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How former Scotland captain Laidlaw thinks France can be beaten
Greig Laidlaw thinks Scotland need to control possession and manufacture quick ball if they are to secure a hattrick of wins against France in the Six Nations.
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Speaking on Le French Rugby Podcast, the former Scotland captain acknowledged the big task awaiting Gregor Townsend and his men, but he believes it is not insurmountable.
France are the only team still on for a Grand Slam and have a finely tuned fifteen which balances attacking flair with brute force up front.
To stifle these two elements, Laidlaw explained that Scotland cannot get sucked into a physical battle in the midfield and instead must focus on retaining possession and spreading the ball wide.
“Scotland are going to have to play quick and stay away from the blitz,” Laidlaw said. ““They need to move the ball as much as they can away from the big, heavy French pack. That’s essentially the template.
“Don’t let France settle, don’t let them get their rhythm and don’t give them lineouts to launch off. Scotland need to hold the ball in attack. Make Antoine Dupont defend, make him tackle and don’t let him get his hands on the ball. It’s easier said than done,” Laidlaw said with a wry smile.
“But if Scotland can do that, they’re in with a chance.
“Scotland are clearly going to respect France but they have won against France the last two times they’ve played, and for a reason.”
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Scotland would not be the first team to try and take the ball out of French hands, but they will have to execute with grit and accuracy if they are to skirt around the imposing opposition pack.
Just two weeks ago, Ireland managed to create quick ball against Fabien Galthié’s men and won considerable yardage from this in the second half.
“Ireland were able to hit a pod of three forwards off the side-line and tug it to the ten and get some bodies into space,” Laidlaw recounted. “That’s how you get the ball away from those heavy forwards – you make them move.
“You can then get a couple of big ball carriers in those less cluttered areas. That’s where Hamish [Watson] and Duhan [van der Merwe] become really dangerous.”
These tactical adjustments are well within the Scottish repository but one thing out of their hands, which Laidlaw thinks could have a huge bearing on the match, is the weather.
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“Heavy rain would probably suit France a little bit more and I know that might sound funny because France can obviously play as well, but Scotland get outmuscled over 80 minutes if its heavy rain.”
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French hearts may rise if the skies turn grey over Murrayfield but Finn Russell will have to remain poised regardless of the weather, especially coming off a disappointing loss in Cardiff where the flyhalf saw yellow.
Russell will also have extra incentive this Saturday as he faces off against his Racing 92 teammates. Laidlaw believes, from personal experience, a win against his French clubmen could taste particularly sweet.
“In 2018 we managed to beat France at Murrayfield when I was playing with Clermont,” the scrumhalf said. “When you head back over to France you can walk in [the changing room] and push your chest out. The way Finn is, he’ll be putting himself out there to get the win this weekend. And it would be awesome to be a fly on the wall in the changing room back in Racing with the banter he’ll be giving the boys if he’s able to do it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
12 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments