[2015 Six Nations] France vs Scotland (Round 1)

[iINDOMINUSxx]

France vs Scotland

Date: Saturday, February 7th 2015 - 18:00 CET (UTC+1)
Location: Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Team Line-ups:

[TABLE="width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]France[/TD]
[TD]vs[/TD]
[TD]Scotland[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Scott Spedding[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]Stuart Hogg[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Yoann Huget[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Tommy Seymour[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mathieu Bastareaud[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Mark Bennett[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Wesley Fofana[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Alex Dunbar[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Teddy Thomas[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]Tim Visser[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Camille Lopez[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Finn Russell[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rory Kockott[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Greig Laidlaw[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Damien Chouly[/TD]
[TD]8
[/TD]
[TD]Johnnie Beattie[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Bernard Le Roux
[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Blair Cowan[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Thierry Dusautoir[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Rob Harley[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Yoann Maestri[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Jonny Gray[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Pascal Pape[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Richie Gray[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rabah Slimani[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Euan Murray[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Guilhem Guirado[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Ross Ford[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Alexandre Menini[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Alasdair Dickinson[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Replacements[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Benjamin Kayser[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]Fraser Brown[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Uini Atonio[/TD]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]Gordon Reid[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Eddy Ben Arous[/TD]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]Geoff Cross[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Romain Taofifenua[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]Jim Hamilton[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Loann Goujon[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]Alasdair Strokosch[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Morgan Parra[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]Sam Hidalgo-Clyne[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Remi Tales[/TD]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]Peter Horne[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Remi Lamerat[/TD]
[TD]23[/TD]
[TD]Dougie Fife[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

​

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

predicted Starting XV

France: 15.Speeding 14.Huget 13.Lamerat 12.Fofana 11.Thomas 10.Lopez 9.Tillous-Borde 8.Picamoles 7.Le Roux 6.Dusautoir 5.Maestri 4.Pape 3.Menini 2.Guirado 1.Ben Arous 16.Kayser 17.Slimani 18.Antonio 19.Flanquart 20.Nyanga 21.Kockett 22.Tales 23.Guitoune

Scotland: 15.Hogg 14.Seymour 13.Scott 12.Dunbar 11.Visser 10.Russell 9.Laidlaw 8.Beattie 7.Cowan 6.Harley 5.J Gray 4.R Gray 3.Cross 2.Ford 1.Dickinson
16.Brown 17.Grant 18.Welsh 19.Toolis 20.Watson 21.Pyrgos 22.Tonks 23.Fife

 

[yaboyjj]

predicted Starting XV

France: 15.Speeding 14.Huget 13.Lamerat 12.Fofana 11.Thomas 10.Lopez 9.Tillous-Borde 8.Picamoles 7.Le Roux 6.Dusautoir 5.Maestri 4.Pape 3.Menini 2.Guirado 1.Ben Arous 16.Kayser 17.Slimani 18.Antonio 19.Flanquart 20.Nyanga 21.Kockett 22.Tales 23.Guitoune

Scotland: 15.Hogg 14.Seymour 13.Scott 12.Dunbar 11.Visser 10.Russell 9.Laidlaw 8.Beattie 7.Cowan 6.Harley 5.J Gray 4.R Gray 3.Cross 2.Ford 1.Dickinson
16.Brown 17.Grant 18.Welsh 19.Toolis 20.Watson 21.Pyrgos 22.Tonks 23.Fife

That looks like a very dangerous Scottish back-line if they can secure some good front foot ball- the Glasgow backs certainly caused Bath lots of problems last week.

I think I read somewhere that Picamoles and Tillous-Borde were both injured for this game? Nevertheless, it should be a cracking match

 

[Chistera]

I think I read somewhere that Picamoles and Tillous-Borde were both injured for this game? Nevertheless, it should be a cracking match

Picamoles and Tillous-Borde are indeed injured for the game.
That's what I'l predicting for Saturday:
15.Dulin 14.Huget 13.Lamerat 12.Fofana 11.Thomas 10.Lopez 9.Parra 8.Chouly 7.Le Roux 6.Dusautoir 5.Maestri 4.Papé 3.Menini 2.Guirado 1.Mas 16.Kayser 17.Slimani 18.Atonio 19.Flanquart 20.Nyanga 21.Kockott 22.Bastareaud 23.Nakaitaci

Some doubt over fullback and scrumhalf. But Dulin has been playing great since returning from injury and Parra, despite not being included in the autumn squad, is Lopez's club halfback partner and Saint-André can't overlook that. Also not so sure about that front row, there might be a bit of swapping around, wouldn't make that big of difference though.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Isn't Parra constantly ignored by PSA for no reason? When did he last play for France? I find it impossible to keep up with the constant stream of changing names at scrum-half for France; ditto outside centre - I know nothing about Lamerat except his name, what's he like?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Huget to dive between the 40th and 50th minutes.

 

[Chistera]

Isn't Parra constantly ignored by PSA for no reason? When did he last play for France? I find it impossible to keep up with the constant stream of changing names at scrum-half for France; ditto outside centre - I know nothing about Lamerat except his name, what's he like?

Not only for scrum-halves but also for fly-halves, Saint-André must have played around a dozen different half-back players, meaning at least as many partnerships. Parra has recently been ignored by Saint-André and is only back due to Tillous-Borde's injury. Just as Trinh-Duc was consistently ignored for years despite being the best n.10 in the Top 14.
Lamerat's a great player, used to play for Toulouse first team as a teen and showed great promise but 2 grave injuries kept him out of the game for almost 2 full seasons, he's at Castres now and playing really well. Often breaks the defense with sheer impact, good offloading and passing game (contrary to Fofana and Bastareaud...), solid defense. Complete player overall. Makes an exciting midfield with Fofana.

 

[tituslechmakus]

Huget to dive between the 40th and 50th minutes.

lol ! Hope not, he's been so ridiculous ! And on contrary to football where players are almost congratulated, here, he's been called to order !

 

[g6mcg]

predicted Starting XV

France: 15.Speeding 14.Huget 13.Lamerat 12.Fofana 11.Thomas 10.Lopez 9.Tillous-Borde 8.Picamoles 7.Le Roux 6.Dusautoir 5.Maestri 4.Pape 3.Menini 2.Guirado 1.Ben Arous 16.Kayser 17.Slimani 18.Antonio 19.Flanquart 20.Nyanga 21.Kockett 22.Tales 23.Guitoune

Scotland: 15.Hogg 14.Seymour 13.Scott 12.Dunbar 11.Visser 10.Russell 9.Laidlaw 8.Beattie 7.Cowan 6.Harley 5.J Gray 4.R Gray 3.Cross 2.Ford 1.Dickinson
16.Brown 17.Grant 18.Welsh 19.Toolis 20.Watson 21.Pyrgos 22.Tonks 23.Fife

As Beattie wasn't in the initial squad maybe he won't start? Not that we have alternatives, but you'd hope they weren't relying on Denton surviving the entire tournament!

 

[gaston le gaff]

The team for the opener in France v Scotland, no Nico Mas could possibly win but wll be no walk in the park, but i will be present to support the French, lucky enough to get an invite by my bank Societe Generale. just to add the French company Vinci have won the quote to run the Olympic Stadium in London, foreigners to France to play rugby and the French running your stadiums, starting with the World Cup amazing not enough money in the UK!!!! ironique n'est pas!!!!!!!!!!

Le XV tricolore aligné contre l'Ecosse: Spedding - Huget, Bastareaud, Fofana, Thomas - (o) Lopez, (m) Kockott - Le Roux, Chouly, Dusautoir (cap) - Maestri, Papé - Slimani, Guirado, Menini.

Remplaçants: Kayser, Atonio, Ben Arous, Taofifenua, Goujon, Parra, Tales, Lamerat.

 

[tituslechmakus]

Tales ... What the hell is he doing in that team ?

Kockott to start ... And Lopez plays in club with Parra ... Any logic ?

Guirado to start and Kayser on the bench ???

PSA stroke again !!!

 

[Smithy]

just to add the French company Vinci have won the quote to run the Olympic Stadium in London, foreigners to France to play rugby and the French running your stadiums, starting with the World Cup amazing not enough money in the UK!!!! ironique n'est pas!!!!!!!!!!

Not enough money in the UK? Firstly the Aviva Prem rightly or wrongly enforces a salary cap to ensure the Prem is more competitive. No money but fastest growing economy in the EU. No company with its head screwed on right would've invested in the Olympic Stadium its a sure money pit with Wembley and Twickenham both in London.

Have no idea what Kockott is doing starting. I like the lad but surely Parra and Lopez have chemistry and would link nicely? Sometimes wonder where PSA (and sometimes Lancaster) get these ideas from.

 

[tituslechmakus]

just to add the French company Vinci have won the quote to run the Olympic Stadium in London, foreigners to France to play rugby and the French running your stadiums, starting with the World Cup amazing not enough money in the UK!!!! ironique n'est pas!!!!!!!!!!

Not enough money in the UK? Firstly the Aviva Prem rightly or wrongly enforces a salary cap to ensure the Prem is more competitive. No money but fastest growing economy in the EU. No company with its head screwed on right would've invested in the Olympic Stadium its a sure money pit with Wembley and Twickenham both in London.

Have no idea what Kockott is doing starting. I like the lad but surely Parra and Lopez have chemistry and would link nicely? Sometimes wonder where PSA (and sometimes Lancaster) get these ideas from.

Well, they might have a high opinion of themselves and think that selecting a surprise guy at some posts will give them an advantage over the opponent's previsions ... Well can work sometimes ... But doing it all the time (don't know if Lancaster does it), will most of the time disorganize the team ! Not enough time to set up game plans, so it is preferable to have at least n°9 and 10 from the same club if they are eligible and competitiv. As you can see, we have the Castres 9 and the Clermont 10 on the pitch and the contrary on the bench ! So as I asked before, where is the logic ??? And also, Castres, despite their 2 finals of the previous top14, are the last this year ...

 

[goodNumber10]

just to add the French company Vinci have won the quote to run the Olympic Stadium in London, foreigners to France to play rugby and the French running your stadiums, starting with the World Cup amazing not enough money in the UK!!!! ironique n'est pas!!!!!!!!!!

ooof! I work with Vinci on a daily basis and they are absolutely awful.

 

[dragos03]

Stupid selection again. Would a defeat at home against the Scots get PSA finally sacked?

 

[Smithy]

I think should France, with such a wealth of talent at their disposal compared to Scotland, lose on Saturday PSA is very much in the firing line. I know the Scots are improving well but in Paris, PSA must win.

 

[tituslechmakus]

Be fired ??? Are you jokin ? If the FFR had been able to do it, it should had been done at least 2 years ago ! But that is too much of a decision for them ! It would mean they would be forced to take a clever decision ! Impossible !

Defeat or not, wooden spoon or Grand Slam, there are no reason for PSA to fear firering !!! He'll be the coach till the end of RWC

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Who'll be likely to place kick?

 

[tituslechmakus]

Who'll be likely to place kick?

Probably Lopez, he was the one in the AI and is the one doing it at Clermont ... If not, then Kockott will.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Firstly PSA will not be fired he will be replaced after thE WC, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT THAT IS SIMPLY HOW IT WILL HAPPEN.
How often do 9 and 10 from the same club play together in the National team not often, with Trinh-Duc injured Lopez is the obvious choice and Tales the bench choice, Parra has been injured and is finally finding his form but would not be there if Machenaud was not injured himself.
Personnally the sooner the better PSA goes but as i said, after the WC and not before. France may surprise some people i expect them to beat Scotland but as i said earlier no walk in the park.

QUOTE FROM SMITHY

Not enough money in the UK? Firstly the Aviva Prem rightly or wrongly enforces a salary cap to ensure the Prem is more competitive. No money but fastest growing economy in the EU. No company with its head screwed on right would've invested in the Olympic Stadium its a sure money pit with Wembley and Twickenham both in London.



Smithy do not get too upset we all know how well Blighty is doing and do you think i reall care who runs the Olympic Stadium it was a WIND UP!!!!! read between the lines before the next crusade starts..........Have a nice day!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by the way there is a salary cap in France and we do not have marquee players to get round breaking the salary cap!!!!!