France vs Scotland predictions, betting tips and odds: Les Bleus primed to power to title success

Where to watch France vs Scotland

You can watch France vs Scotland on ITV1 at 8pm on Saturday, March 15

France vs Scotland best bet

France -17.5 & over 63.5 points
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France vs Scotland odds

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France vs Scotland predictions

The Six Nations title permutations are many and complex but there's a simple rule at the heart of it - unless England slam Wales by 90-odd points earlier in the day, any win will do for France.

Yes, Les Bleus fluffed their lines at Twickenham and their best player, scrum-half Antoine Dupont, is injured, but do Scotland have it in them to spring a 15-2 surprise at a full and fervent Stade de France?

The Scots bounced back from defeat to England with a strong first-half showing against Wales in Edinburgh last week but they let things slip in the final quarter, conceding three tries to allow Wales within a score.

And they look to lack the physical presence or ruthlessness to take on a powerful French side who blew away title favourites Ireland in such dominant style last week.

Head coach Fabien Galthie has stuck with his bold selection ploy from that match and again named seven forwards on the bench, while Maxime Lucu, who performed admirably at scrum-half after replacing the unfortunate Dupont in Dublin, starts at number nine.

Ireland couldn't find an answer to the French power game last week and Scotland look more vulnerable as for all their attacking strengths, their pack and set-piece play are often their weak points. 

Scotland's biggest defeat last year came at home to South Africa, who also outmuscled them a year earlier at the World Cup.

What Scotland may well take from the game between Ireland and France last week is the way Ireland took the game to their opponents early on, keeping pressure on the French defence in their own half and moving them around, looking to tire them and take the sting out of their game.

France held out well and kept their tryline intact, but they gave up a string of penalties and perhaps on another day may have ended up with a player in the sinbin.

So we could well see an open start to set the foundation for a high-scoring game, but it's hard to escape the feeling that Les Bleus will pull clear as they turn the screw through their forward power and brilliant attack.

Before the start of this year's campaign you had to go back to 2011 for the last time France had beaten anyone other than Italy by more than 17 points in a Six Nations match at home.

But they opened with a 43-0 demolition of Wales, beat Italy by 49 points and Ireland by 15 both away from home, and another big win looks on the cards in front of their home fans as they storm their way to the title.

France vs Scotland team line-ups

France: 15 Thomas Ramos; 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey; 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Maxime Lucu; 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Thibaud Flament, 5 Mickael Guillard, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Paul Boudehent, 8 Gregory Alldritt. 

Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Hugo Auradou,  20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Anthony Jelonch, 23 Nolann Le Garrec. 

Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn; 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Tom Jordan, 11 Duhan van der Merwe; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Dave Cherry, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Gregor Brown, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Matt Fagerson. 

Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Jonny Gray, 20 Marshall Sykes, 21 Ben Muncaster, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Stafford McDowall.

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Read more on the Six Nations . . .

Wales vs England predictions: Fantastic Freeman ready to inspire Red Rose 

Italy vs Ireland predictions: Uncertain Irish still capable of running riot in Rome 

Graham Woods: Three-way title grab is a fun sideshow but not what the Six Nations is about 

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