It has been 14 years since Scotland last savoured victory in Paris, the result of a resplendent display on a glorious April afternoon.
Yet, on the evidence of the French performance against Ireland in Dublin, there must be reasonable optimism that Scott Johnson's side can finish their RBS 6 Nations Championship campaign on a high.
Indeed, while France staged a late rally to earn a draw after trailing 13-3 at the interval, their general ineptitude and tactical inadequacies testified to the crisis of confidence which has enveloped the pre-tournament favourites. After all, this was a side in danger of suffering their first championship whitewash for 56 years, before Louis Picamoles' late try cancelled out Jamie Heaslip's earlier effort in a distinctly forgettable contest.
Frankly, whatever transpires when Scotland turn up at the Stade de France on Saturday, coach Philippe Saint-Andre should already be considering his future career options, while the same is true of Ireland's under-achieving head coach Declan Kidney. Given the vast resources at Saint-Andre's disposal in Dublin, it beggars belief that his players should have been so bereft of ideas, so utterly clueless in adapting to the conditions and so one-dimensional in their lumpen attempts to create any sort of momentum.
If this display had been a one-off stinker, it might – almost – be forgivable. But France were awful against Italy, abject in their defeat by Wales at home, average at best before eventually being squeezed out by England, and anodyne for long stretches of the tussle with Ireland. There is a pattern here and it isn't one which offers any comfort for the hapless Saint-Andre.
What is not in doubt is that France still possess a string of quality individuals. Picamoles had a streak of magic in his irrepressible surges, Thierry Dusautoir oozed with commitment and class, and must have been gobsmacked when his side were booed off at the interval in Dublin, considering the captain had covered nearly every blade of grass. Yannick Nyanga has plenty of experience and has shone in previous championship campaigns, as have such luminaries as Vincent Clerc, Morgan Parra, Florian Fritz and Frederic Michalak. This is not an ensemble which is used to having their names linked to words like "insipid" or "incompetent."
And yet, whether in their pack's failure to cope with Ireland's driving maul, or their backs' regular inability to complete the basics, France were so threadbare the Scots have to believe they can inflict further disappointment on their hosts at the weekend. Even without Richie Gray, and despite slipping to another loss to Wales, Scotland's youngsters should realise they have nothing to fear, while Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Tim Visser and Duncan Weir must express themselves and trust their instincts, just as Glenn Metcalfe, Alan Tait and Gregor Townsend did in 1999.
They should start by targeting the French half-backs, who have been terrible throughout the competition. It is difficult to believe Saint-Andre will persist with Michalak but whether it is feckless Freddie or Francois Trinh-Duc – or Parra – they have nothing in their armoury which should terrify Johnson's squad. Even home advantage should count for little, given how many Gallic fans will be waiting to vent their frustration over their team's all-too-visible shortcomings.
Some may feel France are still capable of flicking a switch and going back to the champagne rugby for which they were rightly feted. Yet that has been diluted with every outing and Scotland have to maintain their misery by grabbing the lead. If they do, they can win
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