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WINGERS LOUIS BIELLE-BIARREY and Theo Attissogbe both scored twice as Six Nations favourites France started the tournament with a comfortable home win over Wales this evening.
Bielle-Biarrey and Attissogbe made their contributions in a 22-minute first-half spell, putting down a statement for France’s title hopes before the hosts finished the game down a man following a late Romain Ntamack red card making him a doubt for next Saturday’s trip to England.
The defeat marked a record-extending 13th straight Test loss for Wales and a first failure to score a single point in a game since 2007, increasing pressure on coach Warren Gatland before heading to perennial underachievers Italy next weekend.
Les Bleus coach Fabien Galthie named Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou on the bench for their first Test since they were investigated over rape claims last year before they were dismissed.
When Jegou and Auradou’s names were read out pre-match in-front of 77,000 fans they were welcomed with cheers by the vocal crowd. But they were met by boos and whistles when they came off the bench.
Scrum-half Antoine Dupont skippered the hosts after missing last season’s Six Nations to focus on playing seven-a-side rugby at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Gatland, in his 150th game in charge of Wales, recalled experienced full-back Liam Williams and winger Josh Adams as the New Zealander looked to claim a first international win since October 2023.
The buzzing pre-match atmosphere stepped up a gear with the anthems and an acapella version of La Marseillaise with the home support in an expectant mood for the fixture and the Championship as a whole.
Les Bleus underlined their favourites tags for not just the game but the tournament, crossing the Wales line after after just four minutes but Dupont was held up and the visitors cleared their lines.
Wales won a free-kick at the first scrum of the game on 10 minutes, allowing them to venture into France’s territory, highlighting an early possible impact by former prop Adam Jones in his role as a consultant at the set-piece.
Wales’ ascendancy was short-lived before Dupont provided his 35th try assist in 56 Tests setting up Attissogbe in the corner with a delicate cross kick.
Full-back Thomas Ramos converted to leapfrog Christophe Lamaison as France’s second highest scorer.
By the half-hour mark Les Bleus had doubled their lead as Ramos set up Bielle-Biarrey for his 17th try in as many games for club and country this season.
Wales’ hopes for an unlikely first win against France since 2019 were hindered as hooker Evan Lloyd, on his first international start, was shown a sin-binned for a high tackle on Bielle-Biarrey.
Dupont provided two further masterful assists before the interval to set-up Attissogbe again and Bielle-Biarrey for their doubles as France led 28-0 at the break, with France in total control.
It was Wales’ heaviest deficit at the 40-minute mark since trailing 29-0 to the same opponents in 1998, a game which ended 51-0.
The hosts returned from half-time lethargic, seeming to be happy with their advantage.
It played into Wales’ hands as they made good gains into France’s 22m after an Adams break down the left wing but a knock-on from lock Dafydd Jenkins gave the home side the chance to clear.
With half an hour to play and the result beyond doubt Dupont was replaced by Nolann Le Garrec in six changes made at once by Galthie.
Replacements Julien Marchand and centre Emilien Gailleton both crossed for tries before Ntamack’s error with 11 minutes to go.
In his first Test appearance since August 2023, Ntamack was shown a yellow upgraded to red for a high hit on opposition No 10 Ben Thomas.
With two minutes to play France No 8 and man-of-the-match Gregory Alldritt rubbed salt into Wales’ wounds by crossing from short range in a clinical display from Les Bleus.
Written by AFP and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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Poor Wales. It must be the worst Wales team in the history of rugby. . Not a great opener for the season. Dupont is a master of rugby. He could win the grand slam on his own.
@anne leyden: France won’t win a Grand Slam. They just can’t shake the needless indiscipline from their game, very frustrating.
I thought that the ref was poor, and very home town focused. Yes, Wales werent great but give them the 50/50s at least….and why do we need a southern hemisphere ref to ref to ref hemisphere games….
@Des O: “to ref northern hemisphere ganes”
Why only 8 subs? Why not 15.? Change the whole team! We have red cards which are really just deep yellow. Crooked line out throws can be ok. Tries from forward passes are grand. Put into the scrum the 2nd row.
@Me Me: Putting the ball in to the second row has been endemic for years now…I just don’t understand why the rule isn’t enforced of a straight put in…you’ll never again here the phrase ‘heel against the head’.
As a former forward it was a great chance to steal the opposition put in with a well time push as the hooker only had one foot on the ground.
The physical aspect has been watered down too much.
A penalty awarded for a ‘croc roll’ tonight when there was absolutely no danger whatsoever to the player being tackled…he was just caught around the waist and turned over…it’s getting like fn soccer now
@Pat O Dwyer: It’s almost like every scrum is non contested. I remember playing rugby in the 90s where you had a decent chance of winning opposition ball in the scrum if your scrum was strong enough, it seems futile these days.
@Me Me: new rules. Crooked line outs are acceptable …… if not challenged by the opposing team
@Me Me: scrum half stays where he is and waits for his team to move forward so that 2nd row is now in front of him and then puts ball in.
@Nerb: I know the new rule, and it’s rubbish.
@Nerb: And ‘waits for his team to move forward’?? Put in should be at the scrum position between the 2 front rows. Hookers are called that fir a reason.
Are we going to accept blatant forward passes this 6 nations, yes we are it seems.
As an Ireland fan, I’m not actually feeling too bad after that. France were of course going to win by 35+ points but their bench was actually quite substandard and lacked the energy and physicality of the starting 15. Le Garrec was particularly poor with his service from the base of the ruck and his goal kicking. If they bring that same bench out against us, we’ve got a decent chance of winning. Granted, France do have a few injuries but if that’s the best they can put out and perform against Wales in the second-half with the current crop that they have, our bench definitely has the edge. If aren’t able to keep the focus against the worst team in the Six Nations, I doubt they’ll be able to do it against us at the Aviva Stadium. However, we have to win tomorrow first before any of that.
@William Jennings: they didn’t keep hammering to the end because the game was over as a contest at half time and they just saved themselves for next weekend which will be a different intensity. A wounded England at home will want to avenge the 50 points drubbing from 2 years ago. And most of the bench came on in one go before the 50th min, that’s unusual nowadays at that level.
Although you’re right, Le Garrec brought the speed down a few gears when he came on
Welsh Rugby has been poor for years. Swansea and Cardiff have been promoting soccer in the heart lands of rugby for years
@Peter Byrne: Love to see it.
Wales never had a chance but the ref lifting his arm twice even before a non try was scored, not blowing or checking for forward passes? I love the French camera work. They never do a replay of a French infringement.
@Marius van Niekerk: one of the tries definitely looked like it came from a forward pass and yet no TMO check…very unusual to be fair.
@Marius van Niekerk: to be fair, the Irish replays are also very good at hiding Irish infringements, or feet in touch before a try is scored… Par for the course I guess
That was just a starter the main meal is today.
Worst Wales team in there history
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