PARIS — France soared to an Antoine Dupont-inspired 43-0 victory over Wales in Paris on Friday that proved they imply enterprise on this yr’s Six Nations.
Dupont, who skipped final yr’s championship to arrange for the Olympic Rugby Sevens event which France gained, delivered a hat trick of assists as Les Bleus handed Wales their thirteenth consecutive Take a look at defeat.
“We tailored to the circumstances within the rain and managed to get the bonus level, and a pleasant factors common,” Galthie mentioned.
Whereas they had been all the time going to be up towards it, Wales appeared calm underneath stress within the opening exchanges and defended bravely towards world class opposition.
Nevertheless, France quickly took management, and it was 20-year-old winger Theo Attissogbe who scored the primary factors of the Championship, due to a second of brilliance from Dupont. The France skipper nailed a pinpoint cross-field kick that discovered the younger winger in house on the correct hand aspect.
With the early nerves subsided, France quickly scored a second. This time they performed the ball via fast arms to the correct, the place left winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey had swooped across the again to select up the final cross and get a strive of his personal.
To compound Wales’ woes, centre Owen Watkin was compelled off after sustaining a knee damage. His absence compelled a reshuffle within the backline with Ben Thomas transferring to the midfield and Dan Edwards approaching for his debut to take over at No. 10.
Wales hooker Evan Lloyd survived a pink card scare after a shoulder to the pinnacle of Bielle-Biarrey. He was despatched to the sin bin however the offence wasn’t deemed worthy of an improve.
Whereas the guests had been all of the sudden treading water, France had been anticipating extra and their scintillating younger wingers supplied.
Dupont confirmed why he’s the participant everyone seems to be speaking about by splitting the Welsh defence down the center, discovering house on his personal earlier than handing off as soon as extra to Attissogbe.
To not be outdone, Bielle-Biarrey bought his second on the stroke of half-time as effectively, thanks once more to an exquisite extensive cross, this time to the left, from Dupont.
Fullback Thomas Ramos was good with the boot, giving the hosts a 28-0 lead on the break.
Whereas it was France’s silky abilities that helped them reap rewards within the first-half, their opening strive of the second got here through pure energy, producing a textbook maul from a lineout which Julien Marchand completed off.
In a close to mirror of their opening strive, Émilien Gailleton acquired a cross subject kick from returning fly-half Romain Ntamack as Wales, albeit not for need of making an attempt, crumbled.
Nevertheless, the temper shortly modified for Ntamack.
In his first take a look at since earlier than the 2023 World Cup, the No. 10 was proven a yellow for a shoulder to the pinnacle of Ben Thomas. Not like Lloyd’s within the first-half, Ntamack’s was upgraded to a pink card in what was one of many few black marks for a largely spectacular France outfit.
After a quick scuffle when tensions boiled over, the match simmered in direction of the tip as France picked up a bonus level, whereas Wales had been left licking their wounds as soon as extra as they registered a thirteenth straight loss.
“We tried to play some rugby, most likely on a few performs overplayed a bit of bit,” Wales coach Warren Gatland mentioned.
“I believed we scrummaged effectively and the forwards labored actually onerous, by way of making an attempt to get front-foot ball. However there is no excuses in regards to the end result. I believed we created a few alternatives and we did not end them.
“Most likely the penalty name wasn’t in our favour, I believed there have been a few powerful calls. We have simply bought to verify we get again on the horse and stay up for getting ready for subsequent week.”
France’s efficiency could have been eagerly watched by England, who host Les Bleus at Twickenham subsequent week, whereas Wales journey to Italy.
Info from Reuters contributed to this report
Additional studying:
– Why every crew will discover Six Nations success, and why they will not
– WATCH: Can Scotland win their first title since 1999? ESPN writers debate
– Six Nations and Girls’s Six Nations: Full fixture checklist
– Six Nations historical past, previous winners, extra