Raphael Ibanez insists France is prepared for the threat of Scotland talisman Finn Russell, as they bid to get their Guinness Six Nations challenge back on track, following defeat to Ireland last time out.

The French team manager feels the fact that many of Les Bleus’ players are familiar with the 30-year-old, who plays his club rugby with Racing 92 in Paris, can help keep him in check at Stade de France on Sunday.

“Our players know him well because they have played against him, and some have played with him, so they know exactly what to expect,” Ibanez said. “He is a very talented player.”

France suffered its first defeat since July 2021 in losing to Ireland a fortnight ago, and Ibanez is hoping that home-field advantage can help his team halt the Scots’ perfect start to this year’s Six Nations.

“Scotland has done so well in the first two games, so we’re well aware of the danger and the talent in their team and the confidence they’ve got,” he said. “But we’re playing in Paris, and it’s been three and a half months since we last played here, so we’re delighted to play against such a good team in front of our fans.”

Captain Antoine Dupont has called on his French colleagues to prove the Ireland defeat was merely a blip and not a sign that his side has lost its way after a flawless run through 2022.

An epic Test match W! ?#TeamOfUs | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/hJ4iBfOalX

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 11, 2023

“All series are made to end one day,” he said. “Ireland is the No. 1 team in the world at the moment.

“We lost, and we should have done better, but there is nothing catastrophic. We are not going to reset everything and revolutionize what we have done so far. We just have to do it better.

“We are in a state of mind that we have not known for almost two years now, but we’ve been in this situation before, and we’ve been able to bounce back.”