Five takeaways from Wales v France

Colin Newboult

France's Romain Ntamack celebrates after the final whistle during the Guinness Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff.

Following a 27-23 victory for France over Wales in their Six Nations game, here’s our five takeaways from the fixture at the Principality Stadium.

The Shaun Edwards effect: France produced a brutal defensive effort, particularly on their own line, to help them secure a superb victory in Cardiff. It had all the hallmarks of an Edwards rearguard as they resisted Wales’ onslaught at the end of the first half and kept their eight-point buffer intact going into the break. Although they were eventually breached, Les Bleus showed a determination and belligerence they haven’t had for a long time.

Wales lack hard-nosed edge: Credit to the Welsh for their fightback, but they do not currently have the bite they had under Warren Gatland. It was one of the first things Gatland – and Edwards – instilled when they arrived but they are just a bit too easy to play against at the moment. While the style of rugby has improved, the team are making errors they rarely produced under the previous regime. Physicality and stubborn defence characterised their efforts over the past 12 years, but France won the majority of the collisions on Saturday.

France maintain their structure: They lost their way a bit in the final 10 minutes but we can excuse them that after this accomplished display. Unlike against Italy, they did not go off-script and kept to their game plan, meaning the hosts had to force matters. Fabien Galthie’s men kicked well out of hand, defended excellently for the most part and looked dangerous with ball in hand. For the first time in years, the French appear well-coached and will be a significant threat over the next few seasons, although they still have to maintain that tempo and intensity for the whole game which was lacking in the latter stages.

Romain Ntamack maturing with each game: Just 20 years of age but he’s playing like he’s closer to 30 at the moment. Alongside fellow youngster, scrum-half Antoine Dupont, this duo are showing a maturity beyond their years right now and on Saturday it was Ntamack who stood out in a 17-point haul that ultimately saw him pick up the player of the match award. He was solid off the tee, defended well and crucially pinched that pass from Nick Tompkins on halfway to break away for a vital try in the second period, which took the wind out of Welsh sails.

Grand Slam now very much on for France: Three firm Ws can be marked in the fixture column for Les Bleus as they go into next week’s break with a spring in their step. Those two opening victories in Paris, while impressive, were on home soil so this fixture in Cardiff was always going to be an acid test for Fabien Galthie’s side. They came through it with flying colours and look every bit serious challengers for the Slam. Next up it’s Scotland at Murrayfield before they will hope to host Ireland in Round Five with it all on the line on March 14, but in this kind of form and, with the grit they are showing when under pressure, these Frenchmen are oozing Championship quality right now.

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