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Matthieu Jalibert blow for France sees Galthie reshuffle backline
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'Motivated' Scotland outline plan to snatch Six Nations glory from France
By PA
Gregor Townsend says Scotland are determined to take their Guinness Six Nations title fight to the wire.
Scotland’s 26-23 comeback win against Wales kept alive hopes of a first European title since 1999 – the final year of the Five Nations Championship before Italy joined the competition.
Townsend’s side trailed 20-5 at the start of the second half in Cardiff, but Scotland dug deep to build on their Murrayfield victory over England after losing to Italy in their Rome opener.
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Scotland resume their title bid at home to France on March 7 before meeting Ireland in Dublin, where victory would secure their first Triple Crown for 36 years.
Head coach Townsend said: “We’ve got two games to look ahead to, and obviously the France game is massively important in terms of our Championship aspirations.
“The Ireland game is huge as well for a number of reasons. One it’s Ireland and we’re going to see them a few times over the next couple of years with the World Cup.
“Also the Triple Crown and we’ve got to do all we can to be in the Championship in the last round.
“So the best thing is obviously beating France and staying in the mix, and that’s what we’ll be working on the next 10 to 14 days.
“France are a top, top side. If you let them play, as in you don’t stop them at source and don’t stop their offloads, then they’re going to cause you damage.
“They are playing some outstanding rugby, so we’ve got to make sure we don’t let them get 20-30 points on the scoreboard.
“We always get really motivated for the French game. We know it’s going to be open and if you don’t get your defence right it’s going to be a long day.
“But it also allows the other team to be part of that too, and that’s a game we want to play.”
Scotland were wounded in the autumn after letting slip a 21-point lead against Argentina.
But Townsend believes the lessons learned from that painful defeat have been put to good use in the Six Nations.
“We’ve spoken since Argentina where we didn’t manage momentum well,” said Townsend.
Six Nations
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
France
3
3
0
0
15
2
Scotland
3
2
1
0
11
3
Ireland
3
2
1
0
9
4
England
3
1
2
0
5
5
Italy
3
1
2
0
5
6
Wales
3
0
3
0
1
“We managed it well last week, we never let England come back into the game unlike Argentina.
“We had to fight really hard (against Wales) and stick together, so that’s progress and a hugely important game for us in our development.
“There a lot of things we have to improve of course, but the one thing we needed to improve from Argentina we’ve shown.
“Even in Rome the guys came back, but we run out of time and the weather didn’t help.
“But the last two game we’ve shown a real mental strength to find ways to win.”
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