Scots’ joy as French trip gets nod
SCOTLAND are “ready to go” after Sunday’s Six Nations clash with France in Paris was given the green light to go ahead, says Murrayfield chief Mark Dodson.
The Stade de France showdown had been in major doubt following a Covid-19 outbreak among the French squad.
But, after a fresh round of negative test results, France have now been given the go ahead to host Gregor Townsend’s squad.
The news will come as a relief to the Scotland coach, who feared he would be forced to do without 10 of his top stars if the game was postponed a week.
“We’re delighted that the game is going ahead,” said Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Dodson. “It’s important that we are allowed to prepare properly.
“I was in Oriam (Scotland’s training base) this week and we’ve had a really good week’s preparation. All the boys want to play it and I’m delighted the French want to play it too.
“We look forward to a great contest. Touch wood, we’re ready to go this Sunday.”
LINFIELD manager David Healy has admitted that his team were punished in the Big Two derby on Tuesday after failing to do the same to Glentoran when their opportunities arose at Windsor Park.
The champions lost 1-0 to the Glens when Conor Mcmenamin’s injury-time cross ended up in the net after Linfield’s Jordan Stewart, Shayne Lavery and Joel Cooper all went close either side of the half-time break.
The Blues are still top but Coleraine, Cliftonville and Glentoran are closing in after midweek wins with long-time title contenders Larne and Crusaders very much in the mix.
“I’m gutted to lose in the manner we did. We put a lot into the game. I won’t fault the players; they’ve been brilliant for me,” said Healy, whose team host second-placed Larne tomorrow before a trip to Glentoran next week.
“We just got caught at the end with a poor goal to concede, which is disappointing, but on another night, fine margins go for you and maybe you go and win the game.
“We spoke to the players at half-time and said Glentoran improved in the second half the last time we played them and I think they improved greatly again and the game was more open.
“We were still pushing to try to win the game and we were in their final third a lot but gave up possession too easily. I still thought we did more than enough to get something out of the game. It was a sore one to take in the last minute.
“On another day, and that might be against Larne on Friday night or next Tuesday at The Oval, we may go and be more clinical and ruthless with the opportunities presented. We never punished them after the hard work and that’s when you get punished.”
• MICHAEL Boyd, the Irish FA’S Director of Football Development, is to leave his role to join Sport Northern Ireland after 22 years at the governing body.