- France v Scotland >42.5 pts (5/6)
- Scotland +6 (11/10, Paddy Power)
For the vast majority of this French team, this afternoon’s game at Murrayfield will be the last of the year.
Six Nations Player of the Championship, Antoine Dupont, and other key performers like back-row Gregory Alldritt return to their respective clubs, Toulouse and La Rochelle, under the three-match agreement between the FFR and LNR.
France will go north all guns blazing and with Scotland also possessing a wealth of attacking talent and the weather set fair for Edinburgh, this encounter should easily eclipse yesterday’s dirges between Wales and Georgia and England and Ireland.
Surprisingly, the bookies have set the Under/Over market at just 42.5 points, which is less than the mark set for the aforementioned fixtures.
Historically, Scotland v France games have not been the highest-scoring affairs but this has all the ingredients to break the mould.
While the winner will almost certainly get to play off for the Autumn Nations Cup title, this meeting does not come with the same pressure as a traditional Six Nations clash and there could be a freedom of expression we don’t normally see.
Also, both teams are in good nick. Scotland go into the match looking to extend their winning run to a record-equalling six matches. And France are playing their best rugby for arguably a decade.
While we wouldn’t rule out a first French win in five visits to the Scottish capital, giving the Scots a six-point start on the handicap does look slightly generous.
