International Rugby

PREVIEW: RWC warm-ups – Scotland v France

6 Nations rivals Scotland and France will go head-to-head on Saturday evening in a game that both teams will be using to build towards next month’s Rugby World Cup. This will be the first of two fixtures between the sides as they are set to go head-to-head the following weekend in Paris.

by
Darry Worthington
August 4, 2023

6 Nations rivals Scotland and France will go head-to-head on Saturday evening in a game that both teams will be using to build towards next month’s Rugby World Cup. This will be the first of two fixtures between the sides as they are set to go head-to-head the following weekend in Paris.

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Scotland v France
Saturday 5 August
Murrayfield

Scotland 77/100 | Draw 24/1 | France 1/1

The Scots have a rough old assignment on their hands with World Cup hosts and joint favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup coming to town. The French will be far more of a test than the Italains, who the Scots managed to be 25-13.

Last weekend’s 12-point win over the Italians was hardly the most polished display from what was essentially a second-string Scotland outfit, who trailed the Italians 5-6 at the break. The Scots would continue to struggle until the final seven minutes of the game with Italy only two points adrift of them until a penalty and converted try saw them add a massive amount of gloss to the scoreboard.

While there are a lot of things for the Scots to work only following that 12 point win, coach Gregor Townsend will be pleased with the showing form young fly-half Ben Healy, who kicked brilliantly from hand as well as winger Darcy Graham who bagged two tries.

While Scotland managed to remove some ringrust this past weekend, France are yet to kick a ball in anger since their final 6 Nations fixture. Le Bleu have a rather condensed schedule a month out from the World Cup with two games against the Scottish and clashes with Fiji and Australia.

With four games still to go until the World Cup, I expect to see a French side that features a load of fringe players turnout at Murrayfield. They’ll likely keep their big guns in reserve for next week’s clash over in France.

The early handicaps over in Europe are coming out round the seven pint mark and with Scotland likely to field a far more experienced side than they did last weekend, I’d be inclined to back the hosts on any plus handicap of six points or above.