Scotland aware of Louis Bielle-Biarrey threat but will not focus too much on electric France winger

He has now developed into one of the world's best wingers and will return to Edinburgh this weekend looking to help France clinch the Six Nations Championship with a game to spare.

A bonus-point victory over Scotland will guarantee them the title and there are personal accolades also at stake for Bielle-Biarrey. Last season he made history with eight tries in the tournament, the most by any one player in the Six Nations.

He was rightfully voted player of the championship. This year he’s on four, a total matched by England’s Henry Arundell, and will seek to add to his tally after already scoring against Ireland (twice), Wales and Italy.

It’s not just his speed...

Kyle Steyn will be in direct opposition to Bielle-Biarrey and will look to put the brakes on the Bordeaux flyer.

“He’s electric,” said Steyn. “His speed speaks for itself but it’s his work rate as well. Plus he’s really good in the air so he’s got a really good all-round game.”

The Glasgow winger knows that Bielle-Biarrey is ruthless at punishing mistakes but is wary of concentrating too much on his French rival.

“Without going into it too much, he can make you want to go into your shell a bit because you're almost so focused on not making a mistake, not giving him an inch, that you forget about what you can bring and how you bring your strengths up and that's going to be the goal at the end of the day.”

Bielle-Biarrey may have been a relative unknown when he made his France debut as a 20-year-old in a World Cup warm-up match at Murrayfield in August 2023 but everyone now knows his name. Scotland won 25-21 that day but France have had the upper hand since, winning three in a row.

Bielle-Biarrey has scored a try in each of the last two Six Nations matches between the sides, at Murrayfield in 2024 in a 20-16 win and in Paris last year when he scored France’s third in the 35-16 victory that clinched the title.

It’s not up to Steyn and co to try to stop him blazing another trail of glory.

Get 50% off an annual subscription to The Scotsman and a chance to win a Scotland rugby shirt as part of our Six Nations deal. Subscribe to unlock full access to our website today.