An historic win in Wales backed up victory in WXV 2, with Scotland coming into this encounter in a rich vein of form.
A win over France would be another step up entirely. Les Bleues opened their campaign with a bonus-point success against Ireland in Le Mans, and were convincing winners over Scotland a year ago.
Pauline Bourdon Sansus was excellent in the Ireland victory, opening the scoring and setting up Marine Ménager for a second as France opened up a comfortable lead.
And while they were not as accurate as they might have liked, struggling to turn long periods of possession into points, there was a good platform upon which to build.
It was a similar story for Scotland, who probably should have been much further clear at half-time and were hanging on by the end. But the way they ground out victory is testament to the confidence coursing through the side.
TEAM NEWS
Scotland have been forced into two changes from the side that beat Wales, both coming in the pack.
Lana Skeldon limped off in that encounter and her place in the side is taken by Elis Martin at hooker while Louise McMillan replaces the injured Sarah Bonar in the second row.
McMillan will win her 50th cap, and there are two potential debutants on the bench, Fiona McIntosh and Nicole Flynn.
France have made just one change from the side that won in Le Mans, Axelle Berthoumieu replacing Charlotte Escudero in the back row.
Escudero drops to the bench, while Manon Bigot slots into the back-up hooker role as the only other change to the 23.
WHAT THEY SAID
Scotland coach Bryan Easson: "(France) are top three in the world for a reason.
"They've been consistent with their performances. They are really physical, but they're also chaotic.
"We've trained quite a bit of chaotic stuff this week, so that we know how to expect that. But we've also got to make sure that we don't get thrown into that as well.
"We want to stick to our processes, stick to our systems, trust the system."
KEY BATTLE – Scottish defence against French attack
Scotland missed just five tackles all game against Wales, an impressive feat when you consider some of the ball-carriers that Wales have at their disposal.
That may be even more of a challenge against France, with the likes of Madoussou Fall, Assia Khalfaoui and Romane Ménager tough to stop on the gain line.
Even if they were not as accurate as they would have liked in the 22, France were able to make inroads with their carriers and always look for offloads. If Scotland can slow down those ball-carriers as they did against Wales, then that willingness to keep the ball alive may be less effective for France.
STAT ATTACK
France are unbeaten across their last 12 Guinness Women’s Six Nations matches against Scotland (W11 D1) and have kept the Scots scoreless in seven of those clashes including their meeting in 2023 (55-0).
Scotland have won each of their last three Guinness Women’s Six Nations matches, their longest winning run in the Championship since 2005 (also 3).
Scotland have won each of their last two Guinness Women’s Six Nations home games after winning just one in 12 previously (D1 L10) – Scotland most recent home win came by a margin of 26 points (36-10 v Ireland) their largest win in the Championship since 2003.
France have won five of their last seven Guinness Women’s Six Nations away games (L2 both to England) with those wins having come by an average margin of 29 points.
FANTASY WATCH
Coreen Grant scored one try and looked a threat every time she touched the ball against Wales, racking up 50 points, second among all players in Round 1. For 13.9 stars, she looks a steal, as does Emma Orr inside her at the same price.
Evie Gallagher was Scotland’s second highest scorer and given she did not have a try or assist to boost her numbers, that seems eminently repeatable.
At just 13.9 stars, Madoussou Fall is still relatively cheap, probably because she missed last year’s campaign through injury. In 2022, she was a Player of the Championship nominee, and after hitting the ground running as France’s top-scorer against Ireland, she is surely worth a pick-up.
Pauline Bourdon Sansus is more expensive at 18.4 stars, but she picked up a try and an assist in the first half against Ireland and everything good France do revolves around her.
TEAMS
Scotland: 15 Meryl Smith, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Coreen Grant, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Caity Mattinson, 1 Leah Bartlett, 2 Elis Martin, 3 Christine Belisle, 4 Emma Wassell, 5 Louise McMillan, 6 Rachel Malcolm (c) 7 Alex Stewart, 8 Evie Gallagher
Replacements: 16 Molly Wright, 17 Lisa Cockburn, 18 Elliann Clarke, 19 Fiona McIntosh, 20 Eva Donaldson, 21 Mairi McDonald, 22 Nicole Flynn, 23 Chloe Rollie
France: 15 Emilie Boulard, 14 Kelly Arbey, 13 Nassira Kondé, 12 Gabrielle Vernier, 11 Marine Ménager, 10 Lina Queyroi, 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus, 1 Annaëlle Deshaye, 2 Agathe Sochat, 3 Assia Khalfaoui, 4 Manae Feleu (c), 5 Madoussou Fall, 6 Axelle Berthoumieu, 7 Gaëlle Hermet, 8 Romane Ménager.
Replacements: 16 Manon Bigot, 17 Ambre Mwayembe, 18 Clara Joyeux, 19 Charlotte Escudero, 20 Emeline Gros, 21 Alexandra Chambon, 22 Lina Tuy, 23 Morgane Bourgeois
