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Wales 16-9 France
Wales - Halfpenny, Cuthbert, Davies, Roberts, North, Priestland, Phillips; Jenkins, Rees, Rhys Jones, Wyn Jones, Evans, Lydiate, Warburton (c), Faletau.
France – Poitrenaud, Fofana, Rougerie, Fritz, Palisson, Beauxis, Yachvili; Poux, Servat, Attoub, Pape, Maestri, Dusatoir (c), Bonnaire, Harinordoquy.
The Millennium Stadium is a cauldron of noise, positively heaving with anticipatin, as the two sides take to the pitch.
Few are expecting France to derail Wales’s Grand Slam campaign this afternoon, particularly given the slightly idiosyncratic selection settled upon by Philippe Saint-André, but this afternoon marks the final Test appearances of both William Servat and Julien Bonnaire. If France are a team in search of incentive to comptete, they may well find it in the departure of those two.
All stand for the national anthems:
France:
Wales:
… it feels like you’re there, doesn’t it?
France, who requested that this afternoon’s encounter be conducted in the open air, get proceedings underway, Beauxis lobbing a kick to the end of the Welsh 22.
It’s kicked back into French possession and, out of nothing, Beauxis has a punt at goal… it skims, then dribbles somewhat pathetically towards the right touchline.
What in the blazes?!
Building on the back of a lineout in midfield, Wales begin to feed the ball across the backline. It’s Davies who makes the breakthrough, eluding a pair of tackler to momentarily break free and gain ten metres. A phase later, the ball’s in his hands again and he repeats the trick, moving within yards of an opening try before slinging a pass inside to no one in particular.
A let-off for France, but Wales – beginning at a riotous tempo – have made their intentions clear.
Wales have succeeded in this year’s tournament by dint of an unwillingness to commit significant numbers to the breakdown. While it affords them an additional dynamism and mobility in possession, it also leaves them vulnerable to conceding turnovers against quality packs… as France demonstrate by rucking their way into possession.
Craig Joubert, who didn’t exactly endear himself to French fans in the World Cup final, goes some way towards atoning for his perceived sins, penalising Mike Phillips for double movement.
France use the penalty to catapult their lineout deep into opposition territory. A successful set piece yields a penalty.
20 metres out, marginally left of the posts, Yachvili sends an effort over the bar.
Wales 0-3 France
Following a strategy similar to the one Ireland employed in Paris, France are employing a rushing/blitz defence. Flirting at times with off-side, they’re intent on smothering Welsh possession before it can build momentum in the hands of North, Davies, et al.
Wales, by contrast, keep looking to thread kicks through the line.
Priestland sizes up a penalty attempt from about 40 metres out, 10 inside the right touchline. Cleanly struck, it arcs its way towards the right post and… bounces back into play!
Unfortunate, that.
TRY FOR WALES! Just when it appeared that France had gained the upper hand, a moment of genius from Alex Cuthbert puts Wales in the ascendancy.
After bringing Dusatoir to ground in midfield and wresting the ball from his grasp, Ian Evans (I think) pops the ball back to Phillips. The scrum-half moves the ball wide right towards Cuthbert.
Claiming possession, the winger lengthens his stride and wrong-foots a pair of defenders with a razor-sharp duck inside. He coasts over and provides the perfect platform for Halfpenny’s conversion.
Wales 13-6 France
Suddenly inaccurate, uncertain in the face of a resurgent Welsh offensive line, France have lost that sense of abandon in defence – the blitz is more hesitant now, playing directly into Welsh hands.
Dilemma:
Leigh Halfpenny sends his second kick of the afternoon between the posts. His 11th successful attempt on goal in succession, this one came courtesy of some enterprising play from Jonathan Davies. The centre, anticipating a loose ball in midfield, leapt through the line and nudged a kick goalwards. The resulting chaos yielded a penalty.
Wales 10-3 France
Two enormous Welsh overlaps in the space of a minute amount to nothing.
The first is spurned in lieu of the pick-and-go and the second, coming courtesy of turnover ball from a blocked Yachvili box-kick, is spotted far too late. George North pirouettes harmlessly into touch, but Joubert – who was playing advantage – calls the ball back for a Welsh place-kick.
Priestland, facing his second penalty attempt of the afternoon, sends another kick spinning into the right upright.
France looked to be setting about the business of diligently kicking their way into the lead early on, but were overwhelmed in the wake of Cuthbert’s opening try.
Tentative in defence, confused and directionless in attack – hampered, one has to think, by Yachvili’s love of the box-kick – France are in need of something special… they do have the best half-back pairing in the tournament (Parra, Trinh-Duc), though. Just a pity it’s on the bench.
He’s probably right…
The second half is underway, Priestland lobbing a kick into French arms.
A clearing kick from Yachvili – actually worthwhile this time – finds touch.
More fleet-footed action from Cuthbert puts Wales on the front foot. The winger squirms his way past three blue shirts before off-loading to Faletau, who in turn finds Wyn Jones…
Stout French defence yields a sudden changing of the tide, and Fritz gallops away towards the Welsh 22. Running into a cul de sac, he chips a ball over the top. An awkward bounce sends it into the arms of Jenkins, who goes to ground and concedes a penalty.
Beauxis, standing near the left touchline, sends a kick spinning goalwards.
Wales 10-6 France
With French rolling forward and building momentum, Beauxis drops back into the pocket and attempts another drop goal.
Yet again: what was he thinking?!
William Servat brings his international career to an end. He’s replaced by dwarfish Fabio lookalike Dimitri Szarzewski.
France are beginning to threaten the Welsh line with greater regularity… quite what this means, given the crazy, topsy-turvy tactical approach they’ve taken to this game, is anyone’s guess.
Brought to ground after embarking on another snaking run through the centre, Fofana refuses to release the ball and is penalised, like, immediately. Standing in the centre of the pitch, Leigh Halfpenny sends an absolutely towering effort sailing over the bar.
Wales 13-6 France
Second-half possession (@54 mins): Wales 40% – France 60%
Trinh-Duc and Debaty have joined the fray in place of Palisson and Poux, respectively. Buttin will move to the left wing.
Anxious to bleed the game of its remaining tempo, Wales begin to go through the phases in midfield… but can’t resist the lure of the left wing. Suddenly, Cuthbert is isolated and and France have a turnover penalty.
Beauxis notices Buttin loitering by the left wing and – to an audible gasp from the crowd – dispatches a laser-like cross-field kick. Buttin bows his read and rushes for the whitewash, but he’s intercepted five metres from the line. France retain possession, though, eventually winning a scrum in front of goal.
With the game in the balance, Craig Joubert penalises the French pack for an early engagement! A ridiculously harsh call. Injustice.
Another crucial decision goes the way of Wales!
Building on a lineout just inside the red 22, France go in search of a seven-point return. First through the hands of Fritz, then Szarzewski and Yachvili they threaten the line. Dusatoir, the next in line, breaks away and changes the angle, but he takes Jonathan Davies to ground with him. Struggling (unsuccessfully?) to retain his footing, the centre attempts to hook the ball out of captain’s grasp.
Joubert has no hesitation in awarding Wales a penalty.
Hesitation from Halfpenny under a high ball sends the ball bouncing towards the tryline. Fritz is the first to react and, in flinging himself bodily to the ground, guarantees possession for France. With the Welsh line still struggling to reset, the ball is spun to the right wing. Unchallenged, and a mere 10 metres from glory, the No8 hesitates and patters his feet like an excited toddler before moving tentatively forwards.
France are soon dispossessed.
What a waste!
France are awarded a penalty in the wake of some scrappy play at the breakdown. Rather than kick to the corner – the obvious choice – Beauxis sends an effort spiralling over.
Wales 13-9 France
It takes all of two minutes for the folly of France’s decision-making to be exposed.
A frenetic period of play that witnesses line-breaks from Jonathan Davies and a superb, skipping break from Leigh Halfpenny culminates in a Trinh-Duc intercepting a grubber kick and tossing the ball out of play.
His eejitry hands Leigh Halfpenny another attempt at goal… He converts with aplomb.
Wales 16-9 France
Wales slow play down, picking-and-going their way into a final, Grand Slam-winning penalty.
With red jerseys bunny-hopping around him, Rys Priestland punts a kick into touch.
Full-time: Wales 16-9 France
Tough to argue with these nuggets of insight from RTÉ’s contrarian-in-chief:
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