It is the last day of the six nations 2025 and the title is very ready. Unfortunately, Scotland is not in the race. Again.
But can a surprise arise, and say in the destination of the championship, winning in France?
This is what our expert panel of ex -captains of Scotland Andy Nicol and Jason White have to say …
Scotland against France. Is it a game that Scots can win realistically?
Andy Nicol: The answer to that question is: of course they can. It is a two -horse race, red cards can occur at any time, France could make as many mistakes as they did against England and Scotland won in Paris in 2021 and should have defeated France last year in Murrayfield.
Will all these things happen? Probably not as France are a team and they are working in the last two games, but there is a possibility. However, a very small one!
Jason White: The only realistic possibility of winning Scotland is whether the team can put Finn Russell's comments about playing for 80 minutes in action. We have demonstrated how lethal we can be in attack, but also how our concentration can decrease with great consequences. We need to produce a 9/10 yield from minute one until the referee explodes for the end of the game to have the opportunity to win.
Scotland will face him against France on Saturday, but a surprise victory could arise
They will have to put Finn Russell's comments about playing for 80 minutes in action
What is the game plan for Gregor Towsend?
Nicol: If we have any possibility, then the game has to be as lazy and broken as possible. It must be chaos, with teams that run the ball from all parts of the field and that is a style of play that likes and stands out.
If there is a lot of career rugby with many line breaks, any error or back of the back on the back could really play well for Scotland. Duhan Van Der Merwe, Darcy Graham and Blair Kinghorn prosper in the broken field, so I will love if the game is very loose.
What Scotland cannot pay is a game dominated by the piece. If that happens, then we have ended since we cannot live with the power and physical of France. Last week, Ireland flew in Dublin, a team that flew to Scotland a few weeks before, so Scotland must be very precise when creating chaos, which is a bit of oxymoron.
WHITE: It is very likely that the game plan is to win as much fast ball possible and release our x factor players in space. That is our way to disturb France. That only works if we can win or gain parity in the battle of contact with our strikers.
Then we must worry about when France has the ball and restricts its key players to create ravages as they did against Ireland.
Did you surprised France's victory over Ireland?
Nicol: I was not totally surprised that they have won, it was the way and scale of victory that was remarkable. I thought it was a game of a score and I actually predicted that Ireland would win by two with all the emotion flying with three of his legends playing his last games in Dublin. But France was phenomenal, perhaps producing the best 30 minutes of modern rugby I have seen.
It was the combination of fierce power of huge men to the rhythm and style of the backs that produced rugby that flew to Ireland. The only team that could have lived with France when they are in humor is South Africa.
WHITE: The big surprise was that Ireland could not score in the first quarter of the game with the huge territory and the advantage of possession they had. The great credit must go to the French defensive effort that was world class. It was a day for Shaun Edwards to be very proud of his players.
France played one of the best 30 minutes in the modern history of rugby during his victory over Ireland
Gregor Towsend has to make sure the game is as lazy and broken as possible
To Duhan Van der Merwe's tastes (in the photo) they thrive in the broken field, so I will love if the game is very loose
Will players be worried? How do you fix them knowing that you face them below?
WHITE: As a player, I think I would feel a bit of a series of emotions. Now, as a former player, I am excited to see how they can match and go and spoil the French party.
We must remember how the local crowd in Paris can become its team if it does not go on its way. They showed against England that make mistakes when the pressure turns on. If we start strongly and admit points, our trust will increase and have all the pressure on them.
Let us also remember that they do not have their talisman and the best player in the world in Antoine Dupont. It is a pity for the six nations as a tournament, but it is great for us.
Nicol: There is no doubt that a victory for Ireland would have been a better result for Scotland. It would have meant that the last game in Paris was a dead rubber and France could have lost some energy and motivation.
With the beating of Ireland, they have put themselves in the seat of the box, so a victory probably wins the championship, but a victory at the bonus point definitely makes regardless of what happens before in the day. This makes France very dangerous and this could be one of the most difficult games that this Scotland team will have played.
They have created an atmosphere in the Stade of France recently, especially for night games, so it could be the biggest party in France on Saturday and the Scottish team has front row seats to see it.
The way and scale of France's victory over Ireland the last time was really notable
They will have to face Scotland without the best player in the world and his talisman in Antoine Dupont, who is injured
What do you expect from 'Super Saturday'?
WHITE: I hope that Ireland is full of anger and precision and get a great score against Italy in the first game. In the second game in Cardiff, I really see it as open and there for any of the teams to win. The English defense has been porous and, with the crowd behind them, Wales might have enough to break its losing streak.
The final game in Paris is ready to be a firecracker and that is what Saturday should be for all fans. The two best attacking teams that are going to attack and served a thriller.
Nicol: It is exciting for the tournament that the three games are crucial with three teams that can win the six nations. Ireland will want to finish in a maximum after last week, but it will also do it Italy, who sent more than 70 points when they first played at home.
England will want to press France beating Wales with a victory at the bonus point, but Wales will be desperate to put an end to its losing run of 16 games. That will be an environment in Cardiff.
France will want to win the six nations after failing in its local World Cup, and I think they will be smiling at the end of the Super Saturday!