Gregor Townsend admits Scots will have to reach new levels against France if they are to have any chance of keeping Six Nations dream alive
Gregor Townsend admits Scotland will have to raise their game to new levels if they are to halt France and prolong their Six Nations dream.Townsend praised his players for the way they recovered from adversity to defeat Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, having failed to do so in recent painful losses to Argentina and Italy.The head coach believes his team will learn more from that win than the comprehensive victory over England the previous weekend as they enter the fallow week with a genuine chance to compete for the title.Few would have foreseen such a scenario following the opening day humbling by Italy in Rome, but the challenge goes up several notches from here.Next up at Murrayfield are reigning champions France, top of the table after Sunday's 33-8 win over Italy in Lille, before Scotland round off their campaign against arch-nemesis Ireland in Dublin the following weekend.Townsend knows his players can’t afford to let France get into their stride in Edinburgh on March 7. Finn Russell kids around after his key role in rollercoaster victory over Wales in Cardiff Kyle Steyn and George Horne lead celebrations after Scots completed the comeback Townsend consoles Wales captain Dewi Lake after a tough loss for the home sideHe said: ‘Obviously the France game is massively important in terms of our championship aspirations, and the Ireland game is huge as well for a number of reasons.‘One, it’s Ireland, and we’re going to see them a few times over the next couple of years with the World Cup draw. Plus, it’s for the Triple Crown.‘We’ve got to do all we can to be in the championship in the last round. So, the best thing is obviously beating France and staying in the mix, and that’s what we’ll be working on in the next 10 to 14 days.‘They are playing some outstanding rugby. So, we’ve got to make sure we don’t let them get 30 points on the scoreboard. France are a top, top side. If you let them play, as in you don’t stop their ball at source, you don’t stop their off-loads, they’re going to cause you damage.‘But we always get really motivated for the French game. We know what type of game it’s going to be. It’s going to be open, the way they’re playing right now.‘If you don’t get your defence right, then that could be a long day. The last time we played (France) at Murrayfield there was a special atmosphere, it really helped us. And that’s what we’ll be looking forward to in two weeks’ time.‘We know how big a fixture this is now. Our supporters will be so keen to be at that game and push us on, and we’ve got to deliver a performance equal to what we did against England and maybe a little bit more.’ Townsend is aware that skipper Tuipulotu and Co will have to raise their game against France Darcy Graham, above right, celebrates his remarkable try after quicking thinking by Finn Russell Graham and Russell combined for one of the finest tries of this season's Six NationsOne of the biggest criticisms of Townsend’s team is that they struggle to find solutions whenever they fall behind and the momentum drifts away from them.They were poor for long spells again in Cardiff and trailed by 15 points early in the second half. But Townsend believes the way his players clawed their way back into the game before moving in front five minutes before the end is a sign of progress.‘This is going to be more valuable for us [than the more straightforward win over England]. I know I’ve spoken about this since the Argentina game where we didn’t manage momentum well.‘On Saturday we’ve had to fight really hard, stick together and find solutions. So that’s progress, big progress. Yes, it’s effort and physicality but it’s also what the players were aligned on and what they were talking about in the huddle.‘It’s the actual bigger picture of riding that noise, the emotion ,and a very good Welsh team playing well and just getting back in, inch by inch, point by point, tackle by tackle, until we had opportunities.‘That’s a hugely important game in our development and obviously to get a win is massive. There will be a lot of things we have to improve, of course. But the one major thing that we needed to improve on from Argentina and even from Rome — I feel we’ve shown now.‘The guys came back in Rome, too. We just ran out of time and the weather didn’t help. But the last two games we’ve shown a real mental strength that we can find different ways to win.’Townsend’s decision to change two of his pack in Cardiff before the first half was over played a key part in Scotland’s comeback. George Turner goes over for Scotland's critical fourth try against the Welsh It's a great ending for Scotland on a day when Wales threatened to put them to the sword The outstanding Russell goes over for his try which proved so important for the ScotsOne of the replacements, Josh Bayliss, put in an outstanding shift and will wait to see if it was enough to earn him a starting berth against France.The Bath back-rower said: ‘I probably didn’t expect to get on that early but, in this squad, everyone has a role to play. We saw it last week with a couple of injuries so I got my chance this week.‘The boys on the pitch had a lot of mental energy. Games sometimes go that way when you bring boys on earlier. Everyone contributed to that win.‘We’ve got the fallow week coming up so that’s a great chance to build on what we’re doing. We’re contesting for that championship now. We’ve put it back in our hands, which is so pleasing after the first game. We’ll do all the research we can ahead of France but I’m really looking forward to whatever happens.’
