Scotland can pass French test says Bradbury

SCOTLAND No.8 Magnus Bradbury is confident his side can derail France’s Grand Slam bandwagon when the Six Nations leaders head to Murrayfield next Sunday.

A youthful French outfit are favourites to complete a clean sweep after home wins over England and Italy and a thrilling victory against Wales in Cardiff.

But Les Bleus have lost on their last three visits to Edinburgh and Bradbury is bullish about Scotland’s prospects after earning a first win of the Championship in Rome.

“We don’t see ourselves as underdogs,” said the 24year-old. “We see ourselves as a good team that can compete with anyone.

“It’s a French side with momentum and full of confidence, so it will be a tough, physical, fast game. We understand the challenge they pose, but we fancy ourselves at home against any team. As long as we instil our game plan early on, we will do the job.”

Scotland, under new defence coach Steve Tandy, have conceded only two tries in their three matches, the best record of any side. Bradbury admits that defensive resolve will be tested by a French side who have scored 11 tries, eight of them in first-half salvos.

“That’s how teams like to start now, England are the same,” said Bradbury, who has forged a strong back row combination with Edinburgh team-mates Hamish Watson and Jamie Ritchie.

“We want to come out and shell-shock teams and get early points on the board. It is difficult for a team to re-surge and put the team that started well under pressure towards the end.”

France have won seven of their last ten Six Nations visits to Murrayfield, but lost on their last two in 2016 and 2018, as well as a World Cup warm-up last August.

Of the current squad, only Gael Fickou has a Murrayfield victory on his CV – a 19-17 win in 2014. Victory would put a first Grand Slam in ten years within reach when France host Ireland in the final round.

“They’ve shown they can go away and win at a difficult place like the Principality, but we can draw confidence from our previous results here,” Bradbury added. “To beat this French team would be a massive step in the right direction for us.”