AFTER losing their first two matches in the TikTok Six Nations, Scotland are expected to face an uphill battle today at Scotstoun against a France side who are in excellent form. The French beat Italy 39-6 on an opening weekend that saw Bryan Easson’s side lose 57-5 to England, then demolished Ireland 40-5 on the same day that Scotland were going down to a 24-19 defeat by Wales.

Nonetheless, there are reasons for the home team to go into this afternoon’s match in an optimistic mood. The nature of that loss in Cardiff is one of them: while they faded late in the game, if they had taken one or two more chances in addition to the tries they did score, they might have been out of sight before the Welsh fightback really began. And then there is the fact that the last time they played France, also at Scotstoun some 18 months ago, they were outsiders too, but came away with a very creditable 13-13 draw after trailing by ten points at one stage.

Jenny Maxwell, for one, believes the squad can take heart from that result. The scrum-half was not playing that afternoon, but revealed the match has been the subject of some discussion this week as Scotland prepare for the French encounter.

“It was a brilliant result,” the 29-year-old Loughborough Lightning player said yesterday. “We have spoken about it a bit this week and it shows us that we are able to compete with these teams. We just need to put them under pressure in the areas that we can and control things when we can.

“We are looking forward to being back at home. That always gives us a boost and we are looking to hopefully go one better than the draw from last time.”

Maxwell created one of her team’s tries last week with a chip through for winger Rhona Lloyd, but on the whole she knows the team did not bring their back three into the game enough. Much of the focus in training this week has been on ensuring that they rectify that error against the French. 

“As a backs unit we have been looking at how we can be clinical in the wide channels and how we can pressure teams there,” she added.

“We were quite critical at the start of the week, but we have put that behind us and are now focused on France.”

 That draw with the French was Easson’s first game in charge of the team after a spell as assistant coach, and he has gone on to win five of his subsequent ten matches. While frustrated with his team’s performance against Wales, he remains certain that Scotland have made, and continue to make, progress. He accepts, however, that there is still some work to be done before that progress is transformed into regular victories at this level.

“We’re beginning to build longer, better performances,” he said. “On the field our game management is improving. Historically we’ve probably over-played in the middle third of the pitch and not put enough pressure on the opposition, whereas now our game management is improving so much. 

“Defensively as well. We were up to 90 per cent tackle completion last week, albeit we didn’t have to make too many tackles against Wales. But we’re progressing defensively.

“I think last week showed progress - if we’d taken our chances we should have been 20 points up at half-time. If we become more clinical we wouldn’t be talking about Wales progressing, we’d be saying that was a really good victory for Scotland. 

“Progress is the fact we weren’t happy with that. We have to be more clinical.”

Scotland (v France at Scotstoun, today [Sun], 1pm): C Rollie; R Lloyd, E Orr, L Maxwell, M Gaffney; H Nelson, J Maxwell; L Bartlett, L Skeldon, C Belisle, L McMillan, S Bonar, R Malcolm (captain), E Gallagher, J Konkel. Substitutes: J Rettie, M Wright, K Dougan, L O'Donnell, R McLachlan, C Mattinson, S Law, M Smith.

France: E Boulard; M Castel, M Ménager, C Jacquet, M Llorens; J Trémoulière, L Sansus; A Deshaye, L Touyé, A Khalfaoui, C Ferer, M Fall, J Annery, G Hermet (captain), E Gros. Substitutes: C Domain, C Lindelauf, C Joyeux, S N’Diaye, 20. R Ménager, A Chambon, M Peyronnet, G Vernier.