France v Scotland: Six Nations tips, preview, betting & team news

TV: BBC1, 2.15pm Saturday

Scotland last won in Paris 20 years ago, when the Six Nations were still five, and their hopes of snapping that long winless run has been hit by some key injuries.

On the face of it France look there for the taking after two defeats - a second-half collapse against Wales and a Twickenham humbling against England.

Les Bleus have been all at sea, and some baffling selection decisions, a lack of defensive organisation, low morale and aimless play are just a few of the criticisms fired at them.

Coach Jacques Brunel has reacted in typically French style by ripping up his team sheet and starting again. Half-backs Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez are gone and untried pair Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, with 13 caps between them, take over.

Ntamack has been a key part in Toulouse’s European success and Dupont made an impact off the bench against England, so with Fickou back in midfield, France have the potential to raise their game.

And they certainly have an edge up front. A depleted Scotland pack had something of an armchair ride against Italy, providing their backs with a good supply of quick ball, but against Ireland it was a struggle and this could be a tougher battle up front.

And if the Scots do find themselves short of quick ball, their backline has taken a hit with injuries to key men.

Full-back Stuart Hogg is sidelined after injuring his shoulder against Ireland, and although Blair Kinghorn, who scored a hat-trick in the opening match against Italy, comes in for him, Hogg’s broken-field running will surely be missed.

But the bigger loss by far is that of fly-half Finn Russell, who is at the heart of the Scots’ attacking game. Pete Horne is the man tasked with filling his boots but he doesn’t have the vision and snappy execution of Russell, while scrum-half Greig Laidlaw is too often ponderous in his approach.

France are going through a tough period, with only three wins in 13 Tests since the start of 2018. Their mercurial nature is well known but they made a solid enough start to the championship as they forged a 16-0 lead against Wales in the first 40 minutes and if they can build a platform through the forwards it could turn into a long afternoon for the depleted Scots.

The handicap has been bumped up a couple of points since the news of Russell’s injury, but line of less than a converted try still looks within the grasp of Les Bleus.

Recommendation
France -4
2pts 10-11 Betfred

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