6N 2016: Scotland v France, 13 March

   
SCOTLAND v FRANCE
13 March 2016
KO: 15:00 GMT
BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Live on BBC, FR2, RTE, FR2, DMAX / ITV(H)

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Touch judges: [tbc]
Television match official: [tbc]

A. Head to Head

85 Played 85
34 Won 49
2 Drawn 2
49 Lost 34
1,009 Points 1,150

B. Recent Form

5 September 2015: Stade de France, Saint-Denis
19 – 16 to France

7 February 2015 : Stade de France, Saint-Denis
15 – 8 to France

8 March 2014: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
17 – 19 to France

16 March 2013: Stade de France, Saint-Denis
23 – 16 to France

26 February 2012: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
17 – 23 to France

5 February 2011 : Stade de France, Saint-Denis
34 – 21 to France

7 February 2010 : Murrayfield, Edinburgh
9 – 18 to France

C. Teams

SCOTLAND 
 
[tbc]

FRANCE

[tbc]

This game is a must win game for Scotland, even it is just prove that the win over Italy was not a fluke.

Scotland was the best of the NH teams in the rugby world cup. Getting the furthest in the tournament than the rest.

I hope for Scotlands sake that they can pull it off.

I think the next two games are must win.

France and Ireland are only going to get better, if we can't beat them now, when can we?

I'd quite like to see Dunbar in the 23 and I think I'd keep Wilson and Strauss too.

Nematode wrote:I think the next two games are must win.

France and Ireland are only going to get better, if we can't beat them now, when can we?

I'd quite like to see Dunbar in the 23 and I think I'd keep Wilson and Strauss too.

Worth saying that France have been dreadful for the last couple of years now and still managed to continually pip us

Looking ahead to Saturday, we'll need to play a lot better than we did in Rome, if we give France almost 70% possession & territory well get gubbed.
I mean amazingly, France have actually had the most runs, passes, defenders beaten & made the most offloads with 45 offloads compared to 55 by the other 5 teams combined. (Know what our Director of rugby would say about that...)

And likewise I'd like to see Dunbar involved, to soon to chuck him straight in? Although alongside Taylor that'd be a very physical centre combo.

majesticimperialman wrote:This game is a must win game for Scotland, even it is just prove that the win over Italy was not a fluke.

Scotland was the best of the NH teams in the rugby world cup. Getting the furthest in the tournament than the rest.

I hope for Scotlands sake that they can pull it off.

I'm pretty sure France got just as far as Scotland...admittedly they did leave the tournament a day earlier

Nematode wrote:I think the next two games are must win.

France and Ireland are only going to get better, if we can't beat them now, when can we?

I'd quite like to see Dunbar in the 23 and I think I'd keep Wilson and Strauss too.

Has Dunbar been injured for a long time? Always thought he was Scotland's best centre and thought glasgows centre partnership with Bennett would have transferred to the national team

True Raven wrote:

Nematode wrote:I think the next two games are must win.

France and Ireland are only going to get better, if we can't beat them now, when can we?

I'd quite like to see Dunbar in the 23 and I think I'd keep Wilson and Strauss too.

Has Dunbar been injured for a long time?  Always thought he was Scotland's best centre and thought glasgows centre partnership with Bennett would have transferred to the national team

Yes, he ripped his ACL (left knee) last year which meant he couldn't compete in the 6 Nations or the RWC. 

Then, just as he'd strung a few games together at the start of this season, he damaged his thigh playing Racing 92 in January. 

He came back last week against the Dragons and is starting with his centre buddy Mark Bennett against Cardiff Blues this week. He just needs some time uninjured to get the sharpness back.

I think that he is Scotland's best centre for a decade and both Will Greenwood and Brian O'Driscoll have postulated the same in match commentary.

Agree Dunbar/Bennet is the best centre pairing. However, I think Dunbar should only be considered if He has a good game today. Taylor has been great so hard to drop him.

For France..

Dickinson
Ford
Nel
Gray
Gray
Barclay
Hardie
Wilson
Laidlaw
Russell
Visser
Taylor
Bennett
Seymour
Hogg

MacInally
Low
Sutherland
Swinson
Strauss
SHC
Horne
Maitland

Bsando - swap Strauss for the Mental Crayon in the starting XV and I agree completely. Makes me sad to see Tiny Tim in there when Toolis had a very good game against Connacht.

Roll on the day when we can have:
18 Gilchrist
19 Du Preez

Dunbar pulled off at half time with no obvious injury. He is heading for the Scotland team next week. Bennett did not do himself any favours by dropping the ball when over the line.

Dunbar at 12, Taylor at 13 with Horne on the bench!

This game will be interesting both teams not playing at their best, and yet both teams have won one game apiece.

I am going for Scotland in this game have beaten Italy in their last game they will be hyped up with confidence.

Scotland by 10/15 for me.

Looks like Dunbar's either playing this weekend or he's injured again, I'm hoping for:

1. Dickinson
2. Ford
3. Nel
4. Gray
5. Gray
6. Barclay
7. Hardie
8. Denton (if he's fit, Strauss if not)
9. Laidlaw
10. Russell
11. Seymour
12. Dunbar
13. Bennett
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

16. Sutherland
17. MacInally
18. Low
19. Swinson (he seems to be one of cotter's favourites)
20. Strauss (Cowan if Denton is injured)
21. Hidalgo-Clyne
22. Horne
23. Taylor

I known Maitland and Bennet are a bit off form but I do think that it's probably our best possible starting XV, Bennnet in particular has enough credit from the world cup to deserve his place in the side.

Must win for both teams who seem to be at similar levels of development and somewhat stuck in gear…Scots must kick on with the RWC promise they showed by beating a strangely stuttering France who seem to be stuck in reverse. If Scots can't do this now then I think they will have missed huge opportunity in this 6 Nations.

All the parts are there, they just need the big win.

Nematode wrote:I think the next two games are must win.

France and Ireland are only going to get better, if we can't beat them now, when can we?

I'd quite like to see Dunbar in the 23 and I think I'd keep Wilson and Strauss too.

I wouldn't.

Taylor has played well and although not playing badly Bennett and Scott have been quiet. Let Dunbar heal!!!!!!!!!!

I am pretty sure that Bennett is going to sit this one out, otherwise hard to see why he was sent back to play and then Dunbar pulled off at half time at VCs request. Dropping that ball over the line did not really help his cause either.

Taylor certainly is not going to get dropped, he has been the stand out centre. Scott is crocked again as well, so he is out of the equation to.

This feels too soon for Dunbar. A couple of pro12 games and then dropped into one of the most physical matches we have in the 6N.

An error.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:This feels too soon for Dunbar. A couple of pro12 games and then dropped into one of the most physical matches we have in the 6N.

An error.

Technically I would agree. However, if Scott is crocked; and Bennett's form has been poor (by his previous standards) then it is Taylor and ? If not Dunbar then... Lamont; Hogg? Horne maybe, but I would expect him to bench due to his curse - versatility.

demosthenes wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:This feels too soon for Dunbar. A couple of pro12 games and then dropped into one of the most physical matches we have in the 6N.

An error.

Technically I would agree.  However, if Scott is crocked; and Bennett's form has been poor (by his previous standards) then it is Taylor and ?  If not Dunbar then... Lamont; Hogg?  Horne maybe, but I would expect him to bench due to his curse - versatility.

Taylor and Horne would be my choice with Jackson on the bench. Or we persevere with Bennett.

Dunbar will be coming in cold to a must win 6N game. He is a talented guy but I worry for him in this match if he is selected.

I hope we don't see Dunbar. I'm a big fan of his work, but I'd rather we didn't risk him when he's still coming back from injury. I'd rather we let him get back to as close to 100% fit as a pro rugby player will ever get, and then have him long term, than risk him short term.

I think we'll see Taylor and Bennett again with (hopefully) Horne on the bench. Sure Bennett hasn't hit the heights he's capable of, but he's got it in him to play better than he has.

I don't get this whole "let Dunbar heal" mantra!!!

Surely he has healed or he wouldn't be playing games for Glasgow!

Also, can people stop suggesting that Du Preez will be a good sub for Scotland! As soon as he qualifies he'll be the starting 6 or 8 by a long way!

George Carlin wrote:

True Raven wrote:

Nematode wrote:I think the next two games are must win.

France and Ireland are only going to get better, if we can't beat them now, when can we?

I'd quite like to see Dunbar in the 23 and I think I'd keep Wilson and Strauss too.

Has Dunbar been injured for a long time?  Always thought he was Scotland's best centre and thought glasgows centre partnership with Bennett would have transferred to the national team

Yes, he ripped his ACL (left knee) last year which meant he couldn't compete in the 6 Nations or the RWC. 

Then, just as he'd strung a few games together at the start of this season, he damaged his thigh playing Racing 92 in January. 

He came back last week against the Dragons and is starting with his centre buddy Mark Bennett against Cardiff Blues this week. He just needs some time uninjured to get the sharpness back.

I think that he is Scotland's best centre for a decade and both Will Greenwood and Brian O'Driscoll have postulated the same in match commentary.

BOD will have played against the likes of Di Rollo, De Luca and Graeme Morrison. Probably the cleanest Ireland jerseys in his collection.

tigertattie wrote:I don't get this whole "let Dunbar heal" mantra!!!

Surely he has healed or he wouldn't be playing games for Glasgow!

Also, can people stop suggesting that Du Preez will be a good sub for Scotland! As soon as he qualifies he'll be the starting 6 or 8 by a long way!

There is a massive difference between playing for Glasgow against an extremely lackluster Cardiff and having a giant French prop rampaging down your channel.

tigertattie wrote:I don't get this whole "let Dunbar heal" mantra!!!

Surely he has healed or he wouldn't be playing games for Glasgow!

Also, can people stop suggesting that Du Preez will be a good sub for Scotland! As soon as he qualifies he'll be the starting 6 or 8 by a long way!

I think the point is more that he won't be fully up to speed after such a long lay-off and will need to get a couple more games under his belt before he's ready to hit the ground running at international level. I'm sure he'd cope physically, but the intensity of Test Match rugby requires players to be at their best, and we can't expect him to be at his best after only a couple of games back.

In any case, I see no problems with Horne, Taylor and Bennett covering the centre positions. I'd start with Taylor and Bennett (which has the benefit of continuity), and have Horne on the bench. Taylor has been one of our best players in this tournament, and we all know what Bennett is capable of.

Scotland showed against Italy that they have the game to beat France. Just got to keep it solid in defence. France seem to be trying to hard to go back to their old style of open play and are making loads of mistakes. If Scotland can remain composed, I can see them beating France. They simply have to be in front at the 60minute mark because I again feel that France's forward substitutions will have a big impact on the game.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

tigertattie wrote:I don't get this whole "let Dunbar heal" mantra!!!

Surely he has healed or he wouldn't be playing games for Glasgow!

Also, can people stop suggesting that Du Preez will be a good sub for Scotland! As soon as he qualifies he'll be the starting 6 or 8 by a long way!

I think the point is more that he won't be fully up to speed after such a long lay-off and will need to get a couple more games under his belt before he's ready to hit the ground running at international level. I'm sure he'd cope physically, but the intensity of Test Match rugby requires players to be at their best, and we can't expect him to be at his best after only a couple of games back.
.

Yeah this is pretty much what I was meaning, but also from a mental point of view. He's only just back from a serious injury and he needs to be back at full confidence otherwise he risks further injury from trying to avoid injury (if you know what I mean). He needs to play a few club games to get back up to full speed and also to trust his knee again.

Brown, Dunbar and Henry added to the Scotland squad.

I think Dunbar will start and Henry will bench, both will add to the squad. We may now have a scrum half who can come on for the last 10-15 mins and really up the tempo.

VC clearly has not been convinced by S H-Cs ability to do that and to be fair, he has not shown it in any of his Edinburgh games this year either. He needs to go off and work on his game a lot!

We are all no doubt a bit worried about Dunbar playing, but I guess you are either fit or you are not. He has had a couple of games without any more twinges and it is not as if he is an international novice. Some experience and nouce in the centre may be just what we need to bring this one home.

BigGee wrote:Brown, Dunbar and Henry added to the Scotland squad.

I think Dunbar will start and Henry will bench, both will add to the squad. We may now have a scrum half who can come on for the last 10-15 mins and really up the tempo.

VC clearly has not been convinced by S H-Cs ability to do that and to be fair, he has not shown it in any of his Edinburgh games this year either. He needs to go off and work on his game a lot!

We are all no doubt a bit worried about Dunbar playing, but I guess you are either fit or you are not. He has had a couple of games without any more twinges and it is not as if he is an international novice. Some experience and nouce in the centre may be just what we need to bring this one home.

Interesting.  I had been going to post that having seen both Edinburgh and Glasgow games this weekend that Pyrgos was already looking better than Hidalgo-Clyne for the Scotland bench slot.

eirebilly wrote:Scotland showed against Italy that they have the game to beat France. Just got to keep it solid in defence. France seem to be trying to hard to go back to their old style of open play and are making loads of mistakes. If Scotland can remain composed, I can see them beating France. They simply have to be in front at the 60minute mark because I again feel that France's forward substitutions will have a big impact on the game.

Indeed, France trying to offload way too much : 45 offloads in 3 games (when the other nations are around 10 or below) which more often leads to a knock on or worst an interception (not surprising given it's not something players do much in the T14). It is also not too difficult to defend for good defenses like Wales one (as Gatland himself said after the game). They also pass the ball a hell of a lot more than in the PSA era (512 completed passes in 3 games when Wales and England are around 300 apparently). That just shows they have no set moves and "space awareness" to unlock the defenses so rely on some heroic passing to force things up. If Scotland keep their composure while defending then it's clearly on for them. Our back 3 players have been exposed under high ball and this could be exploited by Hogg very easily.

Cowan and Maitland playing for their club, London Irish, the day after being left out of the Scotland squad through injury does not seem to have gone down to well. Both not even in the squad this time.

I wonder if they were put under any pressure to play bearing in mind LI league position. If so that is very dodgy, especially as Cowan was out with a head knock.

Neither of them has really been firing this season anyway, so it is probably no great loss to Scotland, but you wonder where it will leave them longer term.

BigGee wrote:Cowan and Maitland playing for their club, London Irish, the day after being left out of the Scotland squad through injury does not seem to have gone down to well. Both not even in the squad this time.

I wonder if they were put under any pressure to play bearing in mind LI league position. If so that is very dodgy, especially as Cowan was out with a head knock.

Neither of them has really been firing this season anyway, so it is probably no great loss to Scotland, but you wonder where it will leave them longer term.

Can't really blame the players for that, unless they were lying to the Scotland doctors.

Looking at it, I expect Dunbar to start. He played against Racing and got a thigh injury (maybe related to the ACL as it was posterior thigh). It has been almost a year since the tear and with the amount of physio he will have been receiving, he should be about ready. He has played a few games and improved in each one.

If he plays, Taylor should be outside him at 13. Bennett or Horne can bench at 23 if Maitland is out and Jackson at 22. Pyrgos was excellent for an hour against a lacklustre Cardiff and for 15-20 minutes will be more than ready against France.

Not sure about all this Wilson love. Prefer Strauss to start and Denton to bench (if he is fit). Heck I would prefer to start Harley at 6 and stick Barclay on the bench if Denton is not ready. Please drop Swinson for Toolis...please  

Du Preez should play 6 for Scotland, not 8. Feel he is better as a secondary ball carrier who provides physicality at the breakdown and the tackle. Put him next to Strauss and that is a hard working South Af....Scottish back row with any of the openside options.

Good luck Scotland.

Best not build Du Preez up before he plays international, There was a couple of folk on here expecting Strauss to turn Scotland round single handed and be pulling up trees from the start, whilst he has been ok and a useful addition to the squad he has yet to have a great game for Scotland.
It will likely be the same with Du preez he may take 6 month's to settle in internationally, he is a little inconsistent for edinburgh as well so Cotter may want to see him go in training and introduce him gradually.

What is good is Du Preez offers another guy to go into the back row pool of talent, One of the positives in the current Scotland set up is that Scotland have 4 Centers about the same level of quality so when injuries happen its not such a big issue. Personally i dont care which two of Scott, Taylor, Dunbar, Bennett plays the quality is roughly the same.

Thats what we want for every position, currently our front row pool, second row pool, and backrow pool needs boosted even if our first choices in those positions are decent. We need another guy to step up and make Weir and Russell compete at stand off, and we need more talent in the back three.

beshocked wrote: Good luck Scotland.

Thanks Beshocked, here's hoping your man puts in another terrific shift.

Burban out for the rest of the tournament (repeated concussion I think).

expect a starting XV like this :
Poirot-Guirado-Slimani
Jedrasiak-maestri
Lauret- Chouly - Le Roux / Gourdon
Machenaud-Trinh Duc
Vakatawa-Fickou/Danty-Mermoz-Fofana?
Spedding

A few changes involving the return of Trinh Duc and rotating out of form Stade Français players. Fofana on the wing is a question mark but pretty sure he will be there due to lack of suitable alternatives.

Yea bit of an own goal by Noves by not including Nakaitaci in his squad, given his first half hat trick against Grenoble on Saturday. He is back to his sublime best.
Also Vahaamahina would be a much more dangerous player in the second row for France, unfortunately he wont get picked ahead of Toulouse's Maestri even though he is streets ahead in terms of skill set, pace and fitness.

Is Medard injured? Can't think of any other reason why Spedding would be ahead of him.

Whocares...

What's the general feeling in France? You boys confident of extending your winning streak against us?

I fear the day a France coach stumbles across:

9. Parra
10. Trinh-Duc
12. Fofana
13. Fickou

Spedding actually played better than I have ever seen him play for Clermont against Grenoble. It seems that Frank Azama has managed to get him to play the Clermont way ie. getting the ball to players in space to create scoring opportunities. He had a lovely offload in the tackle for their first try and vital passes in at least 3 of the other tries in a 45- 12 demolition of Grenoble.
I f France can actually win quick ball and  Trinh_Duc starts then Spedding (if picked) could be a dangerous addition to the back line, if he can bring his club form to this game.

Not been overly impressed by the French scrum (admittedly I was at the Italy game and they could have improved a lot), but they are big boy's and will try to bully Scotland. They have not hit their stride for me and think we should hold up. The Gray's both need to play 80 if Swinson is on the bench and disrupt the French line out to stop the maul. We are going to get marched back so might as well force them to throw and jump perfectly.

Fofana on the wing is a massive waste of talent. He is a good wing who can have a big day or a centre who you have to gameplan against and even then you might not stop him. France have struggled to get the ball to the wings and if Fofana only gets to touch the ball 5 times he has been wasted.

Spedding instead of Medart makes sense since neither Trinh Duc or Machenaud are decent long range kicker. If for some weird reason Plisson is picked then he's not that useful...
As for Vahaamahina, I agree he might be our best 2nd row on current form but even against Grenoble he managed to concede 3 penalties, that's way too much for an international lock imo. Nakaitaci just started to recover his form of last season so it's a bit premature to add him but given the injury crisis on the wing he might come back sooner rather than later.
Tattie Scone, I am mildly confident ahead of this game. Not that I think France are favorites but Scotland does not have the same fear factor than Wales and are a bit less physical as well which suit France. Even in the PSA era our record there was decent and god some awful French teams played there. reckon it's a 50/50 game. I wont be surprised if Scotland put a big score on us either considering that if the weather is nice it might even be an open game given both teams like to pass the ball around.

I'm actually really excited for this game, both teams are realistically restructuring, Scotland seem to be ahead of France right now in those stakes, but both are trying to play a certain way.

I don't think either team will now regress to a negative narrow borefest, as they have been steadfast thus far. Playing England and Wales was high pressure, and both teams were forced to play a certain way.

This could realistically be a 29-28 nail biter, and one for the neutrals (I hope)

Fanster wrote:I'm actually really excited for this game, both teams are realistically restructuring, Scotland seem to be ahead of France right now in those stakes, but both are trying to play a certain way.

I don't think either team will now regress to a negative narrow borefest, as they have been steadfast thus far. Playing England and Wales was high pressure, and both teams were forced to play a certain way.

This could realistically be a 29-28 nail biter, and one for the neutrals (I hope)

Sadly Scotland usually contrive to lose those!

France have a prop called Poirot? Great name. I'm expecting to see David Suchet on the field!

Whocares
Vahaamahina did concede three penalties but he won quality lineout ball, had a great basketball off load for Strettle's try, cleared rucks and tackled big all game. The French back row need as much help as possible in turning over ball. In the context of a game that Clermont won 45-12 conceding three penalties over the ball had no effect on the match. He is usually more effective over the ball, winning two or three turn overs per game, and IMO would make the front five a much more formidable unit than leaving Maestre in place.

George Carlin wrote:Bsando - swap Strauss for the Mental Crayon in the starting XV and I agree completely. Makes me sad to see Tiny Tim in there when Toolis had a very good game against Connacht.

Roll on the day when we can have:
18 Gilchrist
19 Du Preez

Yes Gilchrist is a big miss, his impact combined with Strauss on the bench would be fantastic. Toolis will hopefully get some game time this summer and maybe then we'll see him playing for Scotland in the autumn?

Du Preez is potentially going to be awesome. I am really excited to see him playing for Scotland, when is he eligible again?

Think we'll ever see a Scotland XV like this in next year or two? Dickinson, Ford, Nel, J Gray, Gilchrist, Du Preez, Hardie, Denton, Laidlaw, Russell, Visser, Dunbar, Bennett, Seymour, Hogg

As far as this weekends game goes, I am nervous Scotland will not capitalise on their field position. The French were pretty handy at keeping Scotland pinned in their own half last few games and I suspect they'll do something similar again. However, if we can see Scotland score some early trys like they did vs Italy then that may force France to change tactics.

bsando wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Bsando - swap Strauss for the Mental Crayon in the starting XV and I agree completely. Makes me sad to see Tiny Tim in there when Toolis had a very good game against Connacht.

Roll on the day when we can have:
18 Gilchrist
19 Du Preez

Du Preez is potentially going to be awesome. I am really excited to see him playing for Scotland, when is he eligible again?

Somewhere between 18th September and 6th October this year I believe.

He made his Edinburgh debut on 6 October 2013, coming on as a replacement against Cardiff. However, his signing was announced on 18th September 2013 and the press statement said that "he is expected to arrive later this month".

Not that I'm counting the days or anything.....

So the next 6 Nations could see us putting out:

01 Dickinson
02 Ford
03 Nel
04 Gray
05 Gray
06 Du Preez
07 Hardie
08 Strauss

16 Reid
17 McInally
18 Fagerson
19 Gilchrist
20 Barclay/Denton

Just think of 5 years ago. This is dreamland in comparison.

Personally I'd go either:

Du Preez
Hardie
Denton

or

Barclay
Hardie
Du Preez

Yeah Strauss hasn't done much for Scotland to be honest. He had a great Cameo against Italy but really failed to bring that Glasgow form in the RWC which was a shame.

Also Watson is another I think will do great stuff for Scotland.