Wales 9-13 France: Anthony Jelonch’s try gives Fabien Galthié’s side win

France’s Grand Slam bid rolls on. Now only England can deny them a first Six Nations clean sweep and Championship title since 2010 when the two sides meet in Paris a week today (SAT).

It will take something special for Les Bleus to be denied. They did not have things all their own way in Cardiff last night (FRI) and in fact, this was not a particularly good France performance.

Yet still, for all their resilience, Wales could not deny them. This was a contrast in styles, Wayne Pivac’s hosts dragging their opposition down to their level by kicking astutely throughout. 

Dan Biggar put in a solid performance but wasn’t able to stop his side from falling to defeat

They forced France into mistakes and plenty of them. They had one chance to spring a shock in the second half, but it was blown by Jonathan Davies and France escaped with victory. Wales’ display should give England hope of an upset in Paris because here they put a gaping hole in France’s aura.

On paper, this looked like it would be a mismatch. One thing in Wales’ favour was home advantage and yet Principality Stadium – as expected – was far from full.A combination of a Friday night kick-off, extortionate ticket prices and poor late-night public transport combined to leave huge swathes of empty seats.

The crowd might have been disappointing from a Welsh perspective, but the Grand Slam-chasing French had travelled in large numbers. La Marseillaise was by far the louder of the two anthems. Allez les Bleus reverberated round the Welsh rugby cauldron as Melvyn Jaminet and Dan Biggar swapped early penalties. It didn’t take long for Fabien Galthie’s side to burst into life.

Jaminet ended a game of kick tennis with a searing run and found the returning Gabin Villiere in support. Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams suffered a nasty head blow trying to stem the French attack and was clearly staggering around with the effects of a possible concussion.

As the Wales medical staff tried to remove Williams from the field, France spread the ball back left. Gael Fickou was the glue in midfield as Jaminet sent Anthony Jelonch over in the corner.

Jaminet didn’t miss the kick. Williams went straight off after the try to be replaced by Kieran Hardy. After initially missing prop Tomas Francis’ head knock against England, Wales’ medical team reacted far quicker to the Williams incident but the player didn’t help himself by trying to fight off their help.

France extended their lead at the top of the Six Nations table while Wales sit second last

Wales also temporarily lost prop Gareth Thomas to a head injury after Biggar had kicked a second penalty. Even with their scrum in reverse against the might of Cyril Baille and Uini Atonio, Wales somehow stayed in the battle. 

In Taulupe Faletau, they had a No 8 who refused to take a backward step. Sheer brilliance from Antoine Dupont sent Yoram Moefana away, but Biggar responded with a sublime 50:22 kick and a simple penalty which left his team in touch at the break.

Jaminet had tried an optimistic drop goal at the end of the first half. It was, perhaps, an indication that France had been ever so slightly rattled. Wales were certainly hunting blue shirts.

Biggar led from the front, playing with brain as well as brawn, but Jaminet kicked the first points of the second period after Adam Beard was offside. Biggar continued to lead Wales’ kicking game. The ball went to the sky with regularity and there seemed a clear tactic to target Jaminet.

Despite the low scoring nature of the game, it was a thrilling contest at Principality Stadium

Heavy rain had fallen in Cardiff ahead of kick-off and with the stadium roof open, France struggled to rule the skies in admittedly difficult conditions. They also coughed up some easy penalties which only served to further enthuse Wales at the hour mark. Galthie looked far from impressed.

Wales’ tactical approach was right on the money. The irony was that for all the innovation Pivac has tried to bring to Wales since taking charge, this was a Welsh performance straight out of the Warren Gatland playbook.

If he had been watching this at home in New Zealand, Pivac’s predecessor would surely have raised a smile. Then came the moment Wales had been waiting for. Their two star men combined, Biggar cross-kicking to Faletau who passed inside to centre Davies. With the line gaping, the ball didn’t stick. It was a golden opportunity crucially missed. 

Davies was immediately replaced by Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams moved into the midfield as Romain Ntamack was again awry with a French drop goal attempt. Galthie’s men just couldn’t break clear. But at the same time, neither could Wales break down a wall of blue despite all their efforts. The Welsh supporters who did show finally woke up late on.

Their team fought all the way to the end. Adams steamed on to a Biggar pass and Gareth Anscombe was introduced in a search of a greater attacking threat, but it was not to be. Davies’ drop was their moment and it was one they passed up.