Paris (AFP)
Only France can still prevent Wales, undefeated leader, from winning the Six Nations Tournament at the end of the 4th day, fatal to Scotland, beaten Sunday by Ireland (27-24) in the last minutes at Edinburgh.
The Welsh, authors of a fourth success in four matches in Italy (48-7) on Saturday, will aim for the Grand Slam next Saturday (9 p.m. French) in France.
A draw or an enhanced defeat, without an offensive bonus on the French side, will be enough for them to win the competition.
France, defeated in the last minutes Saturday in England (23-20), is 9 points behind the Welsh in the standings but can still believe it since it will still have one game to play after its duel with the Welsh.
The Blues must face Scotland in principle on March 26.
Originally scheduled for February 28 at the Stade de France, the match was postponed following a sixteenth coronavirus contamination in the French ranks.
On Sunday, Scotland still had a small chance to join in the fight for the title but they had to dominate the XV of Clover.
Instead, Stuart Hogg and his partners conceded a second straight home loss after the failure to Wales (25-24) on February 13.
The Scots, who had signed a performance in England (11-6) on the first day, however regained hope by raising a handicap of fourteen points (from 10-24 to 24-24) thanks to tests by Huw Jones and by Hamish Watson.
But the Irish captain and opener Jonathan Sexton, author of 17 points in front of the poles, delivered his own by managing his fifth penalty with three minutes remaining.
Gregor Townsend's men will host Italy on Saturday, before their final match in France.
Ireland will face England on Saturday in Dublin.
© 2021 AFP