Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Talks carrying on over team for France clash
SCOTLAND’S remaining Six Nations game against France has been finally scheduled for a week today, but discussions on player release continued without a resolution last night.
Head coach Gregor Townsend admitted to being in the dark whether his best English and French players would be available to him for the game, now set for the Stade de France at 8pm on March 26.
The original game was postponed from February 28 due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the French squad.
Discussions continue about the release of players between the Six Nations and Premier Rugby Limited, the umbrella organisation for England’s senior clubs.
The clock is ticking, however, with an agreement needed before players have to return from national team camp to their clubs on Sunday.
Captain Stuart Hogg – who moves to stand-off for tomorrow’s game against Italy – is one of several players in the Scottish squad who will have to return if there is no agreement in place to release players for the game.
If there is no agreement, the game should not go ahead, said Townsend, although he admitted that he did not have the power to insist on that.
“We are all hoping that no news means good news,” he said. “You know as much as I do.
“The discussions I believe are going ahead with PRL and the Six Nations to make sure we have all our players available. That’s the part that has not been completed or agreed yet.”
Scotland had selected a side against Italy expecting to play in Paris next week, he said, and did not want it moved to May.
“We want the game to go ahead. We want to pick from a full squad. We believe this is the only way to make this tournament as true and proper as it should be.
“It’s the biggest tournament in world rugby outside the World Cup. We obviously don’t want to go into a game where we are not allowed to pick certain players.”
He conceded he would not have “that power” to not play if his best players were not available.
“Ultimately, if the Six Nations agree that we have to play then we will have to play. But I’m hoping that’s not the case and then all our players are available,” he added.
“I did read a few weeks ago that the principle was there to release the players. I hope that principle becomes a reality to let our players know they have a game next week.
“We need to know by Saturday’s game. If there is nothing down by Sunday or Monday then everyone will be saying the game cannot go ahead.”
Townsend said he understood that French-based players would all be released, which would allow the Scots to call up Finn Russell. The stand-off misses tomorrow’s game due to a head knock.