France vs Scotland – Six Nations LIVE: Latest score and updates from title decider as Les Bleus need win to lift trophy

It’s a seven/one bench again for France, the power-packed unit ever more en vogue in the international game. But not all are fans of the tactic – including Scotland boss Gregor Townsend…

Scotland make two changes in their pack with Gregor Brown given a first Six Nations start in the second row, and Matt Fagerson returning at No 8 after an injury to Jack Dempsey. The backline remains intact from the one that beat Wales, with all seven starters perhaps hoping to further their British and Irish Lions case with a strong tournament finish.

Scotland XV: 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Dave Cherry, 3 Zander Fagerson; 4 Gregor Brown, 5 Grant Gilchrist; 6 Jamie Ritchie, 7 Rory Darge (co-capt.), 8 Matt Fagerson; 9 Ben White, 10 Finn Russell (co-capt.); 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Tom Jordan, 13 Huw Jones, 14 Darcy Graham; 15 Blair Kinghorn.

Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Ewan Johnson, 20 Marshall Sykes, 21 Ben Muncaster; 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Stafford McDowall.

France are able to call upon Gael Fickou for the first time this tournament with the veteran centre filling the vacancy left by Pierre-Louis Barassi, who is out after a concussion. Maxime Lucu swaps in for Antoine Dupont after the scrum half’s cruciate ligament injury as Gregory Alldritt assumes the captaincy. It is again seven forwards on the bench after such a decisive impact against Ireland.

France XV: 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio; 4 Thibaud Flament, 5 Mickael Guillard; 6 Francois Cros, 7 Paul Boudehent, 8 Gregory Alldritt (capt); 9 Maxime Lucu, 10 Romain Ntamack; 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Gael Fickou, 14 Damian Penaud; 15 Thomas Ramos.

Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Anthony Jelonch; 23 Nolann Le Garrec.

Gregor Brown is the most notable inclusion in a largely familiar Scotland XV as Townsend looks to inject some fresh energy and dynamism into his pack. The 23-year-old Glasgow forward – a hybrid lock-flanker – will start in the second row after getting the nod over the experienced Jonny Gray. Brown has acquitted himself well since making his debut on last summer’s tour of the Americas and has started against Canada, Chile and Uruguay, but starting his first Six Nations match in Paris against the swashbuckling champions-elect represents comfortably the biggest challenge of his career to date.

Despite the formidable challenge facing them, Scotland are entitled to take heart from their recent form against France. Each of the last three meetings between the sides – last year’s Six Nations clash at Murrayfield and the two World Cup warm-up matches in August 2023 – were settled by just three or four points. Prior to that, Scotland competed well in their last Six Nations match in Paris two years ago and were well in the hunt until the hosts scored late to seal a 32-21 victory, while Townsend’s men enjoyed a rare success in the French capital in 2021, albeit behind closed doors. In short, they generally hold their own in France.

Scotland are out of title contention and even a win may not be enough to help them avoid another bottom-half finish. Their two wins came at home to Italy and Wales, the two weakest sides in the championship, but even then they made heavy weather of both matches. After back-to-back defeats against Ireland and England ruled them out of the equation for silverware and brought fresh debate about Gregor Townsend’s ability to move the team forward, the Scots could desperately do with – if not a victory – at least a rousing performance in Paris to emerge from a hitherto underwhelming campaign with some credit in the bank.

France go into their night of destiny without talismanic captain Antoine Dupont after he suffered an ACL injury in Dublin last week. While they would prefer to have him on the pitch for their big night, they can draw some solace from the fact they had to adapt to being without him throughout last year’s campaign and also for a small part of the 2023 World Cup. Les Bleus can call on a pretty handy replacement in Bordeaux’s Maxime Lucu, and their depth of options to cover for Dupont is highlighted by the fact their fourth-choice scrum-half Baptiste Serin is currently ahead of Scotland starter Ben White in the Toulon pecking order.

A partisan atmosphere awaits the Scots, with an expectant French crowd hoping to see their side claim the victory that will secure a first Six Nations title since 2022 and only a second championship triumph since 2010. A win for the visitors would pave the way for England or Ireland – who both play earlier in the day – to claim the honours, but Les Bleus have been in scintillating form for much of the tournament and will be confident of seizing their big chance under the Saturday-night lights at a packed Stade de France.

Gregory Alldritt has urged France to make their mark on history by closing out Six Nations glory against Scotland in Paris.

The Stade de France will be packed with expectant Les Bleus supporters for the championship finale, with the hosts knowing victory will secure their first title since 2022 and only their second triumph since 2010.

“There’s a lot of excitement, it matters to all of us,” said La Rochelle back-rower Alldritt, who will captain the side in the absence of Antoine Dupont, who suffered an ACL injury against Ireland last weekend.

“We’re all motivated and we all can’t wait for tomorrow night. It has been a formidable Six Nations so far.

“A title would be a further step for us, there’s nothing mundane in that. Lifting a title, leaving your mark on history, seeing family members smiling in the crowds, making them proud are unforgettable moments. That’s what you play for.

“Our visit to Invalides (war veteran museum and residency) strengthened that, speaking to those war veterans they said they are sensitive to our results. It adds a little more desire to what we do in the week and why we wear the shirt on the weekend.”

Gregor Townsend believes Scotland have shown enough quality against France in recent seasons to go to Paris with optimism for tonight’s Six Nations finale.

The Scots face what their head coach described as “probably the biggest challenge in world rugby right now” as they bid to stop Les Bleus landing the victory they are likely to require to seal a first title since 2022 at Stade de France.

However, Townsend is heartened by the way his team have performed against the French recently.

The last three meetings between the the teams have all been decided by three or four points, while the Scots – who won in Paris in 2021 – were in contention for victory on their last Six Nations trip to the French capital two years ago, until the hosts scored late to seal a 32-21 win.

“From our perspective, we’ve played well in the (France) games,” said Townsend. “We’ve had to recover at times from two red cards in the last two or three games against them.

“One, we got back into position two years ago at Stade de France to really put them under pressure (in the 2023 Six Nations) and then a World Cup warm-up game (at Murrayfield) to come back and win with 14 men.

“We’ve gone well in this fixture, our players are a quality group, they thrive in that atmosphere. They thrive with the challenge and this is what we’re asking them to do again this weekend.”