After a week hiatus, the Guinness Six Nations tournaments roars back into action. A key test match for France in Paris against a Scottish side who despite injuries will look to secure a road trip in France for the first time since 1999. Hawkeye Sidekick previews the action.
Jacques Brunel and France need to deliver
To say that this Guinness Six Nations tournament has been an unmitigated disaster for France would be the understatement of the year. Their Waterloo moment at Twickenham in round two has prompted Brunel to make more key personnel changes in hope than expectation.
Brunel has heaped faith on the Toulouse back line unit to come to his aid. Ramos comes into the full back slot to relieve Huget from the position. Fickou partners Bastareaud in the midfield, a better coaching decision from France. How France thought that Fickou was a world class wing is more evidence of the erratic team selection currently at play.
The half back combination is a Toulouse pairing. Dupont gets a deserved starting test match, the player has impressed for club this season but his ten partner is no other than Ntamack who has plied his trade at twelve this season for Toulouse. The player is more than capable but in the heat of a test match, this is another iffy selection from Brunel and management.
The pack looks robust, physical with the likes of Bamba, Poirot and Guirado in the front row. Lambey continues in the second row while there is a change in the back row where Lauret comes in for Camara. Picamoles and Iturria need to provide ball carrying dominance early.
The individuals are excellent but the team dynamic is entirely different question for me. Scotland will hope that this is the case and expose the frail confidence with the French camp. The exclusion of Lopez and Parra from the national team squad has wasted energy for Brunel and team when it should have been focused on the game plan this weekend.
Scotland will look to win in Paris for the first time since 1999. The task for Scotland is tough considering the injury list compounded by the withdrawal of Finn Russell at the start of the week. The perils of the player plying his trade in France came to haunt Scottish management as Russell suffered the head knock in their loss against Toulouse. A big blow considering that Stuart Hogg also misses out for Scotland; another creative force unavailable.
What to expect from Scotland? The pack need to provide a platform this weekend. It will be tough in the opening half considering the size and bulk that they will face in France but hopefully for Gregor Townsend’s side, the French pack will start to tire and could provide some try scoring opportunities. The key is to stay in the contest until half-time and then look to strike in the third quarter.
Peter Horne is entrusted to execute the Scottish game plan from the ten jersey. A talented player but at times can be a little predictable in his passing plays; interceptions are not far away. Horne’s kicking game has to be varied to keep France defensively off balance, otherwise Fickou and Huget will sense intercept opportunities.
The back line looks potentially exciting provided that they were given sufficient quick ruck ball. Kinghorn, Seymour and Maitland need to take the game to France with their ball carries. The pack is a mixed bag. Nel’s absence means less scrummaging presence which is a concern. Ireland enjoyed good periods of dominance in the set piece in round two and Scotland need to compete in the line out from minute one. They cannot be as passive as they were against Ireland.
Magnus Bradbury is a welcome addition for Scotland. The Edinburgh forward has just returned from injury; his abrasive ball carries will assist Scotland no end and should complement the breakdown nous of Ritchie and Strauss who will look to impose himself in the eight channel; looking for Ntamack at every opportunity.
Verdict:
This was a contest last weekend that I thought Scotland had a massive opportunity to win but the injury to Finn Russell has tipped the balance. I question how Peter Horne will control this test match sufficiently to see Scotland home here and coupled with Scottish pack vulnerability at the set piece, this looks to me like a France victory provided that they do not hit the self destruction button (questionable to say the least).