Scotland campaign in the Six Nations could not have gotten off to a worse start rally. They went to Wales full of confidence after a great campaign last season, which included a win at Murrayfield over the Welsh, a result which snapped a nine-match losing streak that they are on against them. However, the Scots crumbled in Cardiff and were never in the match and they just didn’t have an answer for the intensity of Wales on the day. It left the Scottish hopes in false dawn territory.
They head back to Murrayfield this weekend for their first home game of the 2018 Championships to take on France. Scotland have made six changes in total to last weekend’s starting line up including bringing Greig Laidlaw back into the team at scrum half to replace Ali Price. It was a pretty shocking performance from the Scots last weekend and really it has to improve this weekend as they take the field. Head coach Gregor Townsend has said that they are not going to change their style of play after last weekend’s disaster.
The French played host to Ireland last weekend in Paris and it was a really dour game. The conditions weren’t great and the game was devoid of any quality really until Ireland’s Johnny Sexton popped up in the 83rd minute to deliver a stunning match-winning drop goal. The French didn’t have their defensive line broken once in the entire match as they kept Ireland at arm’s length pretty comfortably. There will issues with ill-discipline from them though, but overall they will have at least been pleased with the way that they kept the Irish quiet.
Scotland v France Head to Head
France have a pretty commanding head to head lead over the Scots, having won nine of the last ten meetings. The only slip there was at Murrayfield in the 2016 Six Nations when the French lost 29-18. The margin of victory for the French should indicate a good place to look in the handicap markets at Paddy Power. Eight of France’s last nine victories over the Scots have been by a margin of fewer than ten points.
Scotland v France odds*
Scotland 1/2, France 17/10, Draw 20/1* (betting odds taken on January 8th, 2018 at 5:37 p.m.)
Scotland v France Predictions
This is likely going to be a tight battle down to the wire, but there is a bit of value in backing the French in this one. They kept Ireland quiet and if they can take some early sting out of the Scottish enthusiasm at Murrayfield, then they can get themselves in this tie. It probably won’t be pretty but having France cover a +5 handicap for even money* (betting odds taken on January 8th, 2018 at 5:37 p.m.) isn’t bad value at all.
