Byline: IAN RODGERS
IT is simple enough - Scotland will see their Rugby World Cup hopes dashed or lifted on Saturday, October 25.
That is when the Scots take on France for the crucial pool B tie at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney that should settle top spot in the group.
The implications for Scotland's quarter-final hopes are huge. The losers of that pool B decider will almost certainly have to play world champions and hosts Australia in the last eight. Winning pool B would offer an easier chance to reach the semi-finals by setting up a tie against Ireland, the likely runners-up in the Wallabies' group.
Yet France will also be fully aware of the situation.
Fiji, Japan and USA should provide pool B fodder for these two Six Nations countries.
Recent history is against McGeechan's side however, with the French running out convincing 38-3 winners in this year's Six Nations match in Paris.
Coming so soon after Ireland's record win at Murrayfield, McGeechan was left to rue the chances missed by his side in the Stade de France, but wins over Wales and Italy at least ensured they avoided the wooden spoon.
The early losses in that championship hurt McGeechan, who was hoping for better in his final sojourn in the competition before becoming Scottish Rugby Union director of rugby after the World Cup.
Captain Bryan Redpath may be preparing for the finals with a muscle tear but his passion for his country burns as brightly as McGeechan's. His respect for the Scotland coach burns even deeper.
Such emotion will be the key to Scottish success Down Under.
But only if Scotland have the ability to match the pride with performance against France on October 25.
