Scotland may be set to face a French side that has lost its first two matches in the Six Nations next weekend, but stalwart second-row Jonny Gray reckons they must focus on the way next weekend’s hosts launched their championship bid as they prepare to try to end the 20-year wait for a win in Paris.
France look vulnerable on the back of a heavy beating suffered at the hands of England in their second game at Twickenham the day after Scotland were more narrowly beaten by Ireland.
However, no Scotland team has won at the Stade de France since the last Five Nations Championship match played there in 1999 and, as Gray noted, there is a clear warning to be taken from the fact that world number four ranked Wales had to create a new championship record when coming back from a 16 point deficit to win their opening encounter in the French capital.
“France are such a class team,” said the 24-year-old Glasgow Warrior whose older brother Richie plies his trade in the French Top 14 with Toulouse.
“You look at all their players and what they can do with the ball. In that Wales game they were very unlucky because you could see how much damage they can cause.
“When you watch France and see what they can do, they are so talented and they can create something out of nothing.
“If you look at the players, they have a massive pack but they also have guys in there who can create something out of nothing. Their backs are fast and electric so it will be a huge challenge.”
He knows, too, that the teams will have much in common when it comes to motivation.
“When you represent your country and lose it is such a hard thing to take (so) they will want to win as well so it is going to be a huge game and we know how tough and physical it is going to be. We have to get all our preparation right,” said Gray.
There naturally remains deep disappointment within the Scotland camp at the way they allowed an opportunity to slip from their grasp in their last match after getting to within two points of their opponents just before half-time, only to succumb to a 22-13 defeat in the end, failing to claim so much as a losing bonus point in the process.
“We were very, very disappointed to lose against Ireland,” said Gray.
“It was very frustrating as well. There were a lot of mistakes. The first half was good in a lot of areas, but the second half wasn't as good. Credit Ireland because there are a world-class side, number two in the world, and the way they have been playing for the last couple of years shows that they can take their chances and they are very clinical.
“We didn't take our chances and there were a couple of mistakes there. It just shows against these top teams. We have to get better there.”
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