'If not them, who?' - how Scotland v France will see world's best collide in Six Nations

Antoine Dupont and Finn Russell last crossed swords when France pipped Scotland 30-27 in Saint-Étienne in a World Cup warm-up game in 2023. The long wait only adds to the sense of anticipation and Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu believes the half-back battle will go a long way to deciding the outcome of the game in Edinburgh.

Russell, the home stand-off, and scrum-half partner Ben White are well versed in the ways of French rugby, with the former having spent five years in Paris with Racing 92 while the latter still plies his trade in the Top 14 with Toulon.

They will be up against Bordeaux fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and Toulouse maestro Dupont, both Champions Cup winners. It makes for a talented quartet and Tuipulotu didn’t disagree when it was put to him that Russell and Dupont were the best in the world.

“I'm biased because Finn plays for my team, and obviously everyone knows about Dupont, but I think if not them, who?” said the Scotland captain. “They're definitely two players at the top of their game, and they can do some things on the rugby field that I don't think anyone else on the planet can do, so it makes for an interesting game.

“I think their battle and maybe the battle of the half-backs is a big part of the game tomorrow. Jalibert has been playing unbelievable rugby as well and I know Benny [White] is really excited at the prospect of competing with Dupont. So the halves battle is very interesting, and I think will go a long way to deciding the game.”

The games between the sides have been close in recent years, particularly at Murrayfield, but Tuipulotu believes there is little to be gained in looking at previous encounters.

“I always feel like past form, the only detail that it tells is maybe how two teams clash in terms of their styles. Maybe our styles clash in a way that makes for entertaining and close games, and that's the only thing that I take away from it. But I will say that we're further in our growth than we've ever been as a team, mentally as well.”

Tuipulotu knows France can clinch the title with a game to spare if they beat Scotland with a bonus-point but the home team have their own ambitions. They trail the French by four points with two rounds of the championship remaining and could move above them or at least draw level with a victory at Murrayfield.

Start fast, finish fast

In their wins over Ireland, Wales and Italy France have never trailed and Tuipulotu stressed the need for Scotland to make a fast start - and also finish strongly.

“That's our job, but it's easier said than done,” said the Glasgow Warriors centre. “This is a brilliant team. I'm not going to sit up here and say they're not because they've proved it over the first three weeks. They've been brilliant, haven't they? They haven't been behind on the scoreboard, but if we can get in front of them, we give them a feeling that they haven't felt in this championship yet. I think that's something that we have to strive towards doing, and I think that comes with a fast start.

“We need to start fast, but I think against a quality team like France, that alone doesn’t mean you’ll win the game. We've got to start fast and finish fast as well. It's going to take an 80-minute performance. One that we know we're capable of. That’s how we get what we want from this game.

“Playing at Murrayfield with the home crowd behind us, I can't explain to people what that's like. They're going to be a massive part of this game. I hope they can make this place as hostile as possible.”

Tuipulotu thinks the surprise inclusion of Jack Dempsey can give the Scotland team a huge boost. The No 8 injured his bicep in the win over England in round two and looked set to miss the remainder of the competition but he recovered for quicker than anticipated and will line up in an all-Glasgow back row against France alongside Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge.

“It is great to have him back,” said Tuipulotu. “His personality off the field always makes things interesting around the group. He's one of my best friends in the group.

“Just having him out there, I don't want to underestimate how big of a boost that is for us as a team to have him back on the park. He carries a lot of that emotional energy on his shoulders as well. I've been playing rugby with him for a long time now. I trust him with everything. It's massive to have him back in the group.”

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