6N 2018: Scotland v France, 11th February

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SCOTLAND v FRANCE
11 February 2018
KO: 15:00 GMT
BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Live on [BBC Jockland]

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant 1: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant 2: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

A. Head to Head

91 Played 91
35 Won 53
3 Drawn 3
53 Lost 35
1,118 Points 1,302

B. Recent Form

8 March 2014
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
17 – 19 to France

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

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

13 March 2016
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
29 – 18 to Scotland

12 February 2017
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
22 – 16 to France

C. Teams

SCOTLAND 

Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Peter Horne (all Glasgow), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Finn Russell (Glasgow), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne); Gordon Reid (London Irish), Stuart McInally, Simon Berghan, Grant Gilchrist (all Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Glasgow), John Barclay (Scarlets, capt), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow).

Replacements: Scott Lawson (Newcastle), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Jon Welsh (Newcastle), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh), Dave Denton (Worcester), Ali Price (Glasgow), Chris Harris (Newcastle), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh).

FRANCE


Palis; Thomas, Doumayrou, Lamerat, Vakatawa; Beauxis, Machenaud; Poirot, Guirado, Slimani, Itturia, Vahaamahina , Lauret , Tauleigne.

Replacements: Pelissie, Ben Arous, Gomes Sa, Gabrillagues, Serin, Belleau, Fall.

***


What is worse? Getting utterly thrashed by a rampant Welsh team away from home, when everyone (except the Welsh clearly) saw Scotland as the up and coming team about to do great things in this tournament; or to lose a game with a drop goal on the last kick of the game to an Irish team who had just kept the ball for 31 phases!

Answers on a postcard please!

The truth is neither scenario is a good one and it is hard to guess how they will play on the minds of the respective teams over the coming week.

The good thing is that in the 6N, redemption is potentially only a game away and both teams have another chance at it this coming weekend.

Both teams look like they will have to make significant changes, France due to injury and Scotland because they were so cr*p yesterday. How that will pan out on the game is anyone's guess.

I am not however expecting to hear to many optimistic noises coming from the Scotland camp or their fans and media this week. Let us go back to being the underdogs, it seems to be the only mindset that can get us to play well!

I fear France will be too clever and too strong in the pack for Scotland.

Scotland better wise up from last week and be more pragmatic when in possession.

BBC showing Finn Russell lowlights clip from last week - he really was awful.

Our we going to get any pre-game braveheart style reinactments?

Or is that saved for England only?

Just saw on the Beeb that France made a 6N record 253 tackles against Ireland. If anything, it really highlights that this French team has some serious fitness to them.

Seriously weak defence by Russell there, good try but should never have been one.

Great tackling Finn

Breathless opening exchanges - our wide defence was far too passive leading to the try.

I'm sure there was a knock on earlier though!

Finn Russell oh dear. Again. Why hasn’t he been dropped? Have Scotland really not got a better 10? Shocking almost every time I see him play.

That wasn't passive defence, that was an embarrassment of a tackle attempt.

Russell needs to get his head in the game asap

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:That wasn't passive defence, that was an embarrassment of a tackle attempt.

Russell needs to get his head in the game asap

Not just on the final phase - on the other side of the pitch we sat off them and gave them easy territory

Come on, own up somebody: who sent the Scottish management the Joke Rule Book with Rule 100c/ 'it is illegal to make a tackle in the first ten minutes of an international game'?

Seriously, though ...

France making big games with the ball all over the pitch

Much better from our backs;

Hopefully that phase will settle us down now, we've looked nervous so far

Much better from Scotland, that's the way to move France around the park.

Much, much better!

France are going to have an easy win if they keep running at the speed bumps like Hogg who offers no defence.

Good come back, hope they keep it up.

Fantastic try there, Scotland showed some great patience and control there.

glamorganalun wrote:France are going to have an easy win if they keep running at the speed bumps like Hogg who offers no defence.

Good come back, hope they keep it up.

.

He's not missed and tackles?

Breathless pace - that certainly suits Scotland more over the 80

RDW_Scotland wrote:Breathless pace - that certainly suits Scotland more over the 80

As I said earlier, France made a 6N record of 253 tackles last week. Fitness does not seem to be an issue for them.

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Breathless pace - that certainly suits Scotland more over the 80

As I said earlier, France made a 6N record of 253 tackles last week. Fitness does not seem to be an issue for them.

Last week wasn't a fast paced game though - there's a lot more running this week

True enough but I do think this French team is a lot fitter than in years gone by.

Watson is some player.

Russell's kicking from hand is a real worry. Forwards looking a lot more composed now though at least

Russell’s kicking from hand is one of the worst i’ve seen! Too long, too short, charged down, out on the full.

20+ mns gone already: this is a GREAT game to watch for the neutral. I can only imagine what it's doing to your blood pressure if you're Scottish or French, though. It's reminding me a bit of that England v France basketball score match at HQ a couple of years ago.

Lorenetti might be looking for a refund at this rate. Russell is looking absolutely mince.

Scrum doing well on our own ball.

Berghan has started well IMO

RDW_Scotland wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Breathless pace - that certainly suits Scotland more over the 80

As I said earlier, France made a 6N record of 253 tackles last week. Fitness does not seem to be an issue for them.

Last week wasn't a fast paced game though - there's a lot more running this week

Wait a minute, I see that thinly veiled dig at Irish rugby...

What's happened to Russell recently - I didn't think he made this many mistakes?

Oh Laidlaw... How?

France playing lovely rugby. Laidlaw

Our wide defence letting us down again!

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Breathless pace - that certainly suits Scotland more over the 80

As I said earlier, France made a 6N record of 253 tackles last week. Fitness does not seem to be an issue for them.

Last week wasn't a fast paced game though - there's a lot more running this week

Wait a minute, I see that thinly veiled dig at Irish rugby...

Not a dig at all!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Breathless pace - that certainly suits Scotland more over the 80

As I said earlier, France made a 6N record of 253 tackles last week. Fitness does not seem to be an issue for them.

Last week wasn't a fast paced game though - there's a lot more running this week

Wait a minute, I see that thinly veiled dig at Irish rugby...

Not a dig at all!

Hey, let me look for any dig at all, I will even invent them

Insinuating Ireland don't play attacking rugby

Russell!!!!!!!!

Sub him off.

Total brainfart from Laidlaw....schoolboy rugby, if the ball's loose you drop on it and secure it, don't watch the bounce.

Take Russell off now! Jeebus he is awful

Is Lacey just not bothering with forward passes now?

How the hell did Russell just miss the touchline from one metre away??!

Jesus Frak Russell.

Scotland must have somebody better than Russell....lads a liability.

Well we're doing a lot wrong but that's two good tries to keep in the game! Great line by Jones

Jaysus this match is open. Such high tempo from both, a very exciting game to watch.

What a beautiful line!!!

Good maul defence

This match is mad

Does POC know where he is??? He cant decide if he's watching Scotland, Ireland or England.

Jones does run some lovely lines, great build up too.

Yes there was some great handling ...