Rugby-France carry scars of Australia defeat into Six Nations

PARIS Feb 4 (Reuters) - Grand slam champions France carry the scars of their 59-16 battering by Australia last November into the final Six Nations championship before this year's World Cup in New Zealand.

France, who also lost to Argentina and South Africa in June, open their campaign against an increasingly impressive Scotland side on Saturday (1700GMT) in their first match at the Stade de France since that painful encounter with the Wallabies.

"After these last two rounds of internationals in June and November, it's difficult to be able to have great optimism and certainty," coach Marc Lievremont told reporters on Friday.

"If you look at our last match, especially the last half hour, it's a blank page."

Scrumhalf Morgan Parra will keep the memory of the seven tries to one defeat by Australia "in a corner of my mind" while prop Nicolas Mas will never forget a black day for French rugby.

"Sure we feel ravaged even if time has passed. That match will remain engraved in our heads all the time," he told reporters.

France are not talking of back-to-back grand slams but they are determined to make the Scots pay for their frustrations.

"We've put that day to one side and it's not the first smacking that I'll take," said centre Aurelien Rougerie.

"We've always known how to bounce back and I hope it will again be the case."

(Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by John Mehaffey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)