Barclay: The tried and tested game plan we used to beat France and the man Scotland must target
In my time with Scotland, I never felt that worried about playing France at BT Murrayfield. And when they beat us in Paris, I felt it was generally more reflective of how poorly we had played rather than French brilliance.
We knew they would bring passion and energy, especially at home, but only in fleeting bursts. Their fitness wasn’t anywhere near good enough to sustain that kind of fervour for a whole game.
In a domestic league noticeable for a slow, stop-start style, ball-in-play times are significantly lower than in other top competitions. Previous approaches would have seen Scotland attempt to push this ball-in-play time north of 40 minutes, draining French legs and creating indiscipline, inaccuracies and defensive lapses. In essence, trying to out French the French was the approach; fast and furious, loose rugby was the intended course of action.
But France are playing ferocious rugby for 80 minutes, so quite simply, their fitness must have shifted significantly to allow them to defend the way they are. Defensively, the easiest thing is to drop off your line speed, stop plugging holes, stop competing so hard at the breakdown – you might not miss the tackle, but you hang back when you’re not as fit. Their appetite to defend for 80 minutes, defend every phase, and put pressure on the breakdown, is remarkable to watch.
Reputations can take a lifetime to build, and often be shattered in a moment. A move to France may have prompted questions about the impact Shaun Edwards could have – would his renowned straight-talking approach sit well within the French culture? How would they receive him?
Edwards’ stock shows no sign of shattering, and if anything, looks set to go to the next level. Having played in Wales for five years, I can assure you there is no shortage of praise for his techniques and in particular, his energy and enthusiasm for defence. I’ve always believed that 95% of defence is about your individual mentality – your will to put your body on the line for your mates, your team culture and how much you want to buy into that relentless aspect of it. It’s often thankless. That willingness to constantly suffer, and defend even when it hurts, has been typified by the French spirit in their first three games.
I haven’t seen too many interviews in French with Shaun but clearly, there’s a massive language barrier between him – a fearsome bloke with an even fiercer Wigan accent and a very loose grasp of the lingo – and the squad, but he has been able to convey his message in emphatic fashion. It’s about enthusiasm, appetite, and he’s definitely got that across. North England and France should, on the face of it, not work. They’re like chalk and cheese. Yet initial impressions are that this appears to be a marriage made in heaven.
In the past, the French defensive attitude was, shall we say, less than stellar; very laissez-faire. Their kicking game was ad hoc and their exit and kicking strategies non-existent. That’s not the case anymore. Fabien Galthie and his support staff have given them cohesion, they look like a team that knows how they are trying to play; something that could not have been said of France in years gone by. They are not just playing off the cuff from every phase – there is structure without taking away from their traditional strengths.
France look confident, and a confident, settled and happy France team is a very dangerous beast. After their opening-round trouncing of England, they had a few days off and all came together to spend time with their families. During the World Cup, there was talk of player revolts and upset, and you know how emotional the French can be, but they seem to be so stable now, and we are seeing that in the way that they are playing.
France have a sensational crop of Junior World Championship winners and their attacking game has been devastating. They scored three tries against England, five against Italy and three more against Wales. They are the only team who can still complete a clean sweep, and you wouldn’t bet against them doing it. I can’t vouch too confidently for the French attitude and their feelings towards playing Scotland away. What I do know is the French record at BT Murrayfield is not fantastic – they last won there in 2014.
Scotland have to disrupt their 8-9-10 axis. In half-backs Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack you have two of the form players in the tournament. They look composed and natural and totally un-flustered, but no-one has really got a hold of them and rattled their cages to see if some of that stereotypical indiscipline may suddenly reappear. You want to try and bring that emotion out in the French, bring a bit of needle and rile them into becoming hot-headed and abandoning their structure.
The breakdown will remain a focus for Scotland. France have put heavy pressure on the breakdown through Gregory Alldritt, Camille Chat et al, and I expect their focus on this area to intensify with a view to the weekend. The work at the breakdown has been an issue for Scotland, with multiple holding-on penalties dogging their last outing in Rome.
I’d like to see Scotland play on the edge, bringing line speed with defenders making smart, aggressive decisions at the right times. The kicking battle will be crucial and Scotland must disrupt any flow France have generated over the last few games. Exerting massive kick pressure will be important, especially on Dupont. Scotland must squeeze him, make him uncomfortable, make every kick uncomfortable. Scotland’s physicality and intensity in their opening game against Ireland was something to behold and it goes without saying that more of the same will be required this Sunday. It’s a lot to get right, and it’s an immense test, but there’s no doubt in my mind Scotland are good enough to succeed where England, Italy and Wales have failed.
The fact that everyone, myself included, is heaping praise upon the French is no bad thing. Scotland will relish the underdog status and will fancy themselves, especially at home. After beating Italy and relieving some pressure, I expect to see a Scottish side throw off the shackles and unload. Sitting back will not suffice.
The battle of the back-rows will be titanic, and if the attrition on show between Wales and France was anything to go by, we are in for a treat. If Scotland win this game, it will rank as one of their finest wins in recent years and will set them up very nicely for a three-win Six Nations with two losing bonus points to boot. I think everyone would have taken that at the start of the tournament.
WATCH: Jim Hamilton looks back on what has been one of the most bizarre seasons in rugby history.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
18 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
18 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
18 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
1 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
18 Go to commentsSA sides should do the right thing and leave the champions cup, they are lowering the standard with completely one sided games, not up to the right level. The greatest club tournament in the world is being banjaxed by the weak SA sides.
18 Go to commentsCouldnt agree more. SA sides need to show more committment and really have a go at the Champions Cup. Its quite possibly the most prestigious title in Europe and SA sides need to respect that prestige and serve up their best. EPCR needs to do more to ensure that sides from South Africa and sides travelling to and from SA have a better chance in this competition. The Bulls were put in a really difficult position of having to travel there and back in one week. One could argue that this is what the SA sides signed up for and that La Rochelle didnt complain or send out weakened sides despite having to travel to SA and back and play on successive weekends but surely the situation is also unfair on La Rochelle as well and so EPCR needs to think about successive gameweeks and the travel effect of the competition
18 Go to commentsI hadn’t watched much Canes this season but sat through a replay of that Chiefs game with no distractions. That pack is beastly. I really like the look of Iose. He loves the tough stuff. The first Quins clip may be the best I have even seen for a TH driving his opposite into oblivion. i need to take your word for the contribution of Walker, but Collier there with a straight back pushing up from under was a lovely thing to see. Have you fallen in love with Baxter also, Nick? I think Stuart Barnes may have written his column about him recently, naked. He positively frothed.
15 Go to commentsSmart guy. I wish he was running the RFU or something!
3 Go to commentsWhy Barrett, when Leinster already have at least 4 top centres.?
15 Go to comments