Summary

  • Scotland have beaten England and Wales since losing to Italy

  • France boast 100% record

  1. Can Scotland do it?published at 15:29 GMT 5 March

    There you go. Gregor Townsend has faith in his men, while acknowledging the size of the task.

    We've had a bit of everything from Scotland in the first three games, good, bad and ugly.

    What will get on Saturday at Murrayfield?

    Prediction time... Get on those thumbs if you think Scotland can stop the French juggernaut.

    Scotland's star man Finn RussellImage source, SNS
  2. 'Zander Fagerson is going to get big minutes'published at 15:24 GMT 5 March

    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "Elliot Millar Mills is ruled out with injury. Zander Fagerson gets through so much work outside the set-piece but his main role is in the set-piece. Elliot has come on and really added speed and been very good at scrum time. Knowing that he was unavailable and on the back of what D'Arcy Rae did against New Zealand and Argentina in November we felt this was a better combination of Darcy starting and Zander on the bench.

    "Zander is going to get big minutes. Whether he has more influence in the first half or the second half of games, that's why we feel he may be better coming off the bench. D'Arcy just needs to play like he did against New Zealand and Argentina.

    "We've looked at potential opportunities for Freddy Douglas throughout the championship. We were debating a 6-2 split against Wales but we went for a 5-3 and also Freddy had a little injury niggle that was one reason we didn't want him playing at the weekend.

    "We just feel Freddy's game is at a world class level. He's the best in the world this year at winning the ball back for his team and we've seen him doing that against top sides. We believe he's going to have such a big impact in all facets of the game but especially us getting the ball back."

  3. 'Great fixtures with France'published at 15:21 GMT 5 March

    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "France have shown over the last two or three games that they're the best attacking team in the world but it's the next game that counts.

    "We want to limit their opportunities to play off turnover ball but also take the game to them.

    "Is it possible to win our next two games? Yes. I believe in the group. Any game we go into, I believe we can beat our opposition.

    "It is important for our players to remember how we've set up to play against France, how [previous] games have gone. They've been great games, they've been games where we've maybe had even more opportunities to win.

    "They're a top team but it's a team we've risen our game for when we've played against them and we felt very frustrated not to win against them two years ago. They've been great fixtures, hopefully that means it'll be a really open, contested game at the weekend but if it's a 3-0 win we'll take that as well."

  4. 'Scotland need 9/10 levels'published at 15:17 GMT 5 March

    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "It's about winning. That's what we are here for. Whatever that means for the championship, we'll see after the game. Right now, it's about doing all we can to being better than France.

    "We know we have to be up there at 9 out 10 levels."

  5. Postpublished at 15:14 GMT 5 March

    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "It's going to be a challenging first 20 minutes because France have been very good at starting games so far.

    "It's narrowing the focus, knowing what you need to do, outworking the opposition.

  6. 'Dempsey an explosive carrier'published at 15:10 GMT 5 March

    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "Jack Dempsey's return is unexpected and a real boost. He has the cohesion with the others in the back row and he's an explosive carrier for us.

    "We feel like we have players in the starting XV and the bench that can give us go-forward."

  7. 'South Africa the number one side'published at 15:07 GMT 5 March

    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "France are looking to offload, to get the ball to their fastest players, but often that's because of a mistake from the opposition.

    "France are playing such an evasive style, scoring lots of tries. They will be full of confidence.

    "It's up there with [facing] South Africa but I still think the Springboks are the best team in the world right now."

  8. 'How we get the ball back off France is going to be key'published at 15:03 GMT 5 March

    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "It has to be 70-80% on yourself and how you can impose your game on the opposition. But there's an awareness of what they are going to do and you have to turn that to your advantage. How we get the ball back off France is going to be key. Don't give them easy opportunities.

  9. Postpublished at 15:00 GMT 5 March

    Now we can hear from the head coach himself...

  10. Postpublished at 14:57 GMT 5 March

    Duhan van der Merwe was out in the cold, then back in the picture against Wales.

    However, the powerful winger didn't do much to advance his cause in Cardiff and doesn't make the matchday 23.

    The right call from Gregor Townsend?

  11. 'Always so much fun'published at 14:49 GMT 5 March

    "They often are really fatiguing games because you've got two teams that are trying to have a crack," said Scotland winger Kyle Steyn yesterday.

    "Both teams will make errors and we obviously know how lethal they are from transition so you've got to try and not make those errors, but at the same time, they've got a big juggernaut up front that needs to move and we relish the chance to have a go against them and try and make them defend. You look forward to these games, they're always so much fun.

    "This is a game where you just know it's going to be fun from one to 80. You don't know what's going to happen but it's going to flow."

  12. Postpublished at 14:46 GMT 5 March

    Scotland's last home win against France in the Six Nations came in 2020.

    Sean Maitland scored two tries that day in a 28-17 success, while there was a first-half red card for Mohamed Haouas.

    Sean Maitland goes over for his second tryImage source, SNS
  13. Bench could be pivotalpublished at 14:40 GMT 5 March

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

    Gregor Townsend has often been criticised for failing to use his replacements or not going to his bench early enough in games, but he got that side of the game spot on against Wales.

    He hauled off Max Williamson and Nathan McBeth on 35 minutes in Cardiff, acknowledging that his starting XV was struggling.

    Pierre Schoeman and Josh Bayliss had a big impact, as did the likes of George Horne and Tom Jordan later on.

    The bench impact will be crucial on Saturday. Scotland fans might be best advised not to look at some of the weapons France will be calling upon, but Scotland have some good options to deploy too.

    Ewan Ashman's carrying will be valuable in the closing stages, Zander Fagerson should have a point to prove having been demoted, while it will be fascinating to see what young Freddy Douglas can do in his specialist area at the breakdown.

    The key for Scotland is to still be in the game when these guys enter the fray.

    Josh Bayliss added power from the bench for Scotland in CardiffImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Josh Bayliss added power from the bench for Scotland in Cardiff

  14. Fast start essential against the fastest starters aroundpublished at 14:36 GMT 5 March

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland chief sports writer

    France have not trailed for a solitary second in any of their three games so far. To say that they have a tendency to fly out of the traps is a bit of an understatement.

    They've scored tries in minutes 1, 2, 4, 10 and 15. Maybe they'll get spooked if they have to play catch-up, but none of Ireland, Wales or Italy have come anywhere close to finding out.

  15. 'Written off' Scotland can surprise France, says Beattiepublished at 14:33 GMT 5 March

    "We've been written off but I still think it's possible," is what former Scotland number eight Johnnie Beattie had to tell the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast.

    "It's a funny Scottish set-up because they have such high days and such lows as well but they're capable of the extraordinary.

    "I wouldn't put it past them to beat a French side, travelling away from home that know they've got a game in hand and can wrap up a championship this weekend. But they could also be very French about it and be absolutely dismal.

    "Let's not forget that we've put them under real pressure before, both in Paris and at Murrayfield."

    You can listen in for more here.

  16. Postpublished at 14:28 GMT 5 March

    Scotland have met France 13 times during Gregor Townsend's tenure, winning five.

    The French are seeking a fifth successive Six Nations win against Scotland.

  17. Youthful and rampant France the ultimate test for Scotlandpublished at 14:24 GMT 5 March

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland chief sports writer

    France might have four changes for this game but they're reverting to the starting line-up that took Ireland to the cleaners on that opening Thursday night.

    Theo Attisogbe is 21, Nicolas Depoortere is 23, Louis Bielle-Biarrey is 22 and Oscar Jegou is 22, Baby-faced assassins.

    Bielle-Biarrey is out of of this world. He's scored in his past eight Six Nations games.

    Imagine having such strength that you can leave Thibaud Flament, one of the world's best locks in my view, on the bench while leaving out Damian Penaud, Gregory Alldritt and Cameron Woki and many others altogether.

    France are dripping with world class. What a test for Scotland. They must be relishing it. It doesn't get much bigger than this.

    Louis Bielle-Biarrey scores against IrelandImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Can Scotland halt Louis Bielle-Biarrey's scoring run?

  18. Lie of the landpublished at 14:20 GMT 5 March

    France will be champions with a game to spare if they pick up a bonus-point victory in Edinburgh.

    Meanwhile, a home win would allow Scotland to head to Ireland on the final day with a genuine shot at a first title in 27 years.

  19. Dempsey return huge for Scotlandpublished at 14:18 GMT 5 March

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

    Jack Dempsey being fit to start is huge for Scotland. He is their biggest, most-effective ball carrier and his punch will be vital in taking the fight to the French.

    Zander Fagerson dropping to the bench is a surprise, but not a shock. He has been well off his best so far in this Six Nations and the Scottish scrum has been a problem. D’arcy Rae performed well when called upon against the All Blacks in November and he’ll need another big performance to help Scotland get parity at set-piece.

    It’ll be a big day too for Freddy Douglas. The Edinburgh back-row will make his Six Nations debut and Gregor Townsend will hope his exceptional skills at the breakdown can disrupt the French attack.

    Jack Dempsey in action against EnglandImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Jack Dempsey in action against England

  20. What about France?published at 14:16 GMT 5 March

    A graphic of the France team to play ScotlandImage source, SNS

    Unbeaten France have made four personnel changes to their line-up, which was announced this morning.

    Thomas Ramos moves from fly-half to full-back to replace Theo Attissogbe, who is moved to the wing with Gael Drean dropping out.

    Matthieu Jalibert takes over from Ramos at fly-half while Yoram Moefana and Nicolas Depoortere form a new centre partnership with in place of Fabien Brau-Boirie and Emilien Gailleton.

    Lock Charles Ollivon coming in for Thibaud Flament is the only change in the pack.

    Unlike Drean, Brau-Boirie and Gailleton, Flament takes up a place among the replacements.

    Fabien Galthie's Grand Slam contenders side have recorded bonus-point wins over Ireland, Wales and Italy and finish at home to England after facing Scotland.

    France: Ramos, Attissogbe, Depoortere, Moefana, Bielle-Biarry, Jalibert, Dupont; J-B Gros, Marchand, Aldegheri, Ollivon, Guillard, F Gros, Jegou, Jelonch.

    Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Bamba, Flament, Meafou, Serin, Barassi.