The French, sluggish winners of Italy (29-24) before falling against Ireland (32-19), receive Sunday February 26 at the Stade de France Scotland, which for its part beat England ( 29-23) then Wales (35-7).
” Scotland is a team in form, which is confident: they won at Twickenham, it’s not nothing. They will arrive with the desire to pursue a third victory in as many games. It is up to us to curb their dynamics, to question them on their strengths “, warned the third line of the XV of France François Cros, a few days before the match, in a press conference. ” All matches are tough. It’s a very mobile team that plays a lot. It’s up to us to be present in this area and manage to counter Finn Russell, who is making a rather incredible start to the Tournament “Added Cros (28 years old, 17 selections).
A confident and conquering Scotland
For Karim Ghezal, the co-coach of the Blues in charge of conquest and specific tasks, the XV of France “ is still in a position to win the Tournament “. If they are no longer able to achieve a second Grand Slam after the one obtained in 2022, the Blues occupy fourth place in the standings with five points, behind Irish and Scottish (10 points), and England (6 pts). ” This Six Nations Tournament is exciting, with the offensive and defensive bonuses: all the teams are at an exceptional level and today, we are still in the race “, he added.
French scrum-half Antoine Dupont and his band will have to be terribly wary of this confident and conquering Scotland, “ the only team to beat us twice in the Six Nations in three years “in 2020 and 2021, recalled Laurent Labit, the coach of the Blues in charge of the attack, at a press conference. ” Players want to start a new series. We have three matches left to win in this Six Nations », Positive all the same Labit.
The return of Mohamed Haouas
Apart from the suspension of the pillar Uini Atonio, replaced by Mohamed Haouas, no change is to be reported among the 23 who will tread the lawn of the Stade de France against Scotland, compared to the team aligned in Dublin . Haouas had not started in the Tournament since March 26, 2021 and a defeat against … Scotland (27-23) at the Stade de France. This tenure of Haouas, his thirteenth in Blue, against an opponent who does not succeed him, could allow him to relaunch his career while leaving his direct competitors at a distance, including his counterparts from Bordeaux-Bègles Sipili Falatea or Lyon Demba Bamba.
After Scotland, France will meet in London, then they will host Wales on the last day of the Tournament. Before its defeat in Ireland, the XV of France remained on a series of fourteen rank victories.