France To Rediscover the Running Flair

Saturday 14 February: France V Scotland

Stade de France, Paris

HEAD TO HEAD: Played 81, France 44, Scotland 34, 3 draws

LAST PLAYED: 3 February 2008, France 27, Scotland 6 @ Edinburgh, Scotland

After looking uncomfortably out of their depth last week against a Welsh team that looked rampant until the last 20 minutes, it will be the performance of the Scots in the dying stages of the game that will have both Coach Frank Hadden and the faithful hoping for a higher level of performance in the cauldron of Paris, the Stade de France.

Frank Hadden has reacted to the loss by making five changes to the starting team, but this week’s backline looks significantly more threatening than the attack that stumbled in Murrayfield last week.

The fancied Evans brothers take what many regard as their rightful place in the team, with centre Max Evans impressing off the bench last week, and Brother Thom regarded as probably the best attacking three quarter in Scottish rugby.

He is joined by Ulster’s in-form Simon Danielli, which sees a three quarter line that represents the current form of Scotland’s clubs. There is still no place for Chris Paterson, with Hadden staying with Phil Godman—who was not impressive against the Welsh.

Much of Scotland’s hopes will be for the implementation of a more flowing game plan, after they looked largely at sea against an impressive Welsh team.

France have made four changes, three in the pack. It was in this area that Marc Lievremont believed Les Bleus were at their worst against a solid Irish team.

"If there was a failing, it was a collective one," Lièvremont said.

"Even some exemplary players, like Dimitri Szarzewski and Thierry Dusautoir, lost more one-on-ones than normal. Our ball-carriers also had a bad time. We lacked intensity and durability overall.

"For the first time in a year, we have been deficient up front.”

"People have spoken a lot about our style of play but having fight is the premier element in this sport. We have obviously talked about this between ourselves."

Fabien Barcella, Nicolas Mas and Romain Millo-Chluski come in for Lionel Faure, Benoit Lecouls and Sebastien Chabal. It was the bearded Sale lock that received the most negative press for the match against Ireland, accused of going missing in the tight against the aggressive Irish back row.

In the backs, Benoit Baby comes in for the suspended Florian Fritz, and the impressive Cedric Heymans returns to the team. This sees an all-Toulouse backline outside the halves.

Despite the negative French reaction, both by the coach and the players—the Tricolours were not disgraced last week against the Irish, and should be far too imposing at home for the visiting Scottish.

France have not lost to them at Paris since 1999, and in their last ten meetings hold a 9-1 match aggregate. The 20-16 victory by Scotland in 2005 is the only time they have beaten Les Bleus this century.

An attacking France will rediscover their flair and put Scotland to the sword by 15 points.

Scotland: 15: Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh), 14: Simon Danielli (Ulster), 13: Max Evans (Glasgow), 12: Graeme Morrison (Glasgow), 11: Thom Evans (Glasgow), 10: Phil Godman (Edinburgh), 9: Mike Blair (Edinburgh, captain), 1: Alan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), 2: Ross Ford (Edinburgh), 3: Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), 4: Jason White (Sale), 5: Jim Hamilton (Edinburgh), 6: Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester)
8: Simon Taylor (Stade Francais), 7: John Barclay (Glasgow)
Replacements:
Dougie Hall (Glasgow); Moray Low (Glasgow); Kelly Brown (Glasgow); Scott Gray (Northampton); Chris Cusiter (Perpignan); Chris Paterson (Edinburgh); Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)

France:  15 Clement Poitrenaud, 14 Maxime Medard, 13 Benoît Baby, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Cedric Heymans, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Romain Millo-Chluski, 4 Lionel Nallet, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Fabien Barcella

Replacements:16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Renaud Boyoud, 18 Sebastien Chabal, 19 Louis Picamoles, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Maxime Mermoz, 22 Julien Malzieu