We value your privacy

We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products.

With your permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation. You may click to consent to our and our partners’ processing as described above. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing.

More Options
By Rugby Onslaught

Scotland's Townsend takes swipe at Boks ahead of France clash

To all those South African fans think that being the world champions and number one in the world rankings make the Springboks the best team in the world, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend begs to differ.

The Scotland boss labelled France as the 'best team in the world' ahead of Saturday's visit to Murrayfield in the Six Nations rather than South Africa. This is despite the fact that Les Bleus have not even played South Africa since 2018, rather this is based on their victory over the All Blacks in the autumn and Ireland two weeks ago.

Townsend may still be feeling slightly bitter towards the Boks, not only because he was part of the British & Irish Lions coaching team last year that lost to them, but his Scotland side were also beaten by South Africa later that year, where he accused Rassie Erasmus of a "character assassination" during the match.

This is what Townsend said about France: "It's one of the biggest challenges you get in world rugby when you're playing arguably the best team in the world, on form a team that's full of confidence that's had some big wins and has every player available to them, so it's one of those challenges that we believe in our squad. They rise up to it. We've seen it before and we know from our disappointing defeat to Wales we have to play better, and we've seen that reaction in training, and we know we'll get that reaction at the weekend."

Scotland XV

15. Stuart Hogg - Exeter Chiefs - (Captain) - 90 caps

14. Darcy Graham - Edinburgh Rugby - 24 caps

13. Chris Harris – Gloucester Rugby - 33 caps

12. Sione Tuipulotu - Glasgow Warriors - 3 caps

11. Duhan van der Merwe - Worcester Warriors - 15 caps

10. Finn Russell – Racing 92 - (Vice-Captain) - 60 caps

9. Ali Price – Glasgow Warriors - 48 caps

1. Pierre Schoeman - Edinburgh Rugby - 6 caps

2. Stuart McInally - Edinburgh Rugby - 45 caps

3. Zander Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors – 44 caps

4. Sam Skinner – Exeter Chiefs – 17 caps

5. Grant Gilchrist - Edinburgh Rugby - (Vice-Captain) - 50 caps

6. Rory Darge - Glasgow Warriors - 1 cap

7. Hamish Watson - Edinburgh Rugby - 47 caps

8. Magnus Bradbury - Edinburgh Rugby - 16 caps

Replacements

16. George Turner - Glasgow Warriors - 22 caps

17. Oli Kebble - Glasgow Warriors - 11 caps

18. WP Nel – Edinburgh Rugby – 45 caps

19. Jamie Hodgson - Edinburgh Rugby - 3 caps

20. Nick Haining - Edinburgh Rugby - 10 caps

21. Ben White - London Irish - 2 caps

22. Blair Kinghorn - Edinburgh Rugby - 29 caps

23. Mark Bennett - Edinburgh Rugby - 22 caps