“Fickou is at the heart of French excellence”
THE 2021 Six Nations drew to a close six days later than planned, Scotland’s 27-23 win over France in Paris meaning Wales lifted the title, but what did we learn during the championship? Stuart Barnes rates all the teams…
FRANCE
A stunning reversal against Scotland but I believe they remain Europe’s likeliest winners of the 2023 World Cup. Hence this Six Nations review focuses first on a French side that lost two games.
Three of their matches before the Scotland finale were affairs of fine margins. It does not read convincingly. But the decider wasn’t a run-of-the-mill Test and must be assessed with caution. France didn’t have to think about winning so much as winning huge. They can be forgiven for shooting for the moon and ending up bruised on a Friday in Paris.
We in the European rugby media have made France into something of a darling. It has been the return to a positive, pulsating, quick tempo
