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Up to date:
Mar 22, 2023 9:59 am
France 41 v 28 Wales
France ended their Six Nations with a classy win in opposition to an enhancing Wales, however Eire’s victory dashed their hopes of retaining their title. Les Blues headed into the sport figuring out they wanted an emphatic victory to place strain on Eire, and so they duly delivered, operating in 5 tries in an entertaining contest. France might have missed out on the title, however they’ve proven what a harmful attacking aspect they’re within the final two weeks, and so they produced some swashbuckling rugby at occasions on Saturday.
For Wales, amongst the rubble of defeat, there have been some hints of promise, and so they had been very a lot within the contest for the primary half hour. Finally, France’s superior high quality shone by means of, however Gatland’s aspect didn’t fold within the second half, and Rio Dyer’s late rating gave them a bonus level. It has been a troublesome marketing campaign on and off the pitch for Wales, and regardless of sacking Wayne Pivac, they may solely emulate final yr’s fifth-place end. Gatland shall be partially relieved the match is over after all of the upheaval his squad has confronted and might begin planning forward for the World Cup in a barely extra optimistic state of mind.
As soon as once more, Gatland rang the adjustments, making six alterations from the aspect that received in Rome and taking his whole variety of adjustments all through the match to 26. Wales began the match positively, eschewing an early alternative for 3 factors and opting to go for the nook, however France simply managed to disrupt their maul because it rumbled in the direction of the road. There was a formidable goal to Wales’s assault, enjoying with tempo as they appeared to select and undergo the center. Deservedly, they scored the sport’s first attempt, tying the French defence in with their maul earlier than Rhys Webb fired a beautiful go to George North, who sauntered over.
France responded instantly, Nick Tompkins unable to collar Romain Ntmack, who glided by means of the Welsh defence earlier than offloading to Antoine Dupont on the good second. Dupont nonetheless had lots to do, however unsurprisingly he made it look straightforward, throwing a surprising thirty-metre go out to Damian Penaud, who dotted the ball down. Nevertheless, Wales recovered nicely, with Aaron Wainwright and the sensible Toby Faletau carrying nicely on his hundredth cap. Wales stored the ball alive impressively with some neat offloading, minimising France’s breakdown menace, whereas in defence, they harried the French with some spectacular line velocity.
Crucially, Wales’s accuracy began to wane in the direction of the tip of the half, making a sequence of unforced errors that invited France into the sport, and so they conceded a few penalties on the breakdown. The metronomic Thomas Ramos nudged France right into a six-point lead, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than they’d their second attempt. As soon as once more, Dupont was instrumental, showcasing some pretty fingers, and France finally labored the ball huge, the place Jonathan Danty powered over. Regardless of some sustained intervals of possession, Wales headed into halftime, dropping 20-7, with the French assault beginning to purr.
France flew out the blocks within the second half and shortly scored their third attempt. Dupont tied in about 4 defenders off the again of a scrum, and the ball was finally shipped huge to the prop Uini Atonio who dived over. Issues had been beginning to look ominous for Wales, and France quickly had their bonus level attempt, some pretty fingers from a line out liberating Gael Fickou to blast up the center and rating. France had been actually beginning to fizz, disrupting Wales’s defensive construction, and it appeared like a repeat of Twickenham was on the playing cards.
However Wales dug in, and a few French over-ambition led to their second rating. Substitute Tomos Williams’s intelligent kick off the again of a scrum triggered chaos, and as France appeared to run from their very own line, Justin Tipuric turned the ball over, and within the subsequent assault, Bradley Roberts picked a terrific line to burst over. The attempt restored a few of Wales’s confidence, and Dan Biggar began to trigger issues with some probing up-and-unders. Wales quickly had their third attempt, Tomos Williams sniping over after one other wonderful maul had preoccupied the French defence.
France virtually hit again with a trademark scintillating counterattack, Penaud slicing by means of the Welsh defence after a unfastened kick from Louis Rees-Zammit, Tommy Refell’s turnover halting the assault. The sport began to get somewhat niggly as France turned the screw, and so they put the sport to mattress with their fifth attempt, Ramos feeding Penaud after a concerted spell of strain. Wales ended the sport on a excessive observe, Rio Dyer conjuring a rating out of nowhere, displaying some electrical tempo and energy to provide Wales a bonus level.
France will head into a house World Cup because the second-best aspect on this planet after seventeen wins in eighteen video games, defeat in Dublin being their solely blip. In truth, within the championship, France and Eire are in a category of their very own, producing a consistency over eighty minutes that is still unmatched. There shall be a lingering disappointment for France, having missed out on the title, however they bounced again impressively from their defeat in opposition to Eire. Head Coach Fabien Galthié will hope his aspect can be taught from their loss in Dublin as Eire did from their loss in Paris final yr. Regardless, France shall be formidable opposition for anybody on the World Cup.
Defeat in Paris will doubtless be an ignominious ultimate Six Nations look for a lot of of Gatland’s gamers, the Kiwi predicting it as a championship farewell for as many as eight gamers. Regardless of seeds of enchancment of their ultimate two fixtures, Wales head into the World Cup in a state of confusion, with Gatland seemingly no nearer to deciding on his greatest aspect. Monetary issues will doubtless dangle over the aspect like a black cloud heading into the summer time, and Gatland faces a tricky ask getting his aspect in aggressive form for the World Cup. Nevertheless, he would have been happy concerning the resurgence of a few of his senior gamers within the final two video games, significantly Faletau and Webb, in addition to the emergence of Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshuinza. Hopefully, Welsh rugby can get its home so as and restrict the distractions for Gatland.
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