Antoine Dupont will look to lead France to victory over Scotland at Murrayfield
(Picture: AP)France continue their bid to lift the Six Nations championship with an intriguing trip to face Scotland today.
Les Bleus are the firm favourites to finally end their 12-year wait for championship glory this year after following up a straightforward opening win over Italy with a bruising home defeat of chief title rivals Ireland.
However, France have tended to struggle against the Scots in recent years, needing a bonus point and a winning margin of 21 points in last year’s final match to win the tournament, only to lose to Gregor Townsend’s side in Paris for the first time since 1999 courtesy of Duhan van der Merwe’s last-gasp try.
In 2020, their Grand Slam dreams came crashing down in Edinburgh after prop Mohamed Haouas’s red card for punching Jamie Ritchie, with England going on to claim the title.
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France will be confident of avoiding such a disaster this time around, though Scotland did once again topple the English at Murrayfield on opening weekend before being bested in disappointing fashion by injury-plagued Wales in Cardiff last time out courtesy of Dan Biggar’s late drop goal.
Scotland vs France date, kick-off time and venue
Scotland vs France is scheduled for a 2.15pm GMT kick-off on Saturday February 26, 2022.
The Six Nations contest takes place at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.
How to watch Scotland vs France
TV channel: Scotland vs France is being broadcast live free-to-air on BBC One, with coverage beginning at 1.15pm.
Live stream: Fans can also watch the game unfold live online via the BBC website or iPlayer.
Live blog: You can also follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE dedicated match blog.
Scotland vs France team news
Scotland will hand a first senior international start to Rory Darge today, with the Glasgow flanker having made his debut off the bench against Wales.
Magnus Bradbury also comes into the back row to replace the injured Matt Fagerson, with Sam Skinner moving to the second row to cover for the absent Jonny Gray, who will miss the rest of the tournament due to injury.
Zander Fagerson is also preferred to WP Nel at tight-head prop. Hamish Watson will no longer play due to a positive test for Covid-19 announced on Friday evening, with Nick Haining coming in and Andy Christie potentially set to earn a debut now from the bench.
Scotland - whose backline is unchanged - are also without the likes of Scott Cummings, Cameron Redpath and Rory Sutherland, though Mark Bennett makes the matchday squad for the first time since 2018.
It’s mixed news for France, with flying Toulon wing Gabin Villière - who notched a stylish hat-trick against Italy on opening weekend - sidelined due to a sinus fracture suffered against Ireland and Mathieu Jalibert nursing a thigh complaint.
However, centre Jonathan Danty is fit again after an ankle issue and lines up alongside Gael Fickou in midfield in the only change from the win over Ireland, with Yoram Moefana shifted out to the wing.
Scotland vs France lineups
Scotland XV: Hogg, Graham, Harris, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe, Russell, Price; Schoeman, McInally, Z Fagerson, Skinner, Gilchrist, Darge, Haining, Bradbury
Replacements: Turner, Kebble, Nel, Hodgson, Christie, White, Kinghorn, Bennett
France XV: Jaminet, Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Moefana, Ntamack, Dupont; Baille, Marchand, Atonio, Woki, Willemse, Cros, Jelonch, Alldritt.
Replacements: Mauvaka, Gros, Bamba, Taofifenua, Flament, Cretin, Lucu, Ramos.
Scotland vs France head to head (h2h) history and results
Scotland have won four of the last five meetings against France, with a 22-15 loss in the Autumn Nations Cup their only defeat by Les Bleus since 2019.
However, France lead comfortably in terms of the overall head to head, by 56 victories to 39. There have been three draws.
Scotland vs France prediction
France have tended to come unstuck against Scotland in recent years and won’t want to be reminded of their Murrayfield meltdown from 2020.
However, this is a different Les Bleus team under Fabien Galthie that combine brute force with wonderful flair and crucially no longer seem susceptible to such head-scratching collapses.
Scotland are certainly no pushovers, but their injuries are starting to mount and it’s hard to see them pulling off a result here.
France to impress again and win by a 10-point margin.
Scotland vs France betting odds
Scotland win: 23/10
France win: 4/11
Draw: 22/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
