How Twickenham loss put Les Bleus in pound seats
SPOTLIGHT: France head into Saturday’s final round of the Six Nations with the luxury of knowing the title’s destiny is in their own hands.
Les Bleus’ dominant 42-27 defeat of double-defending champions Ireland in Dublin last weekend took them top of the table, a point clear of second-placed England.
And with France’s game at home to Scotland the third and last of the tournament’s concluding ‘super Saturday’, Fabien Galthie’s men will know exactly what they need to do.
Regardless of other results, a bonus-point win over Scotland would guarantee France a first Six Nations title in three years.
It would take them to 21 points, with 20 points the most England can manage if they beat Wales heavily in Cardiff.
The French also have a vastly superior points difference – plus-106 to England’s plus-20, meaning that they would win the tournament even if they finish level with England on 20 points.
The only surprise approaching the finale of the championship is that France, after three thumping wins – including 43-0 and 73-24 routs of Wales and Italy – are not on course for a Grand Slam.
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Six Nations
‘Not finished yet’
But that dream died with an error-strewn display in a 25-26 Round Two away loss to England, when France squandered several clear try-scoring opportunities.
Defeat raised fresh questions about whether a talented France squad, who suffered a quarter-final loss on home soil during the 2023 World Cup, again risked failing to fulfil their potential.
But they have been in commanding form since their defeat against England.
“We have reacted well since Twickenham. We’ve got something going, though it’s not finished yet,” said France coach Galthie.
France had to play more than half the Ireland match without inspirational captain Antoine Dupont after the outstanding scrum-half went off injured with torn ligaments in his right knee.
Yet so impressive was replacement scrum-half Maxime Lucu that Dupont was barely missed.
There was no disguising Dupont’s disappointment at being ruled out of the Scotland match.
The 28-year-old told his social media followers: “The heart hurts even more than the knee when you have to leave your mates before the last hurdle.
“I am with you with all my strength. You will do it [win against Scotland].”
Given how Scotland conceded a flurry of late tries in their victory against winless Wales last week, few would be confident that Gregor Townsend’s can deny France a four-try bonus point.
Townsend is under no illusions about the task facing his side, who for all their back-line quality appear seriously outgunned up front.
The Scotland coach believes a match away to France is now “probably the toughest fixture in world rugby”.
England will be overwhelming favourites to beat a Wales team on a national record losing streak of 16 successive Test defeats.
“The place [Millennium Stadium], Cardiff, is one of my favourite places I’ve ever played in,” said England coach and former captain Steve Borthwick.
“What I’ll say, and I said this to the team – where we play is not the most important thing. The most important thing is the attitude with which we play. That’s the challenge.”
Saturday’s match will be Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt’s third and last as caretaker Wales boss since the Englishman took over mid-tournament after the end of Warren Gatland’s unsuccessful second stint in charge.
“There’s no greater challenge than England in Cardiff,” said Sherratt. “So I know it’s something the boys can’t wait for and personally for me it should be a great occasion.”
Ireland will win a third successive Six Nations title if they secure a bonus-point win over Italy in Saturday’s opener in Rome and both France and England fail to win.
“We still have a chance,” said Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby. “We still genuinely feel like there’s more in us.”
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