France v Scotland, Six Nations 2023: What time is kick-off and what TV channel is it on?

Scotland will get an opportunity to test their mettle against the reigning Six Nations champions when they travel to Paris where they will face France in round three of the Championship.\

Having brushed aside England at Twickenham in their opening match, followed by victory over Wales in Cardiff, Scotland lie second in the table ahead of their trip to Paris and remain the only team, alongside Ireland, with any chance of winning the Grand Slam in 2023.

When and where is France v Scotland?

The Six Nations fixture between France and Scotland will take place on Sunday February 26, with kick-off at the Stade de France in Paris at 3pm (GMT).

What TV channel is France v Scotland on?

The match will be broadcast live on ITV.

Who is the referee?

Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli (GRU) will take charge, with assistance coming from Karl Dickson (RFU) and Andrea Piardi (FIR). Ben Whitehouse (WRU), meanwhile, will be television match official (TMO) for the day.

Latest team news

By Charles Richardson

France prop Uini Atonio will miss France's next two Six Nations matches after receiving a three-week ban for a dangerous tackle on Ireland hooker Rob Herring last weekend.

Atonio, who will return for Les Bleus' final match against Wales after applying to take part in the coaching intervention programme, was shown a yellow card by referee Wayne Barnes in the first half of Ireland's victory at the Aviva Stadium. The tighthead, one of the heaviest players in world rugby, clattered into Herring and was lucky to escape with just 10 minutes in the sin bin, seeing as the point of contact appeared close to the Irish hooker's chin.

After his citing on Monday, Atonio admitted that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card, which was upheld by the independent disciplinary panel. The 32-year-old received an initial six-week suspension from the committee, which was halved due to his "immediate admission of guilt, his exemplary disciplinary record and genuine remorse".

A three-week suspension would, however, have ruled Atonio out of the rest of the Six Nations, but the committee granted the French tighthead's application for the coaching intervention programme, which, upon completion, means he is free to face Warren Gatland's Wales in the final round of the championship in Paris.

The news might come as a blessing in disguise to France head coach Fabien Galthié. As discussed on the Telegraph Rugby Podcast last Monday, Sipili Falatea impressed off the bench at tighthead for France, in one of the Six Nations greatest ever matches. The Bordeaux tighthead was an effervescent presence in the loose, showed no frailty at the scrum, and competed ferociously in defence and at the breakdown.

While a mainstay under Galthié, Atonio's performances of late have hinted that the La Rochelle tighthead might be a waning force at international level. Given his size – nearly two metres tall and over 160kg – Atonio is the embodiment of scrummaging solidity but his impact in the loose is not what it was. Given that, and with Falatea's dynamism off the bench, Galthié should have few concerns with turning to the 25-year-old in Atonio's stead.

What happened in this fixture in 2022?

After tasting success in Paris the previous season, Scotland were attempting to beat France for a third successive time in the Six Nations.

Motivated by the previous season’s loss and the potential of a Grand Slam, France proved far too strong. Scotland mustered a creditable 17 points over the 80 minutes but had no answer for France’s relentless attacking, which resulted in six tries for the eventual winners.

Paul Willemse, Yoram Moefana, Gaël Fickou and Jonathan Danty all crossed for France, while Damian Penaud scored twice.

The Six Nations 2023 table – as it stands

What is our prediction

Gregor Townsend’s team have happy memories of Paris, having prevailed there in 2021. Finn Russell is on fire, and will conjure some magic. I expect France to prevail, though.

France 28 Scotland 25

Best of the latest odds

To win the Six Nations outright

• France: 33/1

• Scotland: 7/1

Odds correct as of February 14