SCOTLAND v FRANCE; 6 Nations Test Rugby

08.03.2014

Venue: Murrayfield

Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)

Preview
Bouyed by their narrow away win against Italy two weeks ago Scotland will be confident they can upset a disjointed French side at Murrayfield.

I expect the Scottish fans to return to Murrayfield, fill the stadium and boost a Scottish side that has played poorly, v Italy apart, this season. Head coach Scott Johnson will be expecting a resurgence of his side.

Last Five Encounters
16.03.2013 France 23-16 in Paris (6 Nations)
26.02.2012 France 23-17 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
05.02.2011 France 34-21 in Paris (6 Nations)
07.02.2010 France 18-9 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
14.02.2009 France 22-13 in Paris (6 Nations)

Scotland last defeated France at Murrayfield in 2006, winning 20-16 in a 6 Nations clash.

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Scotland 7th, France 10th
Europe Table: France 4th, Scotland 6th

IRB Ranking Points
France 80.56, Scotland 76.35

Prediction: Scotland by 3 points

Teams

Scotland

15		Stuart Hogg	Glasgow Warriors
14		Thomas Seymour	Glasgow Warriors
13		Alexander Dunbar	Glasgow Warriors
12		Mathew Scott	Edinburgh Rugby
11		Sean Lamont	Glasgow Warriors
10		Duncan Weir	Glasgow Warriors
9		Greig Laidlaw	Edinburgh Rugby
8		David Denton	Edinburgh Rugby
7		Kelly Brown (Capt.)	Saracens, England
6		John Beattie	Montpellier Hérault Rugby, France
5		James Hamilton	Montpellier Hérault Rugby, France
4		Richard Gray	Castres Olympique, France
3		Geoffrey Cross	Edinburgh Rugby
2		Scott Lawson	Newcastle Falcons, England
1		Ryan Grant	Glasgow Warriors
16		Ross Ford	Edinburgh Rugby
17		Alasdair Dickinson	Edinburgh Rugby
18		Euan Murray	Worcester Warriors, England
19		Timothy Swinson	Glasgow Warriors
20		Ryan Wilson	Glasgow Warriors
21		Christopher Cusiter	Glasgow Warriors
22		Duncan Taylor	Saracens, England
23		Max Evans	Castres Olympique, France
		HEAD COACH: Scott Johnson

France

15		Brice Dulin	Castres Olympique
14		Yoann Huget	Aviron Bayonnais
13		Mathieu Bastareaud	RC Toulonnais
12		Maxime Mermoz	RC Toulonnais
11		Maxime Médard	Stade Toulousain
10		Jules Plisson	Stade Français
9		Maxime Machenaud	Racing-Metro 92
8		Damien Chouly	ASM Clermont Auvergne
7		Alexandre Laoandry	ASM Clermont Auvergne
6		Sébastien Vahaamahina	US Arlequins Perpignan
5		Yoann Maestri	Stade Toulousain
4		Pascal Pape (Capt.)	Stade Français
3		Nicolas Mas	US Arlequins Perpignan
2		Brice Mach	Castres Olympique
1		Thomas Domingo	ASM Clermont Auvergne
16		Guilhem Guirado	US Arlequins Perpignan
17		Vincent Debaty	ASM Clermont Auvergne
18		Rabah Slimani	Stade Français
19		Alexandre Flanquart	Stade Français
20		Antoine Claassen	Castres Olympique
21		Jean-Marc Doussain	Stade Toulousain
22		Remi Tálès	Castres Olympique
23		Gael Fickou	Stade Toulousain
		HEAD COACH: Philippe Saint-André