Scotland v France Sunday 8th March 2020

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Scotland v France
BT Murrayfield Stadium
Edinburgh

Sunday 8th March 2020
KO 15:00

Live on BBC1


Well assuming it goes ahead and it would be very late to cancel it now, The all conquering French team will arrive in Scotland for this weekends fixture.

This match will go a long way to either propelling France towards a Grand Slam (first for a long time) or giving Scotland a half decent season and guaranteeing that Toonie stays in post.

France have looked good without being totally convincing and have looked vulnerable to second half comebacks in all of their games so far. They are playing some fantastic rugby but maybe their fitness is not quite at the level of some of the other sides yet and it is hard to say that they look unbeatable, especially away from home.

Scotland actually have a pretty good record against France at home and even beat them pretty comfortably in the summer despite a very poor start to the game.

This is a different French side though, especially with the new defensive set up and they are less likely to be carrying past baggage. They will be very clinical and will take scoring chances if Scotland give them to them. They should be favourites for this game and for the GS if they win. The question for them is probably are they ready for that kind of pressure this early in their development as a team?

As for Scotland, well a win last time out removes the spectre of whitewashes and wooden spoon and hopefully that can loosen them up a lot for this game. Defensively they have been very hard to break down in this championship and that might frustrate the French as well. There is no doubt though that to win this game, our attack needs to click and without FR and with Huw Jones still not really firing (he did nothing against Leinster that suggested he would be back in the team this week).

I don't expect many changes to the Scotland set up. Of all the players out last weekend, probably only Kyle Steyn put in a convincing case to get himself into the team. He has been playing well all season and has scored some eye catching tries, so maybe it is his turn now.

I am expecting to see a Scotland team something like this:

1. Sutherland
2. McInally
3. Fagerson Z
4. Cummings
5. Toolis
6. Ritchie
7. Watson
8. Bradbury
9. Price
10. Hastings
11. Maitland
12. Johnson
13. Harris
14. Kinghorn
15. Hogg

Subs:

Dell
Brown
Nel/Berghan - maybe Nel to counter the French scrum later in the game
Carmichael - another youngster worthy of a spot, been playing well for Edinburgh
Fagerson/Haining - The carrying of Haining v the defensive excellence of Fagerson (he made 31 tackles against Leinster!), I think he will so with youth
Horne G
Hutchinson
Steyn

Smart play Scotland, get Richie to charge in and escalate a situation, frenhman loses his cool and gets carded.

More teams should use this tactic.

TMO and referee completely ignore the initial request by the referee od who started or escalated the situation.

That is why Sam Johnson is in the team as well, sees the space better than any of our other inside centres and he can pass as well

Old Man wrote:Smart play Scotland, get Richie to charge in and escalate a situation, frenhman loses his cool and gets carded.

More teams should use this tactic.

TMO and referee completely ignore the initial request by the referee od who started or escalated the situation.

I am not sure what you are saying. Are you saying that Ritchie running in made it ok for the No.3 to punch him in the face?

tigertattie wrote:That whole fracas was stated by nick Haining not backing down to the french niggle. Bout time Scotland started showing some teeth

So true! He stepped up and his team mate Richie helped him out in the squabble. Fair play to the TMO for finding that punch I was very surprised by that. Completely brainless.

this is the Toonie I had always hoped we'd have. The coach who is a chess player and slowly deconstructs the opposition through clever tactics. It's been slow, boring at times, but it's been so calculated by Scotland. They've forced France to get frustrated, ruined their plan and the French players have cracked. Very clever stuff. Still have to win it though!!

Old Man wrote:Smart play Scotland, get Richie to charge in and escalate a situation, frenhman loses his cool and gets carded.

More teams should use this tactic.

TMO and referee completely ignore the initial request by the referee od who started or escalated the situation.

I did think it odd that Ritchie's involvement wasn't more closely looked at and possibly sanctioned - once the punch was seen, all else was forgotten.

cakeordeath wrote:

Old Man wrote:Smart play Scotland, get Richie to charge in and escalate a situation, frenhman loses his cool and gets carded.

More teams should use this tactic.

TMO and referee completely ignore the initial request by the referee od who started or escalated the situation.

I am not sure what you are saying. Are you saying that Ritchie running in made it ok for the No.3 to punch him in the face?

Indeed, tell me an international team where players do not rush into a handbag situation. Everyone else knows not to throw a punch though. especially one that lands on someones jaw!

BigGee wrote:That is why Sam Johnson is in the team as well, sees the space better than any of our other inside centres and he can pass as well

Yeah you can tell he grew up playing league that's for sure. He's done really well so far, hope we have an Australia 2017 type finish to this match. The players need to win obviously but they have a golden opportunity to take 5 points now as well.

Ffs ref he was on the ground when he played that

Dupont got himself isolated there, he is trying to do to much himself

What a try!

Fair play. Two great bits of play by Harris there

Commentary I have is saying the French have a mountain to climb. It's only 7 points. Scotland overcame a far larger deficit against England last year with no man advantage. Scotland do have the advantage but it's too early to call right now.

What a swing in the game that is. Likely decisive.

Maybe now Sean maitland will get a bit credit for his efforts

tigertattie wrote:Fair play. Two great bits of play by Harris there

Plenty of humble pie currently being consumed by Scottish Rugby fans!

21-7 Scotland

BigGee wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Fair play. Two great bits of play by Harris there

Plenty of humble pie currently being consumed by Scottish Rugby fans!

Harris was a very good player for us...he just seemed to lose it (or was it coached out of him)...but then we'll not talk about the Falcons coaching...

The move to Glos has certainly brought the best out of him again.

Duty281 wrote:

Old Man wrote:Smart play Scotland, get Richie to charge in and escalate a situation, frenhman loses his cool and gets carded.

More teams should use this tactic.

TMO and referee completely ignore the initial request by the referee od who started or escalated the situation.

I did think it odd that Ritchie's involvement wasn't more closely looked at and possibly sanctioned - once the punch was seen, all else was forgotten.

Exactly. Punish the Frebch player, but don’t ignore the instigator of that specific ruckus, if Richie didn’t storm in, there would be no punch.

BigGee wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Fair play. Two great bits of play by Harris there

Plenty of humble pie currently being consumed by Scottish Rugby fans!

Plenty of humble pie hopefully being eaten by Toonie after dropping Haining previously for no reason

2 games this weekend and neither ref has impressed me.

Too much being missed...

France take 3 points back

How difficult is it to chuck the ball into a lineout straight???

Dear god you’d have thought McInally meant that

It is our day, make a complete lash of the lineout and we score anyway!

28-10 Scotland, can we get the BP?

And that is goodnight France. Cheers to the idiotic French prop who has cost his side the Grand Slam, and opened the door for England to take the title (if they ever play Italy).

The Steyn of destiny makes his debut

That’s France’s hopes of the title gone!

Let’s hope the Italy games get played soon.

France have a lot of to do if the are to win this game. cannot see it happening Scotland have played some good rugby and are sure winners today.

Keep it going Scotland.

That should be a penalty to France.

No Grand Slam for France this year, well done Scotland great win.

Well let’s not be getting ahead of ourselves, because that was total mince from us there

Great try by France. pitty being down to 14 men for most of the game France may have got the Grand Slam if they had 15 on the pitch.

Cyril wrote:That’s France’s hopes of the title gone!

Let’s hope the Italy games get played soon.

Not if they sneak a losing bp in the last few mins.

Jamie Ritchie MoM, for taking a punch to the jaw for the cause!

That wasn't a straight French lineout!

Old Man wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

Old Man wrote:Smart play Scotland, get Richie to charge in and escalate a situation, frenhman loses his cool and gets carded.

More teams should use this tactic.

TMO and referee completely ignore the initial request by the referee od who started or escalated the situation.

I did think it odd that Ritchie's involvement wasn't more closely looked at and possibly sanctioned - once the punch was seen, all else was forgotten.

Exactly. Punish the Frebch player, but don’t ignore the instigator of that specific ruckus, if Richie didn’t storm in, there would be no punch.

Was it me or did Ritchie land a couple of weak punches aimed up at the French player once he was on the floor? Just seen the replay on the BBC website and Ritchie 100% lands a punch once he's on his back. Could have easily been a red for retaliation there.

Pretty obvious I have no idea how the TMO either missed it or decided it didn't matter?

Poor French lol

This ref has been utterly woeful. Doesn’t even have a clue when it’s full time.

Well played Scotland, very enjoyable.

Sam the TMO's are missing all sorts.

The world cup was a debacle in that regards....not sure what videos they are actually watching...

Scotland win a famous victory

28-17

Very well deserved

Maybe we can see what Toonie is trying to do now. He is safe and his team can play with a lot less pressure now

tigertattie wrote:This ref has been utterly woeful. Doesn’t even have a clue when it’s full time.

Two SH refs in both games...both woeful...

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Old Man wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

Old Man wrote:Smart play Scotland, get Richie to charge in and escalate a situation, frenhman loses his cool and gets carded.

More teams should use this tactic.

TMO and referee completely ignore the initial request by the referee od who started or escalated the situation.

I did think it odd that Ritchie's involvement wasn't more closely looked at and possibly sanctioned - once the punch was seen, all else was forgotten.

Exactly. Punish the Frebch player, but don’t ignore the instigator of that specific ruckus, if Richie didn’t storm in, there would be no punch.

Was it me or did Ritchie land a couple of weak punches aimed up at the French player once he was on the floor? Just seen the replay on the BBC website and Ritchie 100% lands a punch once he's on his back. Could have easily been a red for retaliation there.

Pretty obvious I have no idea how the TMO either missed it or decided it didn't matter?

If you watch it, Ritchie isn’t punching but he’s trying to push the french player off him when the Frenchman has his hand on Ritchie’s throat

GeordieFalcon wrote:Sam the TMO's are missing all sorts.

The world cup was a debacle in that regards....not sure what videos they are actually watching...

Both TMO's this weekend have been incompetent. It's embarrassing bit like VAR in football.

France not the finished article yet, but they will be a great team a little bit further down the line

tigertattie wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Old Man wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

Old Man wrote:Smart play Scotland, get Richie to charge in and escalate a situation, frenhman loses his cool and gets carded.

More teams should use this tactic.

TMO and referee completely ignore the initial request by the referee od who started or escalated the situation.

I did think it odd that Ritchie's involvement wasn't more closely looked at and possibly sanctioned - once the punch was seen, all else was forgotten.

Exactly. Punish the Frebch player, but don’t ignore the instigator of that specific ruckus, if Richie didn’t storm in, there would be no punch.

Was it me or did Ritchie land a couple of weak punches aimed up at the French player once he was on the floor? Just seen the replay on the BBC website and Ritchie 100% lands a punch once he's on his back. Could have easily been a red for retaliation there.

Pretty obvious I have no idea how the TMO either missed it or decided it didn't matter?

If you watch it, Ritchie isn’t punching but he’s trying to push the french player off him when the Frenchman has his hand on Ritchie’s throat

Pushing with a closed fist. The French guy is on top of him but I thought he had hold of his shirt rather than the throat.

Unsure what happened to incense the players initially. Ritchie had his arm up ready to throw a punch (maybe he was just posturing) but the French prop was angry and not hanging around to find out. There was something going on at that ruck.

Anyway, thanks for the result Scotland. Could help the trophy make a welcome return to Twickers.

BigGee wrote:France not the finished article yet, but they will be a great team a little bit further down the line

Gotta feel for the french fans. Another game where a short temper has cost them a very important game.

BigGee wrote:Jamie Ritchie MoM, for taking a punch to the jaw for the cause!

I thought they were taking the p*ss. Should have given that to Hamish Watson who is an actual rugby player and played well today.
Horrible game management and indiscipline from France that gifted an uninspiring Scottish team an easy win. Nothing to complain about the ex con red card but that ref lost control of the game after 5 mins. Part of the learning curve I guess and can’t ride our luck all the time.
Well done Scotland