Four down, one to go. France’s mission for the grand slam rumbles on, and they remain on course for a first Six Nations title since 2010, but how Wales made them work for it. Les Bleus had been fancied to dominate the defending champions but, as they have demonstrated so often, the Welsh are not easily intimidated.
A clinical early try by Anthony Jelonch ultimately proved decisive but the life was very nearly squeezed from the French attempt at a clean sweep in what became, as the Wales captain, Dan Biggar, said, “an arm-wrestle and a slug-fest”. That France emerged victorious is testament to their spirit and work-rate, and to the defence coach, Shaun Edwards, who helped to mastermind so many memorable Welsh successes here in the past. France’s winning streak began when they denied Wales the grand slam in Paris with a late try nearly a year ago.
“Frustrated, annoyed, disappointed, all those things,” said Biggar, whose perceptive kicking from hand played a major part in making this such a deeply uncomfortable night for France. “I said in the [post-match] huddle, we would have been a bit fortunate to nick it at Twickenham a couple of weeks ago, but tonight we were the better team for long periods. Big Test matches like that hinge on one or two moments, and we didn’t quite nail ours.”
France looked dangerous from the off. Antoine Dupont ghosted through a gap and the scrum-half offloaded to the giant second row Paul Willemse. Josh Navidi, restored to the back row at No 7 alongside Taulupe Faletau at No 8, was penalised at a ruck and Melvyn Jaminet caressed a penalty through the posts. Biggar immediately levelled from the tee when France were punished for obstruction.
When the lively Toulon wing Gabin Villière made a dart on the French left, the Welsh defence initially reset, but even a thunderous hit by Ryan Elias could not prevent France crossing the try-line. Jaminet ruthlessly capitalised on an overlap, offloading to Jelonch, who jogged over. Jaminet himself converted and it was an ominously effective score from a Welsh perspective.
Would Wales roll over? Of course they wouldn’t – even if they lost Tomos Williams, the scrum-half, who took a heavy blow to the head in trying to tackle Jonathan Danty. Another Biggar penalty reduced what had become a seven-point deficit after the wing Alex Cuthbert kicked ahead. The Welsh passing game started to fizz, while powerful carries by Navidi and Faletau began to punch a hole or two.
Having started like a runaway train, France were suddenly under pressure. A stunning 50-22 touch-finding kick by Biggar bought the field position for another penalty, making it a one-point game. Jaminet’s limp attempt at a drop goal from distance, bringing the first half to a close, demonstrated the stress that Fabien Galthié’s side had been under.
But they seemed refocused after half-time. Jaminet cracked over a penalty to edge France four points in front. A tense, otherwise scoreless third quarter ensued, punctuated by a singing competition between the Welsh and French fans, battling each other to produce the loudest volume as a nervous finish beckoned.
France nursed their four-point advantage into the final quarter – but invited pressure on to themselves when Danty knocked on and gifted the hosts a scrum on the visitors’ 22. They escaped with their slender lead intact and were soon threatening at the other end, the fly-half Romain Ntamack drifting an attempted drop goal narrowly wide as Galthié’s men continued to search for the decisive score. It took on the shape of a match that France would surely have lost before Edwards instilled such discipline in their defensive ranks.
Thibaud Flament of Toulouse, fresh from the replacements’ bench, was arguably fortunate to escape a yellow card after tipping the wing Josh Adams over. Faletau, bursting with intent and industry, sprinted into space on the right. The French kept tackling and kept their shape.
Wales steamed forward into the French 22 one last time only to see a brilliant interception by Ntamack relieve the pressure. Jaminet missed a late kick at goal but it did not matter. Relief, as well as elation, characterised the celebrations from the French players. Now for England in Paris next Saturday.
“Now we can start mentioning the grand slam,” Dupont said, after being kept unusually quiet by the swarming Welsh defence but still, perhaps needless to say, having shown flashes of his trademark brilliance. “The media are going to talk about it. But we’re going to focus on ourselves.”
