Wales v France LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations clash as hosts wilt under second half pressure
Wales 24-40 France: Les Bleus finally come to play with an impressive, aggressive display against Warren Gatland’s youthful team
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Your support makes all the difference.Wales succumbed to another Six Nations defeat after a blazing show in the second half saw France power their way to a 21-point victory in Cardiff.
An open first half fluctuated between the teams as both sides made repeated mistakes allowing the other to score. Wales opened the scoring with an early penalty - ably kicked by Sam Costelow - before the visitors responded with three points of their own. As both attacks proved to by clinical, the lead switched hands four times with Les Bleus taking a 17-20 lead into the break.
Warren Gatland’s team talk inspired a fine start to the second half as Joe Roberts dove over for another try but from there it was all France. The visitors spent quarter of an hour or so camped inside Wales’ 22, scoring two tries and a penalty kick to extend themselves beyond Wales’ capabilities.
A last minute try from Maxime Lucu put the icing on the cake and France ran away 45-24 winners in a much needed successful result.
Relive the action from the Six Nations below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Talking points as Wales target Six Nations victory over France
Nervy Italian job
Wales have not finished bottom of the Six Nations for 21 years, but a wooden-spoon decider beckons against Italy in Cardiff next weekend if they are beaten by France.
Wales lost all five games of the 2003 tournament under Gatland’s fellow New Zealander Steve Hansen, while Italy triumphed on their last Principality Stadium visit two years ago.
Worryingly for Wales, they have suffered 12 defeats from the last 14 Six Nations starts, toppling only Scotland two years ago and Italy in 2023. With two home games to come, Wales have control of their own destiny, but the margins are fine.
Talking points as Wales target Six Nations victory over France
A big chance for Wales
Recent history does not favour Wales, having lost their last four Six Nations games against France, although two of those defeats were by just four points.
But they have a golden opportunity to end that sequence, taking on a team that saw title hopes effectively extinguished by Ireland on opening night, before edging past Scotland and then being held to a draw at home by Italy.
New-look Wales have shown glimpses of promise as Gatland begins building for World Cup 2027 and victory over France would do wonders in terms of that process.
Owen Watkin keen to prove a point when Wales take on France
Owen Watkin hopes he can “prove a point” when he returns to Wales’ midfield against Guinness Six Nations opponents France on Sunday.
The Ospreys centre has been in and out of favour since winning the first of 37 caps against Australia in 2017.
He was overlooked for last year’s World Cup, not featuring among seven centres chosen by Wales head coach Warren Gatland in a preliminary training squad.
Owen Watkin keen to prove a point when Wales take on France
The Ospreys centre has been recalled to the starting line-up for Sunday’s contest.
Wales vs France prediction
Despite some encouraging performances from Warren Gatland’s young side, France have the experience and ability to go through the gears.
They haven’t been at their best during this campaign but it is only a matter of time before the click which may come at the detriment to Wales’ development.
Wales 15-35 France.
France starting XV
France XV: 1 Cyril Baille, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Uini Atonio; 4 Thibaud Flament, 5 Emmanuel Meafou; 6 Francois Cros, 7 Charles Ollivon, 8 Gregory Alldritt (capt.); 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 Alexandere Roumat, 21 Paul Boudehent; 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Yoram Moefana.
Wales starting XV
Wales XV: 1 Gareth Thomas, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Keiron Assiratti; 4 Will Rowlands, 5 Adam Beard; 6 Dafydd Jenkins (capt.), 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Aaron Wainwright; 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 Mackenzie Martin, 20 Alex Mann; 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Mason Grady.
Wales vs France team news
Starting centre pairing Nick Tompkins and George North are left out of the Wales side, with Owen Watkin and Joe Roberts preferred in midfield. Captain Dafydd Jenkins is shifted to the blindside for the first time in his senior playing career to accommodate Will Rowlands in the second row, and Ryan Elias replaces Elliot Dee, who is set to win a 50th cap from the bench.
After drawing with Italy, Fabien Galthie rings the changes in his French side with three debutants named in the starting fifteen. Enormous lock Emmanuel Meafou starts in the pack, where captain Gregory Alldritt is fit to return from injury and Julien Marchand is preferred to Peato Mauvaka at hooker. First-capper Nicolas Depoortere steps in for the suspended Jonathan Danty at inside centre while Matthieu Jalibert’s absence is compensated for by Thomas Ramos moving to fly half; Leo Barre is the third new face in the run-on side at full-back.
Georges-Henri Colombe also awaits a debut from the bench.
How to watch Wales vs France?
Wales vs France is due to kick off at 3pm GMT on Sunday 10 March at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on BBC One, with coverage on the channel from 2.20pm GMT. A live stream will be available on the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer.
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Six Nations LIVE: Wales vs France
Good afternoon rugby fans and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s Six Nations clash between Wales and France at the Millenium Stadium.
Warren Gatland’s men have yet to win a match during this campaign though they have twice come close with a one-point loss against Scotland and a two-point defeat to England preceding a heavy defeat against the Irish.
France meanwhile have been all over the place. They’ve lost one, won one and drawn one of their three games meaning both teams are languishing near the bottom of the table.
With Les Bleus underperforming and Wales on the wrong end of close games, Gatland may sense an opportunity for his young squad to turn the form around this afternoon.
We’ll have all the updates, news and action from Cardiff so stick around as we build up to kick off at 3pm.
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