Wales to suffer final round heartbreak against France

Colin Newboult
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It has been a remarkable few months for Wayne Pivac’s Wales. Once derided and under severe pressure following an awful 2020, the head coach is on the brink of guiding them to an incredible Grand Slam.

Some may describe it as the luckiest title ever but that’s rather disingenuous to a side that have shown composure, skill and physicality during this unbeaten run. While two red cards helped them to wins over Ireland and Scotland, and two fortunate tries against England played a part in their third victory of the tournament, they aren’t the ‘only’ reasons the Welsh are in this position.

It must be remembered that, after the Red Rose levelled the match at 24-24, Eddie Jones’ side very much had the momentum, but Pivac’s men wrestled control of the contest. They displayed better game awareness and calmness under pressure to emerge victorious over their arch rivals.

Against Scotland, Louis Rees-Zammit scored a try of utter brilliance to snatch the triumph for his side, while even before Zander Fagerson was red carded, they had got themselves back into the contest after withstanding significant Scottish pressure through some stubborn defence.

As a result, just one match remains, but it is undoubtedly Wales’ most difficult test. Some think that the title is beyond France’s reach, but they are easily capable of claiming two bonus-point wins to snatch it from the Welshmen’s grasp.

Fabien Galthie’s charges are playing the best rugby of anyone in Europe and currently look the most complete side in the championship, but they now need silverware to go with their improvement.

Last time they met

It was once again the Antoine Dupont show as France comfortably defeated Wales 38-21 in the lead-up to the end-of-year internationals. Scheduled as a warm-up to the Six Nations finale and Autumn Nations Cup, Les Bleus continued their fine form in 2020 by touching down five times via Cyril Baille, Dupont (twice), Charles Ollivon and Teddy Thomas in a 17-point triumph. The visitors did get off to the perfect start when Leigh Halfpenny went over and they continued to play some decent rugby at times, but they were all at sea defensively. Since then, the Welsh have tightened up and look a much more cohesive unit than they showed in October 2020.

What they said

France centre Gael Fickou still believes that they have a chance of claiming the title, despite their frustrating defeat to England in Round Four.

“There is positive pressure,” he said. “We lost in England last weekend. At the start we were frustrated. Now we’ve moved past that and are concentrating on Wales.

“We know it’s an important match for us. We are still in the race for the title. We are really motivated. We will do everything to win this game and we’ll be ready, I’m sure of it.

“There has always been quality in the France team. It wasn’t as obvious because we didn’t dominate as much. But it’s true in the last year we have seen that we score a lot of tries from incredible players.

“Most of those players like Teddy Thomas, Virimi Vakatawa or Damian Penaud bring an added extra to our game. We’ll have to use that against Wales. It will be an important weapon for us. It’s one of our strengths.”

Wales assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys insists that they have the belief in the squad to make history and claim their fifth Six Nations Grand Slam.

“There are 25 of this squad who have won big in this tournament,” Humphreys said. “You are led by that, you are led by Al (Alun Wyn Jones), who sets the tone very, very well about this. There is nobody who has been through this more than he has.

“When you have a team meeting and one of those (senior players) stands up and says something, you listen, based on the fact that they have been there, done it and experienced all that stuff. That is worth its weight in gold.

“I think it is belief. It’s something you can’t coach – belief that you are capable of going out there and doing it. When people speak and young people hear, they immediately believe.

“That’s massive in sport, especially in these games which are so tight and balanced on a knife-edge. Sometimes, the belief from the core group is the deciding factor.”

Players to watch

Even when you beat France, it is still difficult to contain the brilliance of Antoine Dupont. Everything goes through their current ‘Le Petit General’ and he has been in scintillating form once again in 2021. Together with the outstanding Matthieu Jalibert, they have formed a superb unit at half-back full of pace, creativity and composure.

In fact, the whole team is operating well but once again there will be pressure on the front five to provide that constant supply of attacking ball. Cyril Baille has been tremendous during Toulouse’s resurgence and arguably produced his best international display against England last weekend. Hooker Julien Marchand also continues to impress but the lineout went awry in the second period last weekend, so there will be focus on him and the two locks, Romain Taofifenua and Paul Willemse, to get that sorted out in Paris.

If they don’t then Wales’ captain Alun Wyn Jones could get under their skin. In the latter stages of 2020, Jones appeared to be on the decline, but he has shone during the 2021 Six Nations and has been back to his best. However, his second-row partner Adam Beard perhaps takes on an even more important role this weekend. Standing at 6ft 8in, the Ospreys man is a towering presence and he will look to put the French set-piece under significant duress.

Should Pivac’s charges disrupt France ball, the visitors have serious talent on the counter-attack. The duel between Teddy Thomas – providing he plays on the left once again – and Louis Rees-Zammit will be fun, while in George North the Welsh have a player in superb form. North has been excellent in all facets, from defence to attack, but against the brilliant Virimi Vakatawa this will be his biggest challenge so far in the 13 shirt.

Main head-to-head

There are some mouth-watering match-ups this weekend but you can’t look beyond the duel at number eight. Despite being just 23, Gregory Alldritt has already established himself as one of the best back-rower’s in Europe and has once again starred in this year’s Six Nations. He was excellent against England, even though they succumbed to a disappointing loss, and will look to continue his fine form against Wales. The La Rochelle man is a big unit, which enables him to get over gain line, but he is also athletic and has incredible work ethic.

Those qualities are all matched by the Welsh number eight Taulupe Faletau, who has re-found his form over the past few months. Injuries have hampered him over recent years, but the 30-year-old is back fit and firing, forming a mightily effective back-row unit with Josh Navidi and Justin Tipuric. Faletau has roamed in the wider channels, with his athleticism and skill set helping to stretch opposition defences, but he has also been outstanding in the tighter exchanges.

Prediction

Wales have a good record against France over the past few years while they have improved under Pivac, but you just feel that this will be a step too far. The French are playing some outstanding rugby and, despite the narrow loss to England, look the best side in the Six Nations. Pivac’s men have finished matches strongly, while Les Bleus struggled in the latter stages last weekend, so the visitors will have to keep it close heading into the final 20 minutes, but the French should have too much. France by 9.

Previous results

2020: France won 38-21 in Paris
2020: France won 27-23 in Cardiff
2019: Wales won 20-19 in Oita
2019: Wales won 24-19 in Paris
2018: Wales won 14-13 in Cardiff
2017: France won 20-18 in Paris
2016: Wales won 19-10 in Cardiff
2015: Wales won 20-13 in Paris

The teams

France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Gael Fickou, 11 Damian Penaud, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon (c), 6 Dylan Cretin, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Romain Taofifenua, 3 Mohamed Haouas, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Swan Rebbadj, 20 Anthony Jelonch, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Romain Ntamack, 23 Arthur Vincent

Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 George North, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Josh Navidi, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Wyn Jones
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Leon Brown, 19 Cory Hill, 20 James Botham, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Uilisi Halaholo

Date: Saturday, March 20
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 GMT)
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (England), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Wayne Barnes (England)

 

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