Maitland targets France’s back three
After Josh Strauss avoided missing the trip to Paris despite losing his passport, the main focus of Scotland’s team announcement today will be who replaces Finn Russell at fly-half and the composition of the midfield.
For some of yesterday it seemed likely that Strauss would be the story, with the Foreign Office at one stage becoming involved after the flanker lost his South African passport, with insufficient time to issue a new one. A resolution was reached with French authorities, however, and the 32-year-old back rower is in the travelling party as Gregor Townsend’s side look to bounce back from defeat by Ireland in round two.
That means selection is again the big issue, but for Sean Maitland the most important decision was taken earlier in the week, when France coach Jacques Brunel named another experimental back division.
The Scotland wing clearly thought that Russell’s replacement – likely to be either Adam Hastings or Peter Horne – would relish going up against 19-year-old French standoff Romain Ntamack. However, Maitland’s real focus was on the composition of France’s back three, where Brunel has persisted in naming young Clermont centre Damian Penaud on the wing.
At Twickenham, England’s use of grubbers in behind the defensive line destroyed a clueless French back three. Although Brunel has selected Yoann Huget on one wing, while Toulouse full-back Thomas Ramos will wear the No 15 shirt, Maitland believes that the potential
Anxious journey: Josh Strauss made the trip to Paris despite losing his passport is there for Scotland to hand out the same treatment at the Stade de France on Saturday.
“Their back three is something we’re really aware of,” he said, “so there’s been a lot of focus on who France are playing.
“There are a lot of teams who are using their kicking game as an attacking weapon so you’ve seen a lot of tries being scored.
“France have named their team, and it’s obviously good for us. They have named a new full-back and although we’re not going to start kicking everything at the Stade de France, we know France are under the pump from their media and have a lot to prove, so the first 15 minutes is huge for us. They will fly at us from the start.”
Maitland admits he is daunted by the sheer number of key players Scotland have lost, especially in a back line robbed of Russell, Huw Jones and Stuart Hogg. “If you look at the guys that are out at the moment it’s crazy to think how many leaders are missing,” he said. “We’ve lost a few big personalities and big talents in the team, and that’s definitely going to test us.”
However, he also believes that there is enough creativity within the squad to cope, especially as the emergence of Blair Kinghorn at full-back means Scotland retain the strike power to take advantage of the French back three’s poor form.
“It’s important guys step up and take responsibility, and Blair’s done that,” said Maitland. “He had a great start to the tournament against Italy and came on at full-back against Ireland and had a massive impact.
“Hoggy’s obviously one of the best full-backs in the world but for Blair to come in is great for us.”