A confident French team will welcome Scotland on Saturday, with head coach Fabien Galthie’s tumultuous tenure hinging on the potential for a second Six Nations title.
A win, particularly with four or more tries, at the sold-out Stade de France would secure the trophy for Les Bleus, four years after their Grand Slam victory.
These achievements come amidst a backdrop of a disappointing Rugby World Cup, near misses in the Six Nations, and numerous off-field controversies.
Star scrum-half Antoine Dupont will miss the match due to a significant knee injury sustained during last weekend’s impressive victory over Ireland. He had been a key player in France’s first four matches of the tournament.
Dupont’s injury occurred in the first half of the 42-27 win in Dublin when he was involved in a ruck and was landed on by Irish lock Tadhg Beirne.
Galthie expressed his satisfaction with having control over their fate at home.
“It’s our ultimate goal, what we aimed for and achieved,” he stated to the media.
“This ambition is becoming a reality; it is our target.”
Should France not secure a victory, both second-placed England and reigning champions Ireland, currently in third, would still have opportunities to claim the title.
For Scotland, under the leadership of Gregor Townsend, winning in Paris would mark their first title since 1999, requiring them to triumph in the French capital for only the second time in 26 years and to exceed Les Bleus’ points difference of 106 compared to their three.
“We haven’t discussed that with the players,” Townsend mentioned to reporters on Thursday.
“Winning at Stade de France is one of the toughest challenges we face.
“We recognize the difficulties we’ve encountered over the years.
“This will be an even greater challenge, especially given France’s current form,” he added.
Skipper Dupont’s absence paves the way for Maxime Lucu to make his 11th Test start. He will be joined by center Gael Fickou, marking two changes from the previous match, where France triumphed 42-27 in Dublin.
Galthie commented on Dupont’s situation, stating, “There are knee injuries that are painful, and then there are those that are extremely painful; his injury falls into the latter category.” He further explained, “His current challenge is managing the pain, and our medical team is working to alleviate it. If his pain permits, he will be with us to observe the game.”
In response, Townsend has also implemented two changes to his starting lineup following a tense victory over Wales, where Scotland initially led by 20 points at halftime but had to fend off a late resurgence from their opponents.
Lock Gregor Brown and No 8 Matt Fagerson are the new additions for Scotland.
Townsend expressed, “As players, we felt disappointed that Wales managed to score the final try and made a comeback in the second half. I understand that sentiment.” He added, “However, we must not overlook the exceptional rugby displayed by the players during the first 50 minutes.”
See more: France rugby captain Dupont faces ‘new challenge’ after serious knee injury
Galthie’s tenure has been marked by significant victories as well as some disappointing defeats. The loss to South Africa in the 2023 World Cup and the missed opportunity for the Six Nations title two years prior, due to Scotland’s last-game win, are notable blemishes on his record.
“We must remain vigilant,” Galthie emphasized. “I am always alert, with my hazard lights on. I maintain this mindset with the players. Satisfaction with past achievements is not an option; we need to adopt a mentality focused on continuous improvement.”
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