In an eye-catching selection, Gregor Townsend has dropped former Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie completely as he seeks a new back-row blend to take on the considerable breakdown talents of Fabien Galthié’s France team at Murrayfield on Saturday in the men’s Six Nations. Replacing Ritchie on the open side is co-captain Rory Darge, who returns from injury to lead his nation for only the second time in his career.
Last weekend, Scotland cruised to a 27-0 lead over Wales—and then came extremely close to capitulation, with a fierce Welsh comeback shaking the Scottish defence. However, Gregor Townsend’s charges managed to wrestle back control in the game’s final period and came within a stray limb of scoring a bonus-point try to put the gloss on a first win in Cardiff in 22 years—albeit by just a single point. With much to work on in training this week, Townsend and his fellow coaches will be hoping for an improved defensive performance.
Yet France has no mugs. Prior to their 14-man loss to Ireland last week, Galthié’s team might have been considered Grand Slam favourites, and with a point to prove after last weekend’s unravelling, they will come to Murrayfield with a fierce desire to make amends. Darge will endeavour to quell the French fire and steer Scotland to victory alongside fellow co-captain Finn Russell, who played a leading role in the team’s win over Wales in both attack and defence.
In contrast, former captain Ritchie was anonymous on Saturday, with his attempts to arrest Scotland’s slide in the breakdown succeeding only in handing further penalties to Wales. In contrast, blindside flanker Luke Crosbie played strongly and provided an abrasive and effective presence on the loose, but his tournament has been ended by a shoulder injury sustained via an unreviewed high hit by Wales hooker Elliot Dee. Jack Dempsey returns at eight, Matt Fagerson shifts to the blindside, and Andy Christie, who has been in exceptional form for his club side Saracens, completes the back-row shake-up on the bench.
Elsewhere, the second row sees another significant loss to Scotland’s stock of forwards, with lineout linchpin Richie Gray also ruled out of the tournament with a biceps injury. Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist returns from suspension to take his place in the starting line-up, with his club teammate Sam Skinner among the replacements.
France also ring the changes: with lock Paul Willemse suspended after receiving a red card in Paris, Cameron Woki of Racing 92 enters the lineup alongside last week’s try-scorer Paul Gabrillagues. Woki’s bench spot is taken by the uncapped Clermont flanker Alexandre Roumat, who will follow in the footsteps of his father, the 61-times-capped international Olivier, if he is called upon. With only two backs on the bench, France’s pack will look to their dynamic and destructive forward pack to try and win the physical battle and shut Scotland out of the game, but like the home side, they will need to be more disciplined.
The fixture presents a significant challenge for Scotland’s pack, but France are also no mugs out wide. Damian Penaud is rapidly closing in on France’s all-time top try-scoring record. In addition, snappy youngster Louis Bielle-Biarrey enters the fray on the wing, with Yoram Moefana dropping down to the bench. A further change comes among the replacements, with the injured Reda Wardi making way for Sébastien Taofifénua.
The fixture kicks off on Saturday, January 10 at 15:15.
Scotland
Kyle Rowe; Kyle Steyn; Huw Jones; Sione Tuipulotu (vice-captain); Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell (co-captain); Ben White; Pierre Schoeman; George Turner; Zander Fagerson; Grant Gilchrist; Scott Cummings; Matt Fagerson; Rory Darge (co-captain); Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Andy Christie, George Horne, Ben Healy, and Cameron Redpath.
France
Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Gaël Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu; Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio; Cameron Woki, Paul Gabrillagues; Francois Cros, Charles Ollivon; Gregoire Alldritt (captain)
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Sébastien Taofifénua, Dorian Aldegheri, Posolo Tuilagi, Alexandre Roumat (uncapped), Paul Boudehent, Nolann Le Garrec, and Yoram Moefana.
“Murrayfield Stadium 2005-05-13” by Photo taken by Vclaw is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.