Fired-up Scots will take fight to French

Backs against the wall, Scotland are looking to come out fighting against France, according to captain Stuart Hogg – and they don’t care what others say about them.

Hogg admitted a significant degree of angst after the defeat in Wales, but said the team plan to turn that frustration on the French.

And he was scathing to the suggestion that the Scots have flattered themselves to deceive everyone else, or that the team – and particularly stand-off Finn Russell – don’t care enough.

“Last week was horrible,” he said. “I went back home and it was a dark couple of days trying to get over the result.

“I watched it back and my mood swings were unbelievable. I was up and down.

“I didn’t enjoy viewing it and that is something that has been very, very frustrating this last week.”

The idea that the Scots talk themselves up is nonsense, he said, and there is “a massive difference between confidence and arrogance”.

“Certainly, from a player’s points of view, I think we give out the impression that we are confident in our ability and confident in our structures, but we’re far from arrogant.

“We are as far away from that as you possibly can get. We have not been in a position to win trophies so we are never going to be arrogant.”

As for Russell, Hogg loves when he sees his stand-off smiling – even after an error – because he knows it means he is still calm.

“It is the complete opposite (of not caring),” he said. “I love that because I know that when he is like that he still remains calm. He is frustratingly good at times and he just seems to park mistakes.

“One of the best things about Finn is that he genuinely doesn’t care what people think, other than the people he cares about.

“Everybody reacts to mistakes in completely different ways and that’s what we want. We want people to be individuals.

“Everybody can say what they want about Finn and what they want about myself or anybody else. Mistakes happen. We genuinely care. It is a bit frustrating when people look in and think the opposite.

“It was only because the result didn’t go our way last time that we probably got more than normal.”

Russell’s input this week in particular has been crucial, added the skipper.

“Finn has been absolutely outstanding, as he is most weeks, but even more this week,” he said.

“He has had a huge influence on the way we are trying to play and also the analysis he has brought from the Top 14 and the players that he plays with or against.

“He is really excited about the opportunities that we’ve got in attack. He is going to be the driver of the way we want to play. His analysis has been second to none and I’ve been really impressed by what he has done this week.”

Their analysis has them believing there will be more opportunities to play with ball in hand this week, said Hogg.

“We want to have the complete package – the allround game both sides of the ball,” he said.

“But no two matches are the same, so sometimes you rely heavily on your attack and sometimes you rely on your defence.

“Against Wales we had a big frontline focus in terms of defence, and we had to find ways to get into the game and that was through our kicking game. Unfortunately, and I put myself into this bracket, our kicking game wasn’t good enough.

“I have no doubt that against France, if we carry hard and move them around the field, then we will create space and really get going.”

As reported yesterday France make just one change following the win over Ireland in round two, with tournament top tryscorer Gabin Villiere ruled out because of a fractured sinus.

He is replaced by Jonathan Danty, who comes in at 12, with Yoram Moefana moving on to the wing.

DETERMINED: Captain Stuart Hogg in training at Murrayfield as Scotland prepare to prove themselves against France.

Spirits are high as Scotland’s Ali Price makes a pass.

Jonathan Danty during the team run for France.