Warren Gatland’s threats appear to have worked as Wales rebounded to smash a hapless French side at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night. A late change saw Alun Wyn Jones withdraw from the side handing a run-on debut for Jake Ball, and the bearded giant responded with an excellent game, driving the scrum forward and making his presence felt in the tight exchanges. In fact the whole forward pack can take a bow, with their credibility restored after the nightmare in Dublin.
It was an incredible start for Wales. France had barely stripped off their tracksuits and they were two scores down, both owing to the boot of Leigh Halfpenny. First a long-range penalty sailed through the uprights, then a break and chip ahead forced a mistake from Brice Dulin on his own goal line with George North on hand to dive on the loose ball.
In truth France looked the more menacing side with ball in hand, attacking with neat offloads and nearly breaking the line on multiple occasions, only to make crucial errors at the deciding moment. Had Hugo Bonneval taken Mathieu Bastareaud’s offload, or received a more accurate pass from Pascal Papé, the result could have been much closer, but on the whole Wales were good value for their win.
It was not all great going for Wales, with golden boys George North and Leigh Halfpenny both struggling defensively, but the big men stood up to be counted when it mattered. Captain Sam Warburton was outstanding, and probably unlucky not to be named man-of-the-match, the gong instead going to Gethin Jenkins. No less important was Luke Charteris who, alongside his new second row partner, dominated the set piece and the tight-loose.
Welsh fans might also spare a thought for referee Alain Rolland. Chastised almost religiously since Warburton’s red card in the World Cup, he may have redeemed himself at the last possible moment with a couple very questionable decisions going the way of the home side. It was the final test match of his remarkable career, and the irony of the occasion was not lost on the Irishman, as evidenced by the wry smile shown at kickoff and in moments throughout the match.
With that Wales have rescued their championship somewhat, though they’ll need some help from others if they have any chance to retaining the title. France are now in an almost identical situation, and the last two rounds now promise to be intensely dramatic. There’s no easy money for the punters this season.
WALES 27 vs 6 FRANCE
Friday, February 21, 20:00 GMT, Cardiff
SCORING
02 mins – L. Halfpenny pen 3-0
05 mins – G. North try 8-0
09 mins – L. Halfpenny pen 11-0
16 mins – J.M. Doussain pen 11-3
20 mins – L. Halfpenny pen 14-3
31 mins – J. Plisson pen 14-6
35 mins – L. Halfpenny pen 17-6
40 mins – L. Halfpenny pen 20-6
63 mins – S. Warburton try 25-6
64 mins – L. Halfpenny con 27-6
CARDS
51 mins – G. Jenkins yellow (repeat infringements)
51 mins – N. Mas yellow (repeat infringements)
62 mins – L. Picamoles yellow (professional foul)
WALES
L. Halfpenny (J. Hook 71); A. Cuthbert, G. North, J. Roberts, L. Williams; R. Priestland (D. Biggar 71), R. Webb (M. Phillips 71); G. Jenkins (P. James 71), R. Hibbard (K. Owens 56), A. Jones (R. Jones 71); L. Charteris, J. Ball (A. Coombs 71); D. Lydiate (P. James 51-62) (J. Tipuric 71), S. Warburton (capt.), T. Faletau.
FRANCE
B. Dulin; Y. Huget, M. Bastareaud (G. Fickou 71), W. Fofana, H. Bonneval; J. Plisson (R. Talès 64), J.M. Doussain (M. Machenaud HT); T. Domingo (Y. Forestier 64), D. Szarzewski (B. Mach 64), N. Mas; P. Papé, Y. Maestri (S. Vaha’amahina 64); Y. Nyanga (V. Debaty 51-62) (D. Chouly 62), W. Lauret, L. Picamoles.
Referee: A. Rolland (IRFU)
Assistants: J. Lacey (IRFU) & D. Phillips (IRFU)
TMO: G. Hughes (RFU)
