Paris (AFP)

A title match, 80 minutes to ignite.

The XV of France must outclass Scotland, Friday (9 p.m.) at the Stade de France, to win its first Six Nations Tournament since 2010, the eighteenth in its history.

The calculations are simple for a French coronation: four tries, one offensive bonus point and 21 points difference or six tries and "only" twenty points difference.

To overtake Wales (20 pts, +61) at the top of the standings, the Blues will therefore have to attack hard.

Faced with the best defense of the Tournament (7 tries conceded, 68 points conceded in four matches), "it is obviously doable but it will not be easy", predicted to AFP Fabien Pelous (118 selections), one of the two French with Olivier Magne (1997, 1998, 2002, 2004), to have won four Grand Slams.

A hell of a challenge for Fabien Galthié's men.

In the competition, such a gap in favor of the French against Scotland has happened eight times, especially during the 2007 edition with a 46-19 success, six tries scored, synonymous with a narrow title ahead of Ireland ( 5 matches, 4 wins, 8 points but a point difference in favor of the Blues: +69 against +65).

At the time, the Blues of Bernard Laporte, with the current manager Raphaël Ibanez in the role of captain, had won the Tournament, losing only one meeting, in England (26-18), and absolutely had to win widely during of the last game to be sacred.

- Mastering Russell -

Bis repetita?

"The error would be to focus on this difference in points. In view of the services, the quality of the players and the state of mind, they are more than capable of it", assures AFP François Trinh- Duc, titular opener during the 2010 Grand Slam.

Galthié does not say anything else: "The challenge is to perform well and win the match. The rest will come depending on the scenario and the construction of the match".

Because Scotland, with its fantastic Finn Russell, can certainly not play the title but can hope, in case of victory, to climb to the 2nd place, quite simply its best ranking since the title of 1999, during the last edition of the Five nations.

At that time, the XV de Chardon, with today's coach Gregor Townsend at the opening, won 36-22 at the Stade de France, the last Scottish success in France.

Since then, things have changed, but if the equation is simple, the solution is more complicated to find.

Even with the obvious: master Russell.

- "Always a trap" -

"He is a very good striker. We believe that he does not prepare his matches and that he is on improv for 80 minutes but he is someone who uses video a lot so who will be able to detect the few faults of the France team if there are any. And to exploit them. The secret is to put pressure on him and not to let go ", slips Trinh-Duc, teammate of the Scots Racing 92.

"He's able to play fast and he won't have any pressure, which often allows him to try extraordinary things. So you have to keep an eye on him because he can play around him and make the difference by a feat, "he adds.

Grand Slam winner as a player (1977) then as a coach (1997, 1998), Jean-Claude Skrela is confident.

"If you want to do a Grand Slam or win the Tournament, there is always a trap. The one in Wales has been. It has passed, I remain convinced that they will do it. By making a very, very big one. match, especially if they remain on their current dynamics, on their convictions. They want a result and if they remain in this line of conduct, they will go and seek it, "said the technician, now 71 years old. .

And to conclude: "A victory in the Tournament of the six nations, that remains in the history!"

© 2021 AFP