Wales 24-45 France
Date:
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Attendance: 71,242
Wales v France Match Reports
France powered their way to a 45-24 bonus-point victory over Wales in Cardiff. A fast-paced and entertaining first-half ended 20-17 in the visitors' favour, with both teams scoring two tries apiece. Rio Dyer and Tomos Williams scored tries for Wales, whilst Gael Fickou and Nolann Le Garrec replied for France. After the break, Joe Roberts scrambled over the line to regain the lead for Wales. But tries from Georges-Henri Colombe and Romain Taofifenua in the final quarter pushed France into a 13-point lead with 10 minutes remaining. Maxime Lucu got a fifth try for France in the final moments to wrap up a comfortable win. A selection of match reports is listed below:
- Six Nations Guide: Late France onslaught means Wales set up wooden spoon decider with Italy
- BBC: France overpower Wales in Six Nations thriller
- Guardian: Late Taofifénua and Lucu tries seal emphatic win for France against Wales
- Independent: France overpower Wales in timely reminder of their brutal beauty
- Daily Mail: Hosts are given a Six Nations hammering by Les Bleus' brutal approach in Cardiff as Warren Gatland's side falter after plucky start
- Sky Sports: Second-half dominance sees Les Bleus to bonus-point Six Nations win in Cardiff
- WRU: France power to victory at Principality Stadium
Wales v France - Match Highlights
Wales v France - Match Stats
Wales (17) 24
Try: Dyer (9'), Williams (25'), Roberts (43')
Conversion: Costelow (10', 26', 45')
Penalty: Costelow (2')
France (20) 45
Try: Fickou (22'), Le Garrec (29'), Colombe (65'), R Taofifenua (69'), Lucu (80'+1)
Conversion: Ramos (23', 30', 66', 70')
Penalty: Ramos (7', 15', 61', 74')
Man of the match: Nolann Le Garrec (France)
Wales v France - Team Line-ups
Wales Team Line-up
Forwards
- 1 Gareth Thomas
- 2 Elliot Dee
- 3 Keiron Assiratti
- 4 Will Rowlands
- 5 Adam Beard
- 6 Dafydd Jenkins (Captain)
- 7 Tommy Reffell
- 8 Aaron Wainwright
Backs
- 9 Tomos Williams
- 10 Sam Costelow
- 11 Rio Dyer
- 12 Owen Watkin
- 13 Joe Roberts
- 14 Josh Adams
- 15 Cameron Winnett
Replacements
- 16 Evan Lloyd
- 17 Corey Domachowski
- 18 Dillon Lewis
- 19 Alex Mann
- 20 Mackenzie Martin
- 21 Gareth Davies
- 22 Ioan Lloyd
- 23 Mason Grady
France Team Line-up
Forwards
- 1 Cyril Baille
- 2 Julien Marchand
- 3 Uini Atoniov
- 4 Thibaud Flament
- 5 Emmanuel Meafou
- 6 Francois Cros
- 7 Charles Ollivon
- 8 Gregory Alldritt (Captain)
Backs
- 9 Nolann Le Garrec
- 10 Thomas Ramos
- 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey
- 12 Nicolas Depoortere
- 13 Gael Fickou
- 14 Damian Penaud
- 15 Leo Barre
Replacements
- 16 Peato Mauvaka
- 17 Sebastien Taofifenua
- 18 Georges-Henri Colombe
- 19 Romain Taofifenua
- 20 Alexandre Roumat
- 21 Paul Boudehent
- 22 Maxime Lucu
- 23 Yoram Moefana