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{ Gavin Hastings drives for the try line as Serge Blanco (right) and John Jeffery look on in Scotland's 1990 victory. Pic: ©SNS Group

Scotland could hardly have been presented with a tougher start to their 2011 Six Nations Championship campaign than travelling to Paris for a meeting with the French. Yet there have been enough demonstrations in the past of the Scots rising to the challenge, when confronted with the might of Les Bleus and here we highlight five famous victories, both at Murrayfield and on Gallic soil.

1986: Scotland 18-17 France

The hosts handed debuts to six players, including the now-legendary figures of Gavin and Scott Hastings, Finlay Calder and David Sole and, oblivious to the visitors scoring an early touchdown through their redoubtable scrum-half, Pierre Berbizier, Gavin Hastings recovered from a torrid baptism to kick six penalties and ensure that his side repelled the challenge of powerful opponents, for whom Philippe Sella also secured a touchdown.

"It was a memorable experience and the crowd helped us in the closing stages," recalls Gavin, who enjoyed a number of successes against France.

1990: Scotland 21-0 France

This was the second of the Scots' four triumphs, en route to the Grand Slam, but they struggled to reach these exalted standards during a tepid first half and led just 3-0 at the interval, courtesy of a Hastings penalty.

However, with the French flanker, Alain Carminati, being sent off early in the second period, the hosts capitalised on their numerical advantage and gradually, inexorably, turned the screw as their rivals tired.

Finlay Calder seized a try - emulating the feat of his brother, Jim, who crossed against France during the 1984 Grand Slam success - as the prelude to Craig Chalmers slotting the conversion and doing likewise when Iwan Tukalo applied the coup de grace with the game's second touchdown.

The Scots eventually finished as comfortable winners and subsequently beat Ireland in Dublin and England in Edinburgh to gain their hallowed prize.

1995: France 21-23 Scotland

The Scots hadn't won in Paris for 26 years and seemed to be slipping to yet another close-fought defeat as the clock ticked down towards the denouement. But suddenly, almost out of nowhere, Gregor Townsend produced his now-famous "Toony Flip", caught the French entirely off their guard, and unleashed Gavin Hastings for a clear run to the line as the sprinkling of Scots inside the Parc des Princes screamed themselves hoarse.

Hastings' try only levelled the scores and the Watsonians full-back had to compose himself to kick the conversion. But when he did, it sparked a marvellous evening of celebrations and Gavin joked later that he was just glad there were finally colour pictures of Scotland succeeding in Paris.

1999: France 22-36 Scotland

This was one of the most glorious afternoons in the history of Scottish rugby: an occasion when the visitors ran in tries from all areas of the Stade de France with such joie de vivre that even the home support could scarce forbear to cheer.

They shrugged off the concession of a first-minute touchdown for Thomas Castaignede and subsequently ripped through their opponents to score five tries in a mesmerising opening half. Martin Leslie notched two of these, as did the tough-as-teak Scotland centre, Alan Tait, and Gregor Townsend also dazzled on a glorious spring day in Paris.

It was 33-22 at the interval and although the match quietened down thereafter, Kenny Logan added a penalty to ensure there would be no recovery from the hosts. "We wanted to play a wide game, the sort of game they used to such good effect against us at Murrayfield last year," said the winning captain, Gary Armstrong. "It worked and we cut through them like a knife through butter." And, with Wales beating England 24 hours later, the Scots won the last-ever Five Nations title.

2006: Scotland 20-16 France

In advance, the visitors to Murrayfield had been red-hot favourites to lift the Six Nations, but France were brought crashing back to earth through a combination of Scottish flair and brawny panache and their own mistakes.

At one stage, the home side, bolstered by two fine tries from their winger, Sean Lamont, led by 20-3, with the likes of Dan Parks and Mike Blair providing sterling contributions. The Scotland supporters were left biting their nails towards the end, with Julien Bonnaire and Sebastien Bruno both scoring tries to reduce the deficit, as their pack's pressure finally reaped dividends.

However, Frank Hadden's men retained their composure to gain their first win over the French in Edinburgh for a decade and the coach later chastised: "those who are still mud-slinging at Dan Parks" and told them to “have a look at themselves.”

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