The numbers behind France's dominant Six Nations

Guinness Six Nations 2025: France v Scotland

Where: Stade de France, Paris When: Saturday, 15 March 2025 Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Coverage: Listen live on Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Scotland Extra & BBC Sounds, follow live text coverage on BBC Sport app & website.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend believes taking on France in Paris is probably the toughest test in rugby union right now.

And while some could argue the All Blacks at Eden Park or the Springboks at Ellis Park might be tougher, there is not much disputing the numbers behind France's impressive Six Nations campaign.

As a team they are chasing points and try records galore, while the threat of unleashing another seven powerful forwards from their bench as opposition shoulders begin to soften is a terrifying one.

Here are some of the statistics that underline just how difficult it will be to get the better of title-chasing France, which is Scotland's task on Saturday.

Tries galore & back-three record breakers

France continued their free-scoring Six Nations in Dublin last week as they racked up 42 points and five tries against an Ireland team that had been chasing a Grand Slam.

It took their points tally in the tournament to 183 from five matches, and 26 tries.

Now, they have the record-holding England side of 2001 in their sights.

Jonny Wilkinson and co managed a total of 229 points and 29 tries on their way to the title 24 years ago (though not a Grand Slam) - tallies which have yet to be surpassed.

But if France manage four tries against Scotland they will claim the record for scores in a single campaign. They also need 47 points to take the points crown.

Several of their star-studded backline are also chasing personal milestones, underlining their class.

Damien Penaud needs just one score to overhaul the great Serge Blanco as France's all-time leading try scorer, with the pair currently locked on 38 tries apiece.

But while Blanco took 93 caps to reach 38 tries, Penaud has managed it in just 55.

His wing partner Louis Bielle-Biarrey is on a similar trajectory, having crossed an astonishing 17 times in 18 caps at just 21 years of age.

The diminutive Bordeaux flyer has scored seven tries in this Six Nations alone, and one more would take him clear of Jacob Stockdale as the man with the most in a single campaign since Italy joined in 2000.

Given he has scored twice against Wales, England and Ireland so far, he could even surpass England's Cyril Lowe (1914) and Scotland's Ian Smith (1925), who both managed eight in one tournament.

It is no surprise with potency like this France lead the way for line breaks in the championship.

Meanwhile, full-back and kicker Thomas Ramos needs just seven points to surpass Frederic Michalak's record of 436 in a France shirt.

15 forwards provide power

Backing up those record-breaking backs are 15 - yes 15 - powerful forwards.

France became only the second nation in the history of rugby union to name seven forwards and just one back on their replacements bench against Italy - and they did so again in Dublin to brutal effect.

South Africa were the first to do so in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match in 2023, and used it a few times on their way to the trophy.

Arguably those are the only two nations capable of doing so, given their depth up front and the adaptability of some of those forward players.

France managed to win comfortably in Dublin despite injuries to Antoine Dupont and centre Pierre Louis-Barassi during the match, leaving them a back short.

Step forward back-row replacement Oscar Jegou, who filled in at centre and even scored a try and put a decent grubber kick through at one stage.

Meanwhile, a fresh front row and reinforcements behind - including 6ft 8ins and 145kg second row Emmanuel Meafou - helped France make just three metres fewer than Ireland from 45 fewer carries, as they turned a one-point half-time advantage into a 15-point victory.

It's no wonder they rank first for gain-line success from forwards in the Six Nations.

Fortress Stade de France

While France are in form and firing, they are not invincible.

England managed to triumph 26-25 in round two by being extremely clinical in attack, while players such as Penaud and Dupont made uncharacteristic errors to pass up clear try-scoring chances.

However, France are not often wasteful - they still have the best conversion rate in the opposition 22 in the Six Nations - and another big difference is home advantage this weekend.

After routing Wales 43-0 in Paris in their opening fixture, France have been on the road to England, Italy and Ireland.

France have lost just once in 15 Tests at Stade de France specifically, since Scotland triumphed in the last minute in the 2021 Six Nations.

Only South Africa - by a single point in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final - have won there since then. New Zealand have been beaten three times during that period.

In addition, France have averaged nearly 35 points per game in those 15 Tests - and the least they have scored is 25 points.

So, opposition teams likely have to score at least three tries just to be in the game.

France being back at Le Stade with the Six Nations title on the line means it will be "pumped up to the max" as Townsend put it.

All this makes the task extremely daunting for Scotland - and very likely France will finish the job and become Six Nations winners for a record-equalling seventh time.