Scotland v France, Six Nations 2022: Match Preview pt II – head to heads

As was the case in 2020, Gael Fickou is the only member of the visitors’ 23 who has experienced a French win at Murrayfield in the Six Nations (let’s draw a veil over the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup in Edinburgh…) If Scotland can pull off another triumph, then France will have to wait until 2024 for another attempt at a win in Edinburgh in this tournament – a full decade on from their last such victory.

Tale of the tape

BACKS
59   Tries   41
95kg   Average weight   92kg
273   Total caps   185
138   6N caps   90
27.9   Average age   25.0

FORWARDS
904kg   Pack weight   929kg
24   Tries   9
226   Total caps   182
102   6N caps   100
27.9   Average age   27.3

SUBSTITUTES
27   Tries   9
144   Total caps   122
61   6N caps   66
28.5   Average age   26.1

Changes

3 changes to Scotland starting XV from last Test (v Wales)

• 3 – Z Fagerson for Nel [+]
• 6/4 – Darge for Gray with Skinner moving from 6 to 4 [-]
• 8 – Bradbury for M Fagerson [-]

Head-to-Head

Overall

Backs – advantage Scotland

As mentioned in Part 1 of the preview, Scotland probably need a big game from the boot of Ali Price if they are to win the tactical and territorial battle. The scrum half will start for the 20th time in the 21 Tests that Scotland have played since the last RWC.

The dark blues’ attack hasn’t fired too many shots so far in the Six Nations. Even a lineup containing 5 Lions is at the mercy of the quality of possession provided by their pack. So far there have been too many errors up front – in particular at mauls and the setup at lineouts, which should be providing just the sort of platform Finn Russell et al can thrive on.

Forwards – advantage France

This time last year Rory Darge had only played 18 minutes of pro rugby (for Edinburgh in a 50-10 defeat at Leinster in November 2020). 12 months on and the young flanker is one of Scottish rugby’s hottest properties. Stepping in for the injured Jamie Ritchie is a big test but Darge has adapted every time he’s been asked to step up a level.

Scotland’s locks will have their hands full containing the athleticism / power combination of their opposite numbers. While Gregor Townsend is missing 3 men who have accounted for over 60% of the second row starts he has handed out (Jonny Gray, Ben Toolis and Scott Cummings) the Sam Skinner and Grant Gilchrist pairing went pretty well at the Stade de France last year.

Subs – advantage France

Oli Kebble is the only returnee from the bench for the 2021 triumph in Paris – no Cherry, Berghan, Craig, Wilson, Steele, Hastings or Jones this time around. Elsewhere Mark Bennett is in line for his first cap since June 2018 and his first Six Nations’ appearance since March 2017.

Miscellany

– This will be the 13th time Stuart Hogg has played against France. In those 13 matches he has faced 8 different opponents at full back:

• 2012 – Medard
• 2013 – Huget
• 2014 – Dulin
• 2015 – Spedding
• 2016 – Spedding
• 2017 – Spedding
• 2018 – Palis
• 2019 – Medard
• 2019 – Ramos
• 2020 – Bouthier
• 2020 – Ramos
• 2021 – Dulin
• 2022 – Jaminet

– Paul Willemse played 5 times for South Africa at the under 20s World Championship in 2012 where one of his teammates was Oli Kebble (and another was Allan Dell who is also in Scotland’s wider Six Nations’ squad).

– There are 11 Edinburgh players in the matchday 23, equalling the capital club’s highest representation during the Townsend era. Glasgow’s record is 15 (v Samoa in November 2017) while for the Exiles it is 10 (v France in August 2019).

– On 27 February 2021, Sione Tuipulotu was a replacement for Yamaha Jubilo in a Top League match against Ricoh Black Rams in front of 1,856 fans at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Tokyo. On 26 February 2022 he will start for Scotland in a Six Nations fixture against France with a capacity crowd of 67,144 at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. Life moves pretty fast…