France Aims For Six Nations Glory, Scotland Looks To Play Spoiler In Paris
France Aims For Six Nations Glory, Scotland Looks To Play Spoiler In Paris
France faces Scotland in a crucial Six Nations finale, needing a bonus-point win to secure the title. Can Scotland spoil the party in Paris?
France and Scotland are set to clash in a pivotal Six Nations encounter at the Stade de France on Saturday, with both teams aiming to strengthen their title credentials.
While France will look to bounce back from a mixed start to their campaign, Scotland will be eager to prove its mettle on the road following an impressive start to the tournament.
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France will have the chance to seal the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations title when taking on Scotland in a crucial final-round clash at the Stade de France on Saturday.
With the championship within their grasp, Les Bleus must secure a bonus-point victory to guarantee lifting the trophy, regardless of results elsewhere.
Scotland, meanwhile, comes into the contest with only an outside mathematical shot at the title, but head coach Gregor Townsend is confident his squad can rise to the occasion.
“We’ve gone well in this fixture,” Townsend said. “Our players are a quality group, and they thrive in that atmosphere. They thrive with the challenge, and this is what we’re asking them to do again this weekend.”
France leads the table heading into the final round and, depending on how England and Ireland perform in their respective matches, still could win the title without a bonus-point victory. However, a loss would leave the door open for their rivals to snatch the championship.
The pressure is firmly on Fabien Galthié’s side, but with home advantage and a wealth of talent at their disposal, they remain strong favorites.
Team News
Townsend has made two changes to Scotland’s starting XV.
Jack Dempsey is unavailable due to a hamstring injury and is replaced at No. 8 by Matt Fagerson.
In the second row, Gregor Brown comes in ahead of Jonny Gray, who moves to the bench.
Edinburgh duo Marshall Sykes and Ben Muncaster are in line for their Six Nations debuts, part of a 6-2 bench split designed to combat France’s renowned forward power.
Townsend has praised the development of his squad and believes this tournament has showcased the quality of his team despite their slim title hopes.
France, meanwhile, has been bolstered by the return of veteran center Gaël Fickou, who replaces Pierre-Louis Barassi after he was ruled out with a concussion.
Fickou, France’s most experienced active player, will match Philippe Sella’s Six Nations appearance record with his 50th tournament cap.
Maxime Lucu retains the No. 9 jersey in the absence of star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, who continues his recovery from a knee injury.
Grégory Alldritt captains the side once again, while the forward pack remains unchanged after dominant performances against Italy and Ireland.
Galthié has opted for a forward-heavy bench for a third consecutive week, selecting seven forwards and just one back, a tactic he insists is based on his team’s own performance needs rather than specific Scottish opposition.
Key Matchup: The Battle Of The Back Three
While much of the focus will be on the physical battle up front, the contest between the back threes could prove decisive.
France’s trio of Damian Penaud, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Thomas Ramos will look to exploit any space Scotland allows, with their combination of pace and finishing ability making them one of the deadliest attacking units in the competition.
Scotland, however, boasts an equally dangerous trio in Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham and the powerful Duhan van der Merwe.
Kinghorn’s tactical kicking and counterattacking threat will be pivotal, while Graham and Van der Merwe bring a mix of agility and brute strength that could cause headaches for the French defense.
Penaud has been in electric form, topping the tournament’s try-scoring charts, while Bielle-Biarrey’s speed has stretched defenses all campaign.
If France’s back three can gain the upper hand, Scotland could struggle to contain their attacking threat.
Prediction
Scotland has shown resilience against France in recent years, including a narrow defeat in Paris two years ago and a dramatic battle at Murrayfield in 2024. However, France’s sheer firepower, home advantage, and the stakes involved make the French an overwhelming favorite.
Townsend’s side will look to disrupt Les Bleus’ rhythm, but with France’s forwards expected to lay a solid platform, and their backline poised to capitalize, the hosts should prove too strong. Expect a competitive opening half before France pulls away in the final 20 minutes. France by 20.
Lineups
France
15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Gregory Alldritt (c), 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Mickael Guillard, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Uini Atonio 2, Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyrill Baille, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Antony 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 (cc), 9 Ben White, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge (cc), 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Gregor Brown, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman
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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