With Scotland mathematically still in with a chance of winning the 2025 Guinness Six Nations tournament, Gregor Townsend has decided in his wisdom to select a 6:2 bench split once again. Undoubtedly, Townsend is chewing over the prospect of France picking a 7:1 split like they did against Italy, who were then demolished, and powering to the title.
Scotland record away from home against France
For the visit to Paris on Saturday night the starting XV is largely unchanged, a welcome form of consistency. Jack Dempsey drops out with a hamstring injury and Matt Fagerson replaces him at number 8, a move we saw at the start of the tournament.
The only real change is in the second row Gregor Brown is rewarded for a decent showing off the bench with the startup lock swapping places with Johnny Gray so far so good with the prospect of another French seven one bench turns end has opted for heft rather than Verve
The problem is that Scotland’s hopes, if you could call them that, rely on a massive victory over France, which means tries, and zip off the bench.
Scotland are not going to power through France no matter how many forwards they pick, while France’s skill on the counter-attack and Scotland’s generosity when isolated in the wider channels means that the 50+ point winning margin required is unlikely to begin with (as is Wales and Italy beating England and Ireland).
It’s a bench picked for safety, which while understandable, is no-one’s idea of a good time for a fixture that should be the highlight for attacking rugby in the tournament.
Jamie Dobie and Stafford McDowall are once again the backs, while the forward replacements feature a number of names yet to get a chance in the tournament in the shape of Edinburgh’s Ben Muncaster and Marshall Sykes.
So it’s safe to say we can put that potential result to one side, hope that at least it’s a good game to watch, and focus on what this tournament will tell us about Scotland in their current state.
Assuming England and Ireland win, Scotland are probably looking at finishing fourth, which seems to be our natural position when England are either half-decent or gifted an undeserved Calcutta Cup win. Looking from the start of the tournament, the most telling result is probably the capitulation to Ireland as it represents the continuation of the status quo. In our heads we think we are a top 2/3 team, mathematically we even have a chance to be come the end of Saturday night. But results like that one in the second round when we still had some hope point to a very soft underbelly and a lack of real winning progress under Gregor Townsend.
France: Ramos, Penaud, Fickou, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey, Ntamack, Lucu; Gros, Mauvaka, Atonio, Flament, Guillard, Cros, Boudehent, Alldritt (capt).
Replacements: Marchand, Baille, Aldegheri, Auradou, Meafou, Jegou, Jelonch, Le Garrec.
Scotland: Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Duhan Van der Merwe; Finn Russell (co-captain), Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry, Zander Fagerson, Gregor Brown, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge (co-captain), Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Will Hurd, Jonny Gray, Marshall Sykes, Ben Muncaster, Jamie Dobie, Stafford McDowall.
13 responses
Correct decision to drop Jonny Gray, he hasn’t been great. Our front row lack of depth is well documented but I think the second row isn’t far behind. The combination of Jonny Gray and Grant Gilchrist is a solid and safe pair of hands pairing but is a bit pedestrian, isn’t dynamic, powerful or frankly nasty enough for what is needed these days. I know injuries have forced the hand a bit with the lack of Scott Cummings but giving Gregor Brown and Marshall Sykes a go earlier in the tournament wouldn’t have been a bad thing.
Don’t like the 6:2 split, never have and never will. When we do it we always seem to get caught out by freak injuries to backs and end up with folk playing out of position. We have shown time and again that trying to fight fire with fire doesn’t work, we aren’t going to out muscle France upfront, we can’t out muscle anyone up front to be honest so we have to find a different way, and that is by using our backs who rival only France’s for being best in the 6N in my opinion.
Townsend has finally realised that Jonny Gray has contributed nothing in this tournament, he looked as if he was towing a caravan, was driven backwards in contact or knocked the ball on, it will be no benefit bringing him on as a replacement. Gregor Brown, although not an out & out second row & lighter, at least makes metres with ball in hand. Jack Dempsey is a big loss, our other back rows don’t have his energy & ability to break the gain line. Finally, surely Johnny Matthews would be a far better option off the bench than Ashman who has gone backwards this season but is still getting selected, it should be form over favourites every time.
The only way to beat France is to move the forwards around and tire them out. Jonny Gray is not going to do that. He can tackle, will be missed, the others need to step up, head down and fell them like trees on a firm surface. I think Toony had no choice, we have beaten France with fitness and mobility .
Ewan Ashman , is not quite at this usual standard. I am happy to be proved wrong !
Favourite over Form is Toonie’s mantra. Only changes it when his neck is on the line
Whatever happened to Olli kebble ?
Think he retired?
He plays for Oyonnax in the French league after leaving Glasgow last summer.
Last paragraph , well written though I do not entirely agree. Our worst moment was gifting England the match. It was not all down to Finn. Duhan could have got closer and that is just one example of complacancy. I would like to blame Toony , but you cannot coach attitude.
I wouldn’t read too much into the idea of players being “dropped” personally, more so given what just went on a matter of days ago.
The sport is played on the premise of an entire squad these days, use of the bench is massive I can see why there is a want to have the maturity of Gray (who has been nothing like as poor as some make out) on the bench, more so accounting for how raw and little experience these coming on will have at International level.
You have a point ‘Dropped’ feels like a word from the amateur era. Is Sam Skinner ‘dropped’ or Injured ! Does anyone know.
Injured as mentioned in Gregor Townsend’s press conference following the selection of the 23.
Thanks Iain: I never listen to Toony interviews. For all we have a big squad, we always seem to be missing the right man at the right moment. This game was made for him given his mobiity and european cup experience.
A bit quick to blame the subs,why not point the finger at the knackered souls left on the pitch who were on there knees praying to be sub’d.