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Scotland’s Oli Kebble is tackled by Gareth Davies of Wales. Kebble made a first start when he teamed up with hooker Fraser Brown and Simon Berghan for the game against France. Photo: Tommy Dickson / Inpho
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The Dark Blues welcome France to Murrayfield on Sunday to claim six straight wins for the third time in the country’s modern rugby history.
The last Scottish teams to have a similar winning streak were the 1925 and 1990 classes, both of which defeated the Five Nations flawlessly in their record runs.
But Townsend – whose team has beaten Italy (twice) France, Georgia and Wales in their current hot streak – would prefer their team to be rewarded with something tangible in the form of the Autumn Nations Cup rather than a spot in the record books.
This weekend’s duel against Les Bleus is practically a semi-final after Pool B rivals Fiji canceled all three group games – including next week’s duel with the Scots – following a Covid outbreak. Townsend’s team is about to run out They’re playing for a trophy if they can repeat their March win over Fabien Galthie’s team.
« This opportunity is about winning this game and what it would mean for this group if they get to the final for the first or second time in a couple of weeks, » he said.
« We know the challenge France will bring – one of the best teams, if not the best team in the world, that’s all we think about. « . ”
Four of the changes come in the row with a new front row where South Africa-born Oli Kebble makes a first start when he teams up with hookers Fraser Brown and Simon Berghan. Matt Fagerson returns to the back of the field after an ankle injury.
France coach Galthie has made eight changes to the team that beat Ireland in the Six Nations. Matthieu Jalibert joins Antoine Dupont halfway in the absence of the injured Romain Ntamack, while Thomas Ramos, who will be on kicking duty, awaits the injured Anthony Bouthier as full-back.
Under an agreement between the French federation and the league, each player cannot be featured on more than three team sheets from November to December and Galthie has decided to bring in some of his usual substitutes – or « finishers » – he calls them – for the trip to Scotland.
The first row has been completely redesigned. Jean-Baptiste Gros, Camille Chat and Demba Bamba start instead of Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand and Mohamed Haouas.
Dylan Cretin will start on the second row following the injury to Francois Cros, while Gael Fickou is back in the middle alongside Virimi Vakatawa after winger Teddy Thomas returns from injury.
SCOTLAND: S Hogg; B.. Kinghorn, C.. Harris, S.. Johnson, D.. van der Merwe; D weir, a price; O Kebble, F.. Brown, S.. Berghan, S.. Cummings, J.. Gray, J.. Ritchie, H.. Watson, M. Fagerson. Replacements: G. Turner, J.. Bhatti, Z. Fagerson, S.. Skinner, B.. Thomson, S.. Hidalgo-Clyne, D.. Taylor, S.. Maitland.
FRANCE: T Ramos; T. Thomas, V. Vakatawa, G.. Fickou, V.. Ratz; M Jalibert, A Dupont; J-B Gros, C. Chat, D. Bamba, B.. Le Roux, R.. Taofifenua, D. Cretin, C.. Ollivon (c), G.. All three. Replacements: J. Marchand, C.. Baille, M.. Haouas, P.. Willemse, C.. Woki, B.. Couilloud, L.. Carbonel, A.. Vincent.
Monday – Sunday, 16. – 22. November
Scottish National Rugby Union Team, French National Rugby Union Team, Fiji, Gregor Townsend
World News – UK – Townsend aims for cutlery as Scotland tries to extend the winning run
Ref: https://www.irishtimes.com
