IN a quest to really get under the skin of the six competing teams, to understand their strengths and weakness, what drives them and what particular challenges they will face in this championship, Iain Morrison has spoken to six individuals with a unique insight to the country they have, through one route or another, come to call home. First up is Johnnie Beattie , a swashbuckling No 8 who earned 38 caps for Scotland between and His family have made their home in France and he is much sought after as a pundit on all things pertaining to French rugby.
Fabien was by a very long way the best coach that I ever worked with in 16 years as a pro! He was incredibly gifted, with a wonderful balance of technical and strategic understanding. It was the best rugby I ever played, that two years at Montpellier. Fabien was a very good teacher. He had an answer for every question you may have and Montpellier was way far ahead of where Scotland were at the time.
France are resurgent and exciting to watch. Les Blues are back in the eye of the public with a great set of results.
Fabien is clearly the best coach for me although Toulouse coach Ugo Mola may be the next in line. French rugby is riding a wave of enthusiasm and excitement with lots of young French kids coming through. Yes, of course, France should be challenging but to my mind at least they usually are! They have great playing numbers at their hands.
They have huge numbers alongside England and South Africa. In France they have three mostly fully professional leagues! France should be first or second every single year. Uini Atonio was injured against the Sharks … is there sufficient back up at tight-head!?
