Townsend on how Scotland have to contend with 'the most effective wing'
Gregor Townsend believes France have arguably the most potent finisher in world rugby heading to Murrayfield on Six Nations business this Saturday.
But while the Scotland head coach is wary of the danger Damian Penaud poses to his side’s hopes of earning back-to-back wins after their opening escape in Wales, he is confident his own prolific wing can be a match for the marauding Bordeaux flyer.
Penaud’s diving finish just before half-time in France’s crushing opening defeat by Ireland in Marseille was his 15th Six Nations try – taking him one clear of Serge Blanco’s previous Championship record for Les Bleus.
It was his 36th try overall in his 49th Test, moving him to within two tries of legendary full-back Blanco’s all-time record of 38.
The 27-year-old’s strike rate of 0.73 tries per Test is second among modern-day finishers only to All Blacks predator Will Jordan, who boasts a ridiculous 31 in 31 Tests.
Penaud’s tally includes six tries in seven outings against Scotland, including five in his three previous visits to Edinburgh.
“You have to be aware of the unusual style that he brings to the game,” said Townsend.
“He runs across the field – [Antoine] Dupont used to do it as well – and it’s really effective.
“You could be the fourth defender in the line and thinking it’s someone else’s tackle to make. Then, all of a sudden, he’s come across to you. So we need to make sure he doesn’t get easy opportunities.
“If he gets quick ball in space, one-on-one, he’s probably the most effective wing out there just now at scoring tries. But we also need to put him under pressure – with our left winger up against him, and with our kicking game – to make sure he is going to have a tough day.”
That left winger Townsend refers to is, of course, Duhan van der Merwe, whose brace of tries in their 27-26 victory over Wales took his own Six Nations tally to 11 in 14 games.
Overall the South African-born giant has managed 23 in 35 Tests – at a healthy 0.66 tries per game – since his debut for his adopted country in the autumn of 2020, putting him fifth on Scotland’s all-time list and only four adrift of Stuart Hogg’s record.
“It’s a great match-up between him [Penaud] and Duhan,” said Townsend, who felt Van der Merwe’s second score last Saturday – taking Finn Russell’s offload at full tilt and burning Tomos Williams on an outside arc – didn’t receive as much credit as perhaps it deserved.
“I’m not sure much has been really said about his second try against Wales,” he added.
“Last year, when he scored that try against England, it was voted as try of the year. But the try last week was a terrific finish as well – and almost from the same scenario.
“It was a counter-attack and last year it was Kyle Steyn straight to Duhan, whereas this year it went from Kyle to Finn, who then gave a lovely offload to Duhan and it was a brilliant finish. He is in great condition.
“Duhan has gone up against Penaud a few times now. I remember the game in Paris [at the end of the 2021 Six Nations] when Penaud scored and then Duhan scored twice. They both scored in the Six Nations game here a couple of years ago too [a convincing 36-17 win for France].
“You’re going to see two of the very best wingers around right now going up against each other.”
With Kyle Steyn (10 tries in 16 Tests) and Louis Bielle-Biarrey (five in nine) up against each other on the opposing flank, both sides have undoubted finishing power out wide.
Three hotly-contested encounters last year, including two World Cup warm-up Tests, produced 20 tries – 10 apiece – with 34 coming in their last five meetings since 2021.
This will be the first one Les Bleus have not had inspirational captain Antoine Dupont in their ranks, however.
“He’s one of the best players in the world, if not the best player, so you’re going to miss him,” Townsend said. “He’s their captain, he’s very good in both defence and attack.
“His strengths suit the way they play, which is to try to play through transitions, pick-and-goes through the forwards and getting offloads away to the scrum-half.
“He’s been a big part of their success but they have more strength in depth than any team in world rugby. At scrum-half you’ve got a quality player in Maxime Lucu, and on the bench Nolann Le Garrec has been in really good form. He really adds pace. Both nines are top quality players.”
Scotland have played more Tests against France – 11 – than any other country during Townsend’s tenure. He has five victories over Les Bleus on his coaching CV since 2018, four of them at Murrayfield, where French confidence may be fragile after that record home defeat by Ireland.
“There’s a vulnerability in any team,” Townsend added. “If you play close to your best rugby against the opposition and pressurise them, there’s going to be times they don’t play as well and that’s our aim this week.
“We expect to see a reaction but you go into a game of rugby to put the opposition under pressure and we’ve done that against France the last three times we’ve played them. We’ve got to do that again this weekend – and even better to make sure we win the game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
So if this ain’t the best Irish team ever then who exactly is? I don’t remember any other Irish team being this good & winning a series in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Yes I may rip them often for 8 X QF RWC exits & twice not even making it to the QF, but they’re a damn good team who many think can only improve, including me!
65 Go to commentsNot a squeek out of Leinster for weeks about this match. So quiet. The first team have been quitely building for this encounter under Nienaber’s direction. All fresh, all highly motivated. They are expecting a season’s best performance from Northhampton. They will match that. They will be fresher and apparently they will have 80,000 out of the 83,000 shouting for them. I do expect Northhampton to turn up big time. Not to be missed. On a tangent it is evident how the loss of a few Premiership teams has in some respect helped other Premiership teams and England. More quality over less teams makes the teams better, which has a knock on effect on England. Not the only factor contributing to England’s rise but one of them.
1 Go to commentsOur very own monster teddy bear Ox😍💪
16 Go to commentsThis is might be the most generalised, entitled, patronising, out-of-pocket cultural indictment on a group of people you’ll ever see on what is supposedly a sports publication. I can only assume the author is weak like a woman or homosexual. I’m feeling an incredible range of emotions but I am not quite sure how to express them. I might go beat up a hockey player - assuming that’s okay with Duane and the boys? 🙂
9 Go to commentsBest thing the Welsh clubs could do is apply to join Gallagher prem surely be more exciting matches for there support than they have now.
2 Go to commentsRugbyPass writers are useless! you guys should get a real job because you all suck at writing about rugby!!!
9 Go to commentslooking forward to RWC2027 …. Boks on mission impossible for the Three-in-a-row, ABs to prove they being on par, France wishing to crown the “DuPont-era”, Ireland knocking on the Semi-Door ….. until then we’ll probably have to deal with Weird Ben’s fantasy-RWC23 (fun fact is, the drivel always creates a flooding of comments) …..
221 Go to commentsBen Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
221 Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
24 Go to commentsDear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
221 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
221 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
65 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
24 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
65 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
6 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
9 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
221 Go to comments