France to fight Scots’ ‘fire with fire’ in Six Nations finale

The best defence of the past two editions of the Six Nations stands between France and a first title in more than a decade as a depleted Scotland head to Paris on Friday.

The Championship decider has been postponed since late-February after a COVID-19 outbreak among the home camp.

Les Bleus will lift their first trophy since 2010 but need to score four tries or more in a victory of more than 20 points on Friday.

If they fail then Wales, who lost at the Stade de France last Saturday, will claim the tournament.

“Fight fire with fire - I think that’s what we have to do, whether that’s a physical battle or a game that gets the ball moving,” Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said.

“If France are moving the ball, we’ve got to make sure that we are forcing errors from them,” he added.

Scotland No8 Matt Fagerson has been ruled out of Friday’s match due to an ankle injury said Townsend.

The 22-year-old is replaced in the starting line-up by Nick Haining with Ryan Wilson coming onto the replacements bench for the clash in Paris.

Should Wilson get some game time he will win his 50th cap.

“Matt suffered an ankle injury in our final training session this week before we headed to Paris,” said Townsend in a Scottish rugby Union statement.

“It is disappointing for Matt, who has been playing consistently well throughout the championship.”

Centre Gael Fickou is the most experienced member of Fabien Galthie’s squad with 62 Tests since his debut in 2013.

During his international career he has experienced heavy defeats to England, New Zealand and South Africa but France’s fortunes have turned around since Galthie’s appointment last year.

“We will give 200% to try and bring the trophy home,” he added.

Townsend has been able to name Exeter Chiefs’ Stuart Hogg at full-back thanks to an agreement between English clubs and the Scottish Rugby Union as the match falls out of World Rugby’s Test window.

However the former fly-half will be without experienced winger Sean Maitland as they were limited to five England-based players with Scotland searching for their first win in Paris since 1999.

Townsend scored a try on that day as the away side went on to lift the last Five Nations.

Townsend’s relationship with Galthie stretches back to the ex-playmaker’s time with Castres in the French top-flight.