Scotland vs France Preview

Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Date: Sunday, 26 February
Kick-off: 1500 GMT

So after the first interval break, we steam ahead to the third round of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations and the middle weekend throws up some intriguing contests all over again.

On Sunday, the winless Scots take on the French who haven't played for 3 weeks since the Italy game in Paris because their match with the Irish was called off at the eleventh hour because of a frozen pitch.  Can we read anything into that? Probably not.  What it doesn't give Scotland is the match video that would have been so useful in the lead up to this weekend's game.

Their win over Italy was enough to blow some cobwebs away, but was not so demanding as to really push them.  Saint-Andre will have been pleased with the forwards display and the execution from the backs when the chances were there.  What is clear about that game is that Italy didn't perform to their potential, all the more obvious after seeing their performance against England in Rome.

The French will field the same side that was due to face Ireland last weekend. Dmitri Yachvili is still out with a back problem, so Morgan Parra will start with Francois Trinh-Duc at 10.  The consistency in team selection is so important for any team, but the French have no reason to change a winning formula.  they will come to Edinburgh as clear favourites, but they will need their wits about them against a Scotland team that has shown signs of promise over the last 2 rounds without getting the results.

For Scotland, their self-destructive tendencies have contributed to their losses so far.  Certainly in the case of the English game, they lost it rather than England winning it, butchering some chances that would have seen them win reasonably comfortably.

Look beyond that initial layer of frustration, and it is clear to see the positive elements of play that Andy Robinson and the players have been keen to focus on in the two week break.  The defence has been excellent for the most part, the lineout has been superior in both games and the back row play at the breakdown has been a step beyond where it was at the World Cup.

Despite only scoring 1 try, the creation of chances is there.  The first 80% is great, it's the final 20% that has let the team down.

Scotland have been excellent at many things, but they will have to be the bare minimum requirement as they face a French team that has the potential to make it a very uncomfortable afternoon for Scotland.  The French lineout will be very good and the new back row combination for Scotland will never have faced a unit of the likes of Picamoles, Harinordoquy and the rucking machine that is Thierry Dusautoir.

The team news for Scotland is significant and I think positive with changes at centre where Lamont has been moved out to 13 with the re-introduction of Graeme Morrison into the 12 position, meaning a very physical midfield and a drop down to the bench for Nick de Luca. The returning Ruaridh Jackson will have to wait for his return to the international fold as Laidlaw starts and Weir holds on to his place on the bench. Stuart Hogg gets his first start and displaces Rory Lamont from the full back position to take Max Evans' place on the wing. Crucially, there is a swap at scrum half where Cusiter will warm the bench and Blair starts. I think both have good impact from the bench and I expect to see the change after around 50 minutes.

In the forwards, Robinson's hand has been forced slightly with the injuries to Kelly Brown and Al Strokosch meaning John Barclay will get his first start of the tournament at blindside and Richie Vernon taking the supporting role on the bench.  Otherwise, the settled pack is unchanged from the Wales game.

Morrison returns to the Scottish midfield

The spotlight will be firmly focussed on the Scottish backline, who will be looking to move on from the Welsh debacle and finish some of the chances they know the team can create.  Lee Jones has yet to show his killer instinct, but may get to run a bit as the games with the French tend to open up a bit (remember last year when Scotland scored 3 tries in Paris?).  Stuart Hogg will have the chance to build on his impressive debut in Cardiff and will also benefit from broken play.

I can't help but think that it all just has to click for Scotland at some point.  Will it be this weekend?  Why not.  The French will look to spread the ball and as mentioned, they can be ruthless when their minds are in the game.  We have also seen them lose concentration and create opportunities for opposition teams (thinking specifically of the RWC where they lost to Tonga).

Scotland can do it, but they can't rely on lapses in French concentration to pull it off.  They will need to continue to create and carve out the opportunities thay have done to date but only convert them much better.  Only.

Scotland:
15. S Hogg, 14. R Lamont, 13. S Lamont, 12. G Morrison, 11. L Jones, 10. G Laidlaw, 9. M Blair, 1. A Jacobsen, 2. R Ford (c), 3. G Cross, 4. R Gray, 5. J Hamilton, 6. J Barclay, 7. R Rennie, 8. D Denton

Bench: 16. S Lawson, 17. E Kalman, 18. A Kellock, 19. R Vernon, 20. C Cusiter, 21. D Weir, 22. N de Luca

France:

15. M Medard, 14. V Clerc, 13. A Rougerie, 12. W Fofana, 11. J Malzieu, 10. F Trinh-Duc, 9. M Parra, 1. JB Poux, 2. D Szarzewski, 3. N Mas, 4. P Pape, 5. Y Maestri, 6. T Dusautoir (c), 7. I Harinordoquy, 8. L Picamoles

Bench: 16. W Servat, 17. V Debaty, 18. L Nallet, 19. J Bonnaire, 20. J Dupuy, 21. L Beauxis, 22. M Mermoz.

France vs Ireland Preview

Perhaps the most intriguing game of this weekends RBS 6 Nations will be when France host Ireland on Saturday.  Both teams have something to prove following the first round of results.

As seems to be the way this year, each team selection seems to be that bit more based on current form rather than old favourites, perhaps symptomatic of squad evolution following World Cups.  The French are no exception as they produced a solid enough display against the Italians to see out a 30-12 victory at the Stade de France.  The new look backline with the introduction of Wesley Fofana at centre and the return of the in form Julien Malzieu on the wing looked to be a settled unit which certainly took their chances when they presented themselves.

However, I wouldn't say that the French were at their brilliant best.  If anything over the last few years, particularly under Marc Lievremont, the French became less synonomous with the famous flair and more with how they can grind out results, and that's when they win.  The French lost on more occasions than they'd like to remember under Lievremont, including 3 games at the 2011 RWC and a trouncing at home to Australia.  Saturday's victory was much along the same lines - flashes of brilliance but still very much a workmanlike overall performance. 

Saint-Andre won't mind.  He was a player who thrived on capitalising on the great setup play created by having a hard working and heavy pack, much like the one he controls now.  I dare say that the French fans will be looking for a slight return to the days of free flowing rugby that saw their team win numerous Grand Slams early on in the 6 Nations.

Saint-Andre has tinkered slightly, most notably by bringing in the bigger Imanol Harinordiquy for Julien Bonnaire at openside, and starting with Morgan Parra in place of the injured Dmitri Yachvili (back).

Keith Earls will start for Ireland after missing

out against Wales for personal reasons

Saturday sees the visit of the Irish who will be hurting after losing at home to the Welsh, after being up by a score and a man with 10 minutes left in the game.  Winning in Dublin isn't easy, and it's a place the Irish hate to lose, so they will have everything to prove against the French on their own patch.

Perhaps the pressure will be off the Irish a little, as it is for any team playing away from home.  The Stade de France is an intimidating atmosphere when the French have the wind at their backs, but equally baron when the opposition get the upper hand.  Over the years, it has proved to be as much of a distraction to the French when they are losing than it is for the visitors when they are.

I think this will be as tight a game as the Welsh game was for the Irish, and I can't see who will win it.  The French haven't done enough in the first round to convince me that they can fulfil my prediction of winning the tournamnet.  Then again, it was Saint-Andre's first game at the helm, and a win is a win.  The Irish will be supremely motivated to put Sunday's result behind them and probably pleased that they only have 6 days to get out there and show their fans what they are all about.

Let's remember, at times, the Irish played very well against Wales and have the ability to beat anyone on their day.

It should be a cracking match, and I'm looking forward to it with relish.

France:

15. M Medard, 14. V Clerc, 13. A Rougerie, 12. W Fofana, 11. J Malzieu, 10. F Trinh-Duc, 9. M Parra, 1. JB Poux, 2. D Szarzewski, 3. N Mas, 4. P Pape, 5. Y Maestri, 6. T Dusautoir (c), 7. I Harinordoquy, 8. L Picamoles

Bench: 16. W Servat, 17. V Debaty, 18. L Nallet, 19. J Bonnaire, 20. J Dupuy, 21. L Beauxis, 22. M Mermoz.

Ireland:

15. R Kearney, 14. T Bowe, 13. K Earls, 12. G D’Arcy, 11. A Trimble, 10. J Sexton, 9. C Murray, 1. C Healy, 2. R Best, 3. M Ross, 4. D O’Callaghan, 5. P O’Connell (c), 6. S Ferris, 7. S O’Brien, 8. J Heaslip

Bench: 16. S Cronin, 17. T Court, 18. D Ryan, 19. P O’Mahony, 20. E Reddan, 21. R O’Gara, 22. F McFadden

A French Fancy

Phillipe Saint-Andre released the details of his French 30-man 6 Nations squad today, and it makes for interesting reading.

Firstly, there are only two uncapped players included - the Clermont centre Wesley Fofana, who has been in sparkling form this season so far, and of the games I have seen him in during the Heinekin Cup, looks to be a potent threat.  He would have to be, because he's kept Toulouse man Florien Fritz and resurgent Toulon man Mathieu Basteraud out of the offing.  The other is Toulouse lock Yoann Maestri who looks to be another in a long line of quality second rowers from France.

Fofana has been outstanding so far this season

However, the most striking thing that immediately stands out to me is the fact that the squad is comprised entirely of France-based players.  Not such a surprise perhaps, France has always been quite insular with it's homegrown talent, and with the money that is swirling around the Top 14 clubs, why would they want to leave?  But the 30 strong squad represents 8 different clubs in the domestic league.

The largest investment of players, predictably, comes from Toulouse where 12 players have made Saint-Andre's cut.  Clermont are second with 7, but the rest are fairly evenly split between Biarritz, Castres, Perpignan, Montpellier, Stade Francais and Toulon.

Looking more closely at those that have made the squad, it's clear to see that the clubs providing just 1 or 2 players are hardly making up the numbers - they are providing quality players.  Take Montpellier where Francois Trinh-Duc and flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo are likely starters for the French.  Biarritz are the same with Fabien Barcella and Imanol Harinordoquy.

What is great about the French Top 14 is that the quality of players are spread across such a large number of teams.  There are some that do things differently, like Toulon, who have invested heavily in foreign imports but generally speaking, French rugby talent is very well taken care of, and with the spread of that talent, there are plenty of opportunities for players to play rugby at the highest level.

Saint-Andre's selection looks ominously strong, and efficient.  30 men is 6 less than what Scottish coach Andy Robinson has picked for Scotland.  If the new French coach is as ruthless with his tactics as he is with his selection, we should all be watching out.