Michael Aylwin’s report has landed and with that I’ll sign off.
Plenty to ponder for Warrent Gatland and his Wales side who gave a decent account of themselves before being blown away.
That was more like the France of old. Raw power, zip from a scrum-half and potency out wide. They’ve set up a cracking showdown with England next week.
Thanks all. See you round the bend.
While we wait for the report to drop, get a load of this delicious nonsense:
Le Garrec/Cigarette
— Jim Hamilton (Vice Captain) (@jimhamilton4) March 10, 2024
pic.twitter.com/DbSv2rZkdf
Should Gatland cop some of the blame?
"We didn't manage the last 20 minutes of the game" @WelshRugbyUnion Warren Gatland who took off Sam Costelow who was kicking for position well leaving Wales to try and run from their own 22 too often
— chris jones (@chrisjonespress) March 10, 2024
Now then. Looks like Gats didn’t fancy chatting at first:
Plenty of coaches have been frustrated after matches but you can’t simply skip the post match interview. The press plays a critical part in the rugby ecosystem and they deserve to ask the questions fans want answered. pic.twitter.com/PRzxzO7xBX
— A-P (@rugby_ap) March 10, 2024
Here’s a pretty dour looking Warren Gatland:
I don’t know if it got away. The last 20 minutes we were 24-23 but couldn’t manage the game. Turnovers and disappointing there with some soft points given away. We probably over played. Even when we were down by six points on 70 minutes, you’re just thinking, ‘play territorially, don’t give anything away, you’re going to get another chance to attack’. And then we hurt ourselves by not managing the game.
[The French power game] did at times [put the squeeze on]. The scrum is not there at the moment. Our line-out was excellent. Line speed on defence could have been a little bit better. And the plan for us was if we could keep mutli-phase attacks we could cause them lots of problems. But we didn’t help ourselves.
[On Italy next week] It’s a big game for us. It’s massive. But you can’t hide away from it, you must embrace the challenge. There will be a lot of external pressure. But it’s about stepping up. We’ve got a younger group of players who must learn quickly what Test match rugby is about.
Now for the Wales’ skipper, Dafydd Jenkins:
We felt that the French would fatigue. It didn’t go to plan. We’ll look at it and go again next week.
They’re big men. We knew that was coming. We were excited by the physical battle but we definitely came off second best today. But we’re not happy about it.
The boys give everything week in and week out. I don’t think fatigue will ever be a factor. Every man there loves his country and would play all day for his country. It’s probably just about accuracy.
Next week is massive for us. We don’t want to be bottom. Italy have won here before so we’re not taking it for granted. We’re just going to reflect on this game and look at how we can get better.
Here’s the French skipper, Charles Ollivon:
We had a great performance. We were really frustrated after the Italy game so we wanted to make our fans proud again.
We have a massive, massive pack. We wanted to be tough on the collision. I think tonight we were good.
We have some really good French players. Nolann [Le Garrec] scored a try and Georges[-Henri Colombe] scored a try. I’m happy for both of them.
The question is how do you find large men?
The difference between Wales and every other team in the Six Nations is that they don’t have 23 players physically and technically able to cope at this level.
— Josh Gardner (@joshgardner) March 10, 2024
That’s not Gats’ fault, or the regions, or the URC - it’s the result of a decade of under-investment from the WRU.
Plenty to ponder for Wales.
Not sure if this year's Six Nations is a 'gimme' for Wales. They'll be far stronger for Aus tour with Anscombe, L Williams, T Faletau, Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Tomos Francis available. Being able to pick their best players would help.
— Owain Jones (@OwainJTJones) March 10, 2024
Is the 25-cap law a help or hindrance?
“We can talk about these nice fluffy things in rugby but if you don’t win the physical battle, more often than not you can’t win the game.”
That’s from Sam Warburton on the BBC.
“Wales are just lacking that size at the minute compared to France.”
Too right. All things being equal, the bigger man usually wins out.
It was the bench that really turned the tide. The 6-2 split worked. It also helps when all six of those forwards are behemoths. But Wales gave as good as they got when it was a loose game. Ultimately they just faded away in the face of immense French power.
“Time for Gatland to lace up his walking shoes”
So says reader Stephen Roach. A bit harsh I think. Plenty of positives in the first half.
Full-time: Wales 24-45 France
Ramos misses his first kick of the day which means France don’t edge ahead of Scotland on the log, but that was convincing from the visitors.
Dominant in just about every department, that was more like the France we know and love. Powerful, accurate (mostly), and marshalled by an electric scrum-half who rightly won the player of the match award.
Reactions to come.
TRY! Wales 24-45 France (Lucu, 80)
Icing on the cake! They go down the blind-side from the scrum. Penaud gets close but not quite there so he off-loads to Lucu who just has to fall over the line.
Updated
79 min: Fizzling out now. France are still landing big blows and keeping Wales in their own half. No runner is able to get over the gainline. Now they’re turned over and Penaud – who has been dangerous all day – canters up field. Wales force a carrier out of touch and will have the throw deep in their own half. It’s not straight. France will have a scrum five out to close the game.
78 min: Now that is how you exit. Secure scrum from France and then a raking long-range clearance kick from Lucu.
Le Garrec wins player of the match. Which is bang on the right decision. He was superb.
76 min: Wales have a penalty around half-way and Davies taps and goes before any French player realises what’s happening. He steps two, off-loads but Lewis on the support line can’t catch it.
Penalty! Wales 24-40 France (Ramos, 74)
This is getting messy for Wales. Barring a miracle that will be that.
72 min: Wales can’t get out of their 22. France counter ruck and put immense pressure on the breakdown. Now they win a penalty with Lewis not releasing after Colombe got over the ball. Wales are falling apart.
TRY! Wales 24-37 France (R Taofifenua, 70)
Davies’ box-kick is charged down by a man mountain who then completes the score. France have their bonus point. Two mistakes in 60 seconds and there’s now daylight between the two sides.
Updated
69 min: Poor from Wales. After turning the ball over Lloyd takes the wrong decision to play a long miss-pass instead of going down the line through multiple hands. That allowed Bielle-Bierrey to make the recovery tackle and pin Wales in their ow 22.
68 min: Lloyd, on for Costelow, lifts a high kick for Adams to field but that was asking a lot. So it’s a French line-out inside Welsh territory. They secure it and go to their forwards. Short charges from close range. Their bigger men get over the gainline but soon cough it up. Wales have it back.
TRY! Wales 24-30 France (Colombe, 65)
A try on debut for the massive unit! In the end it was simple. A pick and go from two metres out but it started with an outrageous strike from Penaud off the back of a scrum. That was followed by a superb pick-up off the deck from le Garrec and from there it was just about keeping composure. Cololmbe would not be stopped from close range but really it could have been any number of French forwards who crossed the line.
They’re over! They’ll check it but I’m certain this is a French try after a short punch from Colombe at close range.
64 min: Blistering strike play from France from the scrum has Penaud bursting down the line. He off-loads and Le Garrec produces a world class pick-up off the floor. They’re in with their forwards and five metres out under the poles.
62 min: Wales have the ball for the first time in what seems like an age. But Davies, on for Williams, fumbles at the back of a ruck and it’ll be a French scrum 10 metres on their side of the half-way line.
Penalty! Wales 24-23 France (Ramos, 61)
Easy strike from Ramos. One point game with momentum with France.
60 min: Penaud makes a brilliant break and surges forward. He’s just about brought down but France flood on. Le Gerrec finds a runner at speed and Wales are off-side as they peddle back. They choose to take aim at the poles rather than scrum down. They figure they can bag the winning points later.
58 min: Let off for Wales! France go early on the scrum and they give away a free-kick. Poor discipline. Wales will breathe a huge sigh of relief.
57 min: Scrum penalty for France. It was the second shove that got them rumbling forward. One more and we could see a Welshman yellow carded.
No Try! Wales 24-20 France
The TMO intervenes and saves Wale. France have the advantage though and choose to scrum again. Five metres out and under the shade of the poles.
Hang on… This could get ruled out for a knock-on.
TRY! Wales 24-27 France (Flament, 56)
Inevitable. From the Scrum France could go in either direction. They kept it close and Flament powers it over from close range.
54 min: Wales hold on! Incredible defence. It all started with Penaud’s mighty carry from first phase off the scrum. French players flooded forward and with Le Garrec moving the ball at speed. Reffell went digging for a steal but was from the side so France had the advantage. They couldn’t find the space to score. France choose to scrum under the poles with the penalty.
53 min: France are hammering the line with an advantage. Wales are holding for now.
51 min: The referee gets in Ramos’ way. Smiles all round except from the Welsh front row who must pack down after Winnett knocked-on from a Penaud chip and chase. This is just outside Wales’ 22 near the left touch-line.
49 min: Dillon Lewis is on for Assiratti and immediately the Wales scrum looks more secure. They feed it down the line and there’s a huge hit from Fickou. That knocked the stuffing out of Winnett. Williamns searches for Wainwright with a cross-kick but can’t stick the landing. Another cross-kick from Costelow (this is clearly a tactic) almost finds Dyer.
47 min: Another forward pass from France. Bielle-Biarrey shovels it on for Depoortere who over runs it. Another wasted chance as bodies were forming down the line.
46 min: France need a response and they’re building well in midfield. Ramos takes it to the line and are finding holes but there’s another forward pass. Their support runners are just not on the same page as the ball carriers. So Wales have the feed just inside their own 22.
TRY! Wales 24-20 France (Roberts, 43)
Brilliant try from Wales. 12 phases kicked off with Williams sniping down the blind-side from the scrum 40 metres back. They kept it moving quickly and Costelow did well to off-load for Williams. Then it was a matter of recycling it at speed and the did so. Roberts was tackled short of the line but twisted his body to dot down. Costelow converts.
41 min: Field position for Wales after Costelow hoists a high kick and Ramos knocks-on after leaping up under pressure from Winnett.
We’re back. Can Wales rescue this or will France run away?
Half-Time: Wales 17-20 France
Well, that was fun. Two tries each. Plenty of errors in defence and loads of daring-do on attack. It was fast and loose. No complaints here. More of the same please!
40 min: France get the shove on the scrum which means Ramos can gather on the front foot. But again, the support line over commits and there’s a a forward pass. That’ll be that for the half.
39 min: Fickou is nailed for rolling on after contact to avoid the jackal so Wales get the chance to clear it away and have the line-out near half-way. France need to slow things down a touch. They’ve been guilty a few times of over-running from midfield and beyond the ball carrier.
37 min: Reffell with another brilliant steal off the ground as France’s midfield got in a tangle. It’s very loose from both teams with plenty of holes available in the line. Wales give away possession and Le Gerrec, after a pause, sends a kick high. A frantic period ends with Costelow sending it out of touch.
35 min: Ramos lands an inch-perfect kick into the corner. Wales have the throw five out. They secure the ball and a clever inside pass from Wainwright finds Williams who bursts through into space. Wainwright wraps around but can’t gather the return, knocking-on as he gallops up field. That was decent from Wales. And brave so close to their line.
33 min: Le Gerrec plays a 20 yard back of the hand pass to Ramos who off-loads for Depoortere who puts on the after burners into a gap. Bielle-Biarrey is away but tackled, he’s so close he can almost reach out for the line. Instead he pops a poass off his backside but the Welsh defenders rally and shove the ball carrier out.
32 min: And breathe. Le Gerrec lands a wonderful box-kick out of touch to give us all a break. But Wales want to play it quickly and soon Dyer has it on the canter. Costelow, though, kicks an attempted chip straight out.
TRY! Wales 17-20 France (Le Gerrec, 29)
And another! The French scrum-half has his first Test try. Wales’ scrum held and then it went down legally. But that meant there were French bodies down the line ready to charge and Le Gerrec provided swift ball. Fickou carried well but with Welsh defenders keeping tabs on bigger units, the little scrummie sniped round the fringe to score. Ramos adds the extras.
28 min: Great game so far. France will have a scrum five metres from the Welsh line after a clever dinked kick from Le Garrec forced Winnett to carry back over his own line. Bielle-Biarrey provided the initial burst with Ramos playing a lovely floated pass down the blind-side to move his team on. Huge pressure on the Welsh front row now. Can they hold?
TRY! Wales 17-13 France (Williams, 25)
What is going on?! Wales are under the poles again with Williams dotting down after Watkin ghosted past Ramos, who couldn’t have looked less interested in making the tackle, and Williams, on the trademark support line, receives the inside pass and is away.
TRY! Wales 10-13 France (Fickou, 22)
Outstanding! That is sublime from Fickou who stood up Costelow near the touchline after wrapping round the back of the line. Then a step to find the space and immense power to hold up two would-be tacklers and he scores in the corner. Brilliant build-up. Slick hands. Cohesive. Phew, is this the France of old? Ramos lands the tough conversion to underline the point.
Updated
21 min: Wales’ scrum holds and Costelow kicks from a slippery Williams pass. It doesn’t go out so France counter. Aldritt hammers the blind-side. Bielle-Bierry finds room. This is looking ominous….
19 min: Beard gets through the French maul and wraps up the ball, securing the scrum for Wales. Great defence.
18 min: Jenkins gets up and steals the ball. Wales set an attack down the line but Adams knocks on in contact. Now France have numbers out wide. Ramos puts it to the boot to give Penaud something to chase but it bobbles out of touch before he can reach it. Wales secure the line-out but pass back into their 22 where Roberts gathers and hoofs it straight out. Can’t do that so France have the throw within striking distance.
16 min: Winnett takes a quick throw. Wales want to keep the ball in play as much as possible. France want to get it out and save the legs of their big units. A couple of rangy hoofs from either side ends with Wales punting it out just beyond half-way. Line-out to France.
Penalty! Wales 10-6 France (Ramos, 14)
The points keep coming. Huge scrum from France. Wales will be want to avoid packing down from now on.
13 min: Wales have the put-in to the scrum but Atonio’s side just monsters through. That is a mighty shove from the French pack and Ramos will have another easy shot at goal.
12 min: Wales are looking good. Their tight five seems to have found some extra heft compared to previous weeks. But Costelow hoists a nothing kick that ends with France countering. Now Wales are scrapping on defence. A big shot on Jenkins on Atonio forces a knock-on. That is bravery for all to see from the Welsh skipper.
TRY! Wales 10-3 France (Dyer, 10)
From nothing! The space just opened up and he cantered through under the posts. Some meaty carries from Wales’ tight five hammered the tight channel before Williams burst through. A loose ball found its way to Dyer who picked it up and simply ran through.
Costelow adds the extras and Wales are away to a flyer thanks to Dyer.
Updated
8 min: Le Gerrec hoofs a box-kick out so Wales have the throw just inside French territory. Wainwright did well to reach it so Wales get through a few phases down the line. Left then right before Costelow kicks fopr Dyer on the far side. There’s a French knock-on so Wales continue.
Penalty! Wales 3-3 France (Ramos, 6)
Chipped through from the 22. Ramos doesn’t miss those. Reward for France’s continuity but Wales won’t be overly concerned. Their defence was solid.
6 min: Up to 20 phases and France are into the 22. There’s a penalty advantage and the whistle blows. Short passing with Ramos acting more as a conduit for close-in runners. Neat from France. This should be an easy three points.
4 min: Penaud joins the attack after some neat work from a French line-out. Meafou carries well. But there’s a tremednous counter ruck from Rowlands that almost pinches the ball. France keep it and hammer around the fringe. 10 phases now. Depoortere runs hard. So does Fickou. building well.
Penalty! Wales 3-0 France (Costelow, 2)
Through the poles and Wales are on the board. Great start. High intensity, solid on defence, ruthless over the ball.
1 min: Penalty for Wales. It’s Reffell over the ball after a poor pass from Le Garrec had France back-peddling. Outstanding, though, from the breakdown menace.
Righto… here we go!
We say it every time, but the Welsh anthem at the Principality is special. And the French anthem ain’t half bad either. The two best in the tournament? I reckon so.
Elliot Dee leads the team out on his 50th appearance. Applause for Lewis Jones, the former Wales and British & Irish Lion, who passed away this week. Some love too for Barry John, JPR Williams, Phil Bennett and John Dawes.
Minutes away. Both groups look tense. They know what’s on offer today. Redemption is maybe too strong a word, but yesterday proved that any side can win if their opponents aren’t on it.
A third upset? We’ll find out soon.
I know our focus is on Wales and France, but I really enjoyed this Andy Bull. If English fans can start believing in a project after just one performance, perhaps the same could be true for Welsh and French supporters?
Late change for Wales
Ryan Elias has withdrawn with a hamstring injury. That means Elliot Dee, on his 50th appearance for his country, story starts at hooker. The uncapped Evan Lloyd joins the bench.
Updated
It’s been six years since Wales beat France in Cardiff. That was a scrappy 14-13 win in 2018. Warrent Gatland was the coach but it was a very different looking Welsh side, one captained by Alun Wyn Jones, steered by Dan Biggar with Liam Williams scoring a try and Leigh Halfpenny slotting three penalties.
But France have dominated this contest of late, winning all of the last four matches, including a 41-28 drubbing last year.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there! You’re all champions. In that spirit, here’s a nice little thing from the Welsh side:
This is so nice 🥰@WelshRugbyUnion are hoping to make Mother's Day extra special this year! 💐#BBCRugby #WALvFRA pic.twitter.com/arASc8c9C0
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 10, 2024
So, changes aplenty. But will it help?
Michael Aylwin points out that this Six Nations has not gone according to plan for either side. Wales will stay bottom with a loss of any sort and unless France get a bonus point in defeat, they could prop up the table with just a game to go.
Serious business, is what I’m saying. This is serious business.
France team
There are eight changes from the side that got away with a lucky draw against Italy. Thomas Ramos starts at fly-half in place of the injured Matthieu Jalibert but there’s good news as Gregory Alldritt returns to skipper the team from the back of the pack.
There are debuts for full-back Leo Barre, lock Emmanuel Meafou and centre Nicolas Depoortere. Changes at hooker, wing, the second row and scrum-half, where 21-year-old Nolann Le Garrec will hope to do what Maxime Lucu could not and replicate the fizz of Antoine Dupont.
France: Barre; Penaud, Fickou, Depoortere, Bielle-Biarrey; Ramos, Le Garrec; Baille, Marchand, Atonio, Flament, Meafou, Cros, Ollivon, Alldritt (cap).
Replacements: Mauvaka, S Taofifenua, Colombe, R Taofifenua, Roumat, Boudehent, Lucu, Moefana.
🏴⚡️🇫🇷 𝐋𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐎 des Bleus pour affronter le Pays de Galles ! #GALFRA
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 8, 2024
🔥 Retrouvez le #XVdeFrance dimanche à 16h sur @FranceTV#NeFaisonsXV #SixNations pic.twitter.com/D1xDw1QPNb
Wales team
A couple of changes from Gats. It’s a new midfield combination with Owen Watkin and Joe Roberts replacing Nick Tompkins and Josh Adams. Skipper Dafydd Jenkins shifts to the back as Will Rowlands adds heft to the pack.
Wales: Winnett; Adams, Roberts, Watkin, Dyer; Costelow, Williams; Thomas, Dee, Assiratti, Rowlands, Beard, Jenkins (cap), Reffell, Wainwright.
Replacements: E Lloyd, Domachowski, Lewis, Mann, martin, Davies, I Lloyd, Grady.
🏴 𝐗𝐕 𝐂𝐘𝐌𝐑𝐔 🏴
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 6, 2024
👊 Your Welsh team to face France
💪 Amdani bois!#SixNationsRugby pic.twitter.com/DsuuuBsg9t
Updated
Preamble
Room for one more? Yesterday was a feast of rugby. First Italy edged Scotland in a thriller in Rome and then England silenced their critics with a stunning upset over Ireland.
But we’re not done yet. For the final course we have two out of sorts sides looking for morale-boosting triumph. Without Monsieur Dupont France have been disjointed and aimless, stuttering to just a solitary victory from three matches. Meanwhile a young Welsh side has shown plenty of fight but little quality in three consecutive losses. Both camps will quietly fancy themselves.
However, the pressure must lie with the French. After all, they were the best team in the world only two seasons ago but seem gripped by the trauma of a disappointing home World Cup. Perhaps that means Wales can go out and express themselves, free from the burden of an expectant Cardiff crowd.
We’ve got all the ingredients for a ripper. Should it deliver, we may look back on this round as one of the greatest in Six Nations history.
Teams and updates to follow. Kick off at 3pm in Cardiff.
