En-route to the tryline: Alex Cuthbert
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Wales beat France 16-9 in a tight battle at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday to complete the Grand Slam in fine style.
Wing Alex Cuthbert scored the only try of an enthralling battle to help the home side to their third Slam in eight years.
The occasion had an extra poignancy for Welsh rugby following the death of 1976 Grand Slam skipper Mervyn Davies on Thursday a few will deny they deserved victory in Cardiff over a combative but unimaginative French team.
Cuthbert's try helped Wales to a 10-3 lead at half time while Leigh Halfpenny added the conversion and three penalties over the course of the 80 minutes.
All of France's points came from the boot of half-backs Lionel Beauxis and Dimitri Yachvili. Indeed French fans will be left frustrated by the lack of positive intent or creativity from their side.
But the day was about Wales and their ability to hold their nerve under pressure. And there was no lack of it as les Bleus came desperately close to forcing their way over in the closing minutes.
While the Welsh attack has been a talking point over the last six week, it was their defence that impressed most with Jonathan Davies and Dan Lydiate leading the charge.
Referee Craig Joubert was taking a strict approach to the breakdown area and ruck infringements gave Yachvili and Rhys Priestland each an early opportunity to kick at goal.
The French scrum-half opened the scoring but Priestland's reply found the post.
Wales were soon in front however when Cuthbert scored a fabulous try from quick turnover ball, showing a neat step in between Julien Bonnaire and William Servat before tearing towards the unguarded tryline. Halfpenny took over the kicking duties and had no problems with the conversion.
A powerful Welsh scrum was at the origin of further points seven minutes before the break as it gave Davies a head start to put pressure on Beauxis, who spilt his pass in contact and the home side were awarded a penalty when Alexis Palisson was forced to hang on while cleaning up.
Halfpenny should have added another three points on the stroke of half-time but this time it was his turn to strike the woodwork.
Sam Warburton did not return to the field after the break and the French held the momentum early in the second period.
Beauxis narrowed the gap to four points from the kicking tee but squandered an easy chance to get les Bleus within a point when he missed his fourth drop goal attempt of the tournament.
Halfpenny thumped over a penalty from 52 metres out to restore Wales' advantage as France persisted with their kick-orientated game, though replacement Jean-Marcellin Buttin came close to scoring when collecting a cross-field kick from Beauxis.
The visitors piled on the pressure in the closing stages and Imanol Harinordoquy will rue his decision to cut inside when he had Louis Picamoles on his outside and the tryline within range.
Joubert gave the visitors a penalty and their negative attitude was summed up in the decision to take three rather than seek a try to level the game.
The final minutes were inevitably fraught from a Welsh perspective, but Halfpenny held his nerve to add one last penalty and kick off a massive party.
Man of the match: Wales flank Dan Lydiate put in yet another immense tackling display and must be considered a candidate for Player of the Tournament.
Moment of the match: There was nothing to choose between the teams in the opening stages before Alex Cuthbert's try put Wales ahead. From then on France were chasing the game and Wales always seemed in control.
Villain of the match: No bad guys here. Let the party commence!
The scorers:
For Wales
Try: Cuthbert
Con: Halfpenny
Pens: Halfpenny 3
For France:
Pens: Yachvili 2, Beauxis
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Luke Charteris, 19 Ryan Jones, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 James Hook, 22 Scott Williams
France: 15 Clement Poitrenaud, 14 Wesley Fofana, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Florian Fritz, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Yohann Maestri, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 David Attoub, 2 William Servat, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Louis Picamoles, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 François Trinh-Duc, 22 Jean-Marcellin Buttin
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Stuart Terheege (England)
Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
Comments
thewalker says...
Good game and well done the welsh team on 3 grand slams in 8 years.A very welshman
Posted 11:01 18th March 2012
Axax says...
"Joubert gave the visitors a penalty and their negative attitude was summed up in the decision to take three rather than seek a try to level the game"
What does this mean? Ridiculous comment in the article, I thought it was exactly the opposite: France play the win, and not the draw. Wales was 7 points ahead, so France knew to win they would need to score at least 8 points. So they took the 3 points first and then put everything they could to score a try. That was tactical and the only thing to do for a win. So there was nothing negative here from the French side.
Posted 10:07 18th March 2012
kybone says...
Well done to Wales the best team this year. I have to say im surprised at how many think that France played well yesterday. I thought France were as bad as they were against England with ball in hand, they just defended better. I hope Wales now go and give the Oz a hiding. I know some Welsh fans don't want to here it but you really do need some wins against the big 3 both home and away to prove to them down there that you're as good as we all think you are.
Posted 09:59 18th March 2012
Axax says...
Congratulations to Wales! They deserved the 6N and crown and the grand slam - definitely the best side in Europe those days. They were able to raise their standard to beat a much improved French side. I was hoping for a French victory, but the Welsh were the best side, and their defense is just amazing.
This year, young England looks pretty strong as well so I predict these 2 teams will be bookmakers favorite for the 6N 2013.
As for France it is time for a big change and a new generation to enter the show: the like of Yann David, Jean Marc Doussain, Jon Wisniewski, Morgan Parra, Jean Marcellin Buttin (who made his international start yesterday), Wes Fofana, Gillian Galand, Christopher Tolofua, Louis Picamoles are the thrilling next generation for France.
Congrats to Wales, you won a battle this time but the war is not over ;)
Posted 09:59 18th March 2012
justinprop says...
"I would just like to thank the French idiot who ruined the minutes silence by shouting Allez les blues. French indiscipline it just never goes away does it."
@sirjona says - I would like to concur that this kind of behavior was simply terrible. I know neither French nor Wales so I did not know who the culprits were but I remember watching this, and these bums didn't stop after shouting once or twice ... in fact I am quite convinced the minute of silence became more like a 30-second silence because of their actions. Hobbs and Davies deserve more. RIP.
On another note, well done Wales and hard luck France, that was one tense ending. Lydiate and Dusautoir were quite immense, so were a roster of players. Funny if not sad drop goal attempt at the beginning, too!
Posted 09:07 18th March 2012
carpelone says...
Well done Wales, fully deserved Grand Slm winners.
However, they did not show the dominance that all the pundits predicted and made all their recriminations about the RWC quite unrealistic.
France was a disappointment, it seems that PSA is backtracking ML's footstep.
9 and 10 need a major review, for one reason or another they are not test match material. France have the same issues to solve they had before this campaign.
Posted 08:15 18th March 2012
carpelone says...
@ Ramage. I feel for Scotland too, although there were some 25° in Rome which could have affected them, they looked without energy.
Posted 08:09 18th March 2012
rico says...
Get in there WALES, Danny Lydiate and Toby Faletau are immense and fair play to Ryan Jones he came on and played a great 40mins again, he has had a great tournament when he has been called upon. Also 2nd best player for wales this tournie (after Lydiate) has been JJV Davies, Number 13 ¿ he¿s been brilliant, so has halfpenny, Cuthbert¿. They¿ve all done amazing and the future looks bright ¿ just the aussie tour to worry about in June! Probably lose all of those by no more than 5-10 points As usual against SH teams!!
Posted 06:09 18th March 2012
Ramage says...
Congratulations to Wales on their 6 nations win the way they played has shown they are true winners. Also good to see France give it a go and push the Welsh all the way. After watching the abysmal Scotland/Italy game it was a pleasure to watch this game it was so good and I enjoyed it so much I stopped crossing back to the Sharks/Reds Super game until this game had finished. Now it will be a good gauge when Wales tour Australia to see how they stand against the SH teams. This 6Nations campaign has raised a number of issues the first is that Wales deserve their victory. however luck did play a part in the game against England. To me the way the English went about defeating France and how they destroyed Ireland makes me wonder what would have happened if the draw had been different and Wales played England at the end of the draw. However this is the "if"factor we all love talking about and what has happened has happened. What is very evident is England are back and I now see why APV1 is so keen to keep the coach. I too believe he has done wonders and I've always believed where there is a fellow countryman available to coach a national team then they should be chosen. Anyway lets hope that Lancaster gets the job he has proved himself in turning around the shambles England were at RWC time to what they are achieving now. He deserves the opportunity. As for poor old Scotland well Robinson has a contract but we all know the value of those pieces of paper in the Rugby World.
Posted 02:50 18th March 2012
KiwiLad says...
Well done Wale,Fulfilling the promise shown at the rwc.
Please pop down south later in the season and shut up a few crowing Aussies.
Posted 23:41 17th March 2012
gauca says...
Congrats to Wales, easliy the best team of the tournament.
This game was dominated by awesome displays from Lydiate and Dusautoir.
For us, its time to ring the changes and bring in the youth, too many old guard there currently. Also I think we should accept Parra/Trin-Duc as 1/2s and let them get on with it.
Tactically we were poor all tournament and deserved no more than we got 2wins 2losses and a draw. The defensive line was good but often too narrow. Since we were kicking everything I have to assume this was under orders, if so PSA needs to wise up to the fact that we are not playing under the ELVs anymore and allow them to attack the gain line. Bring back some style! As for positives we showed immense tenacity and amazing discipline throughout the competition.
Fofana, Maestri and Debaty have emerged with honours IMO, Rougerie I think needs to retire (a genuine centre is needed).
Domingo and Barcella can't come back soon enough to give us options.
Servat and Bonnaire have been awesome players for France and will be sorely missed in the upcoming years.
Posted 22:58 17th March 2012
isthatrightref says...
Well done Wales, looking good for Australia in June. France need to put a few guys out to pasture*, not sure if PSA will have the nerve to do it though as he's in a similar position as Meyer in SA i.e. media & fans want results NOW not 18 mo - 2 years time. In saying that a 3-from-5 record does give him the perfect excuse to bring in some new blokes.
* Not Gougerie though, still some unfinished business there eh @ Rosbif :-)
Posted 22:27 17th March 2012
sirjona says...
I would just like to thank the French idiot who ruined the minutes silence by shouting Allez les blues. French indiscipline it just never goes away does it.
Posted 22:03 17th March 2012
jontheref says...
melkdave
What a pratt you make yourself.
After two games you were dissing the welsh.
Then after Twickers you were suddenly Welsh!
Grow a pair and get on with life!
We won!
Posted 22:01 17th March 2012
RobinMasters says...
I was impressed by Wales' consistency, discipline, speed, power, and above all the pragmatism they lacked last Autumn. With Nallet, Servat and Bonnaire out, I am afraid the French have lost their last asset: the scrum. Dark days ahead for the French, a bright future for Wales. What a 6N they had! Congratulations to the Red Devils, they really owe their Grand Slam to no one but themselves.
Posted 21:46 17th March 2012
xvpres says...
as teams and strategy go forward referee level goes back
Posted 21:40 17th March 2012
melkdave says...
LOL@Rodbif
That squad of yours looks really good i would definatly take all of them on tour this summer .As for yac-harri rougerie ect time for them to go imo and m,ake way for the next genaration
Posted 21:10 17th March 2012
makemehappy says...
How was the score so close? A very comfy win indeed, even with the poor refereeing. If you're picking the best 15 of the tournament, you're struggling to leave out all 15 of the Welsh team.
Posted 20:19 17th March 2012
whizz52 says...
I am afraid based on the performances in the 6 nations both England and Wales will come back empty handed from their trips to the Southern Hemps and Ireland is in for a thrashing!
Posted 20:18 17th March 2012
taffrugby15 says...
@ All of those French fans who have been very pragmatic in defeat. Wales played very well tonight and did deserve their win. However, that was in my opinion, France's best performance of the campaign so far. Well done. Wales v France is always a fascinating match. With England's much improved performance, the 6 Nations is going to be INCREDIBLY close next year. Good luck to all involved.
Posted 20:05 17th March 2012