Six Nations 2026: ‘Great Frenchman looks ordinary as Scotland comes of age’

More than three hours before kick-off at Murrayfield, all the roads leading to the old stadium were covered in blue, white and red, the streets were full of French colours, and the air was full of French song.

As she approached the stadium, she began to question the numbers she’d been given about the size of the visiting support – 15,000, they said. It felt like 20,000 and more.

At the back of the western stand, they lined up on both sides of the road waiting for the French players to arrive. They climbed the steps normally occupied only by Scots and waited at lofty lookouts for the Grand Slam champions.

French flags, French scarves, French fans in tri-color wigs and rooster hats. They were everywhere. When the French national team showed up, you would have sworn we were in Paris. They all came for a party but instead attended a funeral.

In the sanctity of their (very spacious) dressing room at the break in this 13-try, 90-point saga, the question for Scotland was how they could finish what they had already started.

How can they continue to play relentlessly and clinically; Rugby from another dimension, creative, clinical and utterly exhilarating.

When you go through a difficult period with this team, you learn how to put up protective walls to protect against bouts of excessive optimism, but there was something different about all of this.

It was strange, Faith had entered the building. Scotland looked quite convincing.

Sioni Toyopolo, their prominent leader, spoke on Friday about the nature of psychology. He said Scotland should not be afraid if it is behind, nor should it be afraid if it is ahead.

What he wanted was “us being us.” In other words, keep playing and keep believing. His players not only took his words to heart, they lived by them.