France still remain in the hunt for the 2021 Guinness Six Nations title and have several scenarios available to them going into their Super Saturday showdown with Wales.
Defeat for Scotland last weekend made the picture much clearer ahead of Round 5, with only two of the six Championship teams still in contention to be crowned 2021 champions.
Super Saturday Scenarios: What do Wales need to win the 2021 Guinness Six Nations
Wales are the frontrunners and on course to secure a famous Grand Slam in Paris with four wins from four games, having already seen off Ireland, Scotland, England and Italy.
But despite France’s own Grand Slam hopes going up in flames after their defeat to England at Twickenham, Fabien Galthie’s men could still spoil the Welsh party on Saturday.
Les Bleus still have their postponed match against Scotland to play and should everything go their way in both games then they could yet wrestle the title away from Wales.
So, as we prepare for a much-anticipated contest at the Stade de France, we take a look at all the possible permutations which could see France lift the Championship trophy.
HOW FRANCE COULD SPOIL PARTY
France trail Wales by nine points ahead of their Super Saturday meeting in Paris.
The hosts were unbeaten after the opening two rounds, which resulted in victories against Italy and Ireland, but England ended their Grand Slam bid with a 23-20 win at Twickenham.
That defeat has not ruined their titles chances just yet, however, and Les Bleus could claim a first Championship crown since 2010 with the right results in their final two games.
England let loose and the flaw holding back France | Analysis Powered by AWS
First, they must beat Wales on Super Saturday to deny Wayne Pivac’s side securing the Grand Slam as victory for the visitors makes things simple – the title will be theirs.
However, a victory for Les Bleus without a bonus point and nothing for Wales would see the title be decided on points difference if France go on to beat Scotland with a bonus point.
That would mean both Wales and France would finish on 19 points, with the leaders currently possessing a 24-point advantage over their hosts in terms of their points difference.
If France win with a bonus point and Wales get nothing on Saturday then France would win the title with a bonus-point triumph over Scotland when their rearranged game takes place in Paris.
In that scenario, the full ten points from their final two games would see last year’s runners-up finish the Championship on 20 points – one point better off than Wales on 19.
Preview: France v Wales
A standard win over Scotland for France would see the Championship be decided on points difference while anything less than that would mean Wales are crowned champions.
Should Wales get one bonus point in a bonus-point defeat to France, the title would again be decided on points difference if France beat Scotland with a bonus point.
Anything less and Wales will be Guinness Six Nations champions.
One thing’s for certain if France can win well on Saturday night, their fate will remain firmly in their own hands while Wales will face a nervous wait to begin their title celebrations.
