Setback in France is challenge to Scots

ALI Price says Scotland’s crushing rugby loss to France in Nice is a World Cup wake-up call.

Gregor Townsend’s team depart for Japan in less than a month but they looked badly out of shape as they kicked off their warm-up schedule with a 32-3 defeat to Les Bleus.

Scotland conceded within the first 90 seconds and were breached four more times at the Allianz Riviera as they were overpowered by a French outfit who looked sharper and fitter.

By full-time, the Scots trudged off knowing that, if they repeat their display in the Far East, they will struggle to get out of a group containing Ireland, Russia, Samoa and the hosts.

However, scrum-half Price hopes the shock display will jolt a reaction from Townsend’s men ahead of welcoming France to Murrayfield for next Saturday’s return clash.

“Everyone is pretty low,” admitted the Glasgow half-back after the match.

“We were the first 23 guys to get a shot at what we’ve been doing for the last two months and it was disappointing. It’s a pretty big wake-up call.

“If we can take anything from it it’s that it’s the first game. Things were never going to be perfect. We came here to win and we were way off.

“We’ve come back from games like this before and we’re at home next week in front of our own fans.

“We get another shot at France and then we roll into two Georgia games and try and gather some momentum.

“It’s a wake-up call that we’re not just going to roll into this World Cup and get us far as we want. We’ve got to want it and other teams have been working just as hard as us. There’s lots to look at.”

Townsend will name his final 31-man squad on September 3 in between the Scots’ final two warm-up Tests against Georgia.

Price challenged his team-mates to prove how much they want a seat on the plane.

“When you’re out on the pitch and you’re tired and you have these decisions to make, you have to question how much you want it,” he said, whether you are willing to work to the end of the line.”