damage. “If Scott [Cummings] gets through the next two weeks, what a selection headache we are going to have in the second-row. “He has always put in the work. He couldn’t deliver what we believed he should be delivering but he was still very valuable to Toulouse and to Castres. Then he had a couple of injuries and the form of other second-rows meant we didn’t believe he would start for us. He was one of only three Scots – alongside Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland – selected for the 2013 Lions tour to South Africa, and the only Scot to appear in a Test match on that trip as a 67th-minute replacement in the final game of the series. He was making the breaks back then, but the game has tightened up a lot since then. He had a great carry that should have led to a try for George Turner. “But from this season’s performances, and also his belief in himself, that was the big change. He played a lot of minutes, their line-out defence became the best in the league. “I’m certainly an older athlete now so I’m always having conversations with the S&C [strength and conditioning] staff at Glasgow to see how best to manage my week,” he explains. “I think, certainly, the team is in a different place from where it was 10 to 12 years ago.”
France's dreams of a second consecutive Grand Slam were shattered when they came up short against Ireland in Dublin two weeks ago.The reigning champ.
The Clermont star is going to be one of France’s poster boys for the upcoming World Cup, and he will see Sunday’s game as a chance to impress in front of his home audience. Sunday’s encounter will be a tight affair, and while we fancy France to win, this handicap is a good punt. Galthié will want to keep his side focused, though, and while Scotland come into this game unbeaten, France are still favourites at 1/3 with You can bet on them winning at both half-time and full-time at 8/11 with Spreadex. While we don’t think this will happen, a Scotland +8.5 handicap is an attractive prospect at 5/6 with Spreadex. Of course, they will also need to make sure they win all of their own matches, with an in-form Scotland standing in their way this Sunday. Galthié’s men will want to stop any Scottish momentum early and will not want to make the same mistakes they made against Italy on the opening weekend. Fittingly, the French have gone unbeaten in Paris since then, winning their last nine home games and picking up memorable wins against the likes of South Africa, Ireland, and Australia. Scotland has picked up two dominant victories so far and will be hoping to make it three for three in the Stade de France. They started off with an impressive Calcutta Cup victory against England at Twickenham and built on that with a dominant win over Wales in Edinburgh. A win at the weekend would make their home tie with Ireland in two weeks essential viewing. Gregor Townsend’s men were put to the sword by France 17-36 in Edinburgh in last year’s Championship, but they will find confidence in the fact that they have beaten France in three of their last five matches, including a victory in Paris in 2021.
Minute-by-minute report: A Six Nations showdown awaits in Paris. Join Daniel Gallan for all the latest news.
It was a poor pass and was never on as he went for a miracle ball to his right. It’s not a great one so Scotland have the feed to the line-out on the 22. Price fizzes it and Russell plays a flat line pass for Jones on a scything angle and he darts over under the posts. It’s only a toe that’s out, but he’s out, even though he wormed the ball on the ground. Russell stabs a grubber that puts the ball out close to the French line. He’s taking the ball flat at the line and working it for runners on the angle, which he did for Jones to score. Rather than go to their functioning maul Scotland go long on the line out. Clean ball goes down to the maul and it makes ground. Price gathers over the ball and delays just enough to find Russell on the wrap around. But Scotland hold up the ball carrier and it’s a maul. Scotland had done brilliantly to repel the French and win a penalty. 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.”
Follow live text updates and BBC radio commentary as Scotland travel to France in the 2023 Six Nations.
France were genuinely concerned they were going to lose that game. After a really tough start, we got back into it, had ascendancy in the second half. Losing was an unusual thing to feel and not a very pleasant one, but then we'll be planning for Twickenham. We were a lot more disciplined in our kicking game and that definitely helped us. It didn't really affect both teams' game plans that much. It was quickly levelled up. France defence coach Shaun Edwards tells ITV: "They dominated territory and possession, seemed to be attacking in our 22 for a lot of the game but that's what you expect from a top-class team. France showed their quality at the end. There's a chemistry, confidence, and trust in that midfield to read the game and find those lines. "Of course losing Hamish Watson is a blow and even when the opposition go to 14, when you've got 14, you're without Hamish, who plays at speed. "It's weird saying that when you've had two victories but a lot of our play was outstanding. FT: France 32-21 Scotland
Follow live updates as France meet Scotland in the final match of the Six Nations third round.
When the hosts powered over for two tries in the first ten minutes, and with Grant Gilchrist dismissed, it looked as if it might be a long afternoon for Scotland’s optimists. It would have been nice to get another one to win the game.” Scotland adjusted well on the fly to counter France’s power, recognising that Nika Amashukeli was allowing a contest at the breakdown and muddying French ball to stall the hosts. “After a really tough start, we got ourselves back into it. “We felt like we could win that,” the two-try centre reflects. I thought we had that... Finn Russell produced some moments of magic in familiar fashion, but it just wasn’t quite enough. The France defence coach says to ITV: “They dominated territory, they dominated possession, but that is what you expect from a top class team. Just to slightly correct Shaun Edwards, France have not beaten England away from home in the Six Nations since 2005, but did claim a World Cup warm-up win at Twickenham in 2007. “We’ll have a beer, it’s been a tough couple of weeks. Gael Fickou, for me, is a world-class player in hot form at the moment. The Six Nations resumes in a little less than two weeks.
Having also been run uncomfortably close by Italy in Rome on opening day, there is a sense that Les Bleus need a commanding performance here to reassert their ...
Going into a game like this on the back of wins is a much better place to be than if you’re coming off the back of defeats. “I’m really comfortable playing with him on both sides of the ball. But they face a tough test against a Scotland side high on confidence after opening their campaign with successive victories for the first time since 1996. Follow France vs Scotland in the Six Nations live below! Two of the very best! Defending champions France are back on home soil for the first time in 2023 as they look to recover quickly from a titanic loss in Dublin a fortnight ago that saw their dreams of consecutive Grand Slams firmly dashed by rampant Ireland.
The third round Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and France, got off to the most crazy of starts. Three French tries and two red cards within the ...
A thrilling start to the game, unlike anything seen so far in this years’ Six Nations. The third round Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and France, got off to the most crazy of starts. France scored an early opening try through Romain Ntamack, with the fly half crossing over after just six minutes.
Two red cards in Paris, just 11 minutes on the clock. Here's what happened. Some drama in round three of the Six Nations 2023!
It was overthrown and as France went down the other end, it was only a matter of time. Initially nothing was given, but as the French medic came on and insisted the Jelonch go off for a Les Bleus had the edge after scores from Romain Ntamack and Ethan Dumortier, and then Thomas Ramos intercepted a Finn Russell pass to gallop in for a try. Phase after phase they came back, until Gaël Fickou went over for the bonus point score. Of course, you may remember, France would eventually triumphed 32-21, but we had two red cards in Paris after 11 minutes, with Grant Gilchrist of Scotland, and Mohamed Haouas of France, sent off permanently.
Scotland meet France in the Six Nations this afternoon as round three draws to an exciting close.
France vs Scotland odds France vs Scotland prediction France vs Scotland lineups Bordeaux’s Sipili Falatea remains on the bench. George Horne also drops out as the Scots pivot to a 6-2 bench split. How to watch France vs Scotland