France 28 - 9 Wales

Saturday 19 March 2011

Wales were outplayed by a very different French team to the one we saw in Rome last week. They picked up their tempo in the second half making them very dangerous opponents. Wales slipped down to fourth place with France taking second in the Six Nations table after losing to them by more than ten points.

Wales had a scrappy game, making far too many errors and an unfortunate sin-binning of James Hook cost Wales dearly.

First Half

An early penalty taken by James Hook gives Wales three points on the board as they will be looking to beat France by 27 points to win the Six Nations. France 0-3 Wales.

Wales give a penalty away for not rolling away and Morgan Parra takes the opportunity to level the scores instead of going for a scrum. France 3-3 Wales.

Matthew Rees finds Alun Wyn Jones at the line-out with Mike Phillips booting the ball down the pitch, Adam Jones goes down the short side, and with France off-side Hook looks to put Wales in the lead but the ball goes wide.

Sam Warburton is replaced by Jonathan Thomas due to a knee injury, a blow for Wales as Warburton has played well in previous games.

It is Wales' turn to give away a penalty with Francois Trinh-Duc, France eventually fumble the ball which is scooped up by Paul James.

Maxmim Medard and Vincent Clerc combine down the right wing before the ball is offloaded by Alexis Palisson.

Wales make a hash of things and give another penalty away for the ball carrier not releasing, and France go into the lead for the first time in the game with a neat kick from Parra. France 6-3 Wales.

The game is scrappy to say the least, Wales are conceding too many turnovers, having lost four, while France are just making handling errors.

Wales collapse a scrum giving France a penalty close to the touch-line, left-footed Parra slices the ball wide.

France come from deep with Wales giving a good chase which forces Medard to kick. Wales fumble and Lionel Nallet bulldozes over the line. Parra misses the conversion. France 11-3 Wales

France look more comfortable as the first half draws to a close, a half which has felt quite disjointed and frustrating.

France 11-3 Wales

Second Half

Hooks gets the second half under way for Wales within three minutes of the re-start putting Wales within a try of their opponents. France 11-6 Wales.

A clearance kick from Hook is charged down by Julien Pierre, Nallet gets the ball and charges over the line for his second try of the game. Nallet is the first French second rower to score two tries in a Six Nations match. Parra manages the extra's this time giving France a lead that could put them in second place. France 18-6 Wales.

Wales are not going to win this game by 27 points, so the race is well and truly on for second place in the table, Wales need to start taking opportunities.

A beautiful strike from Hook gives Wales another three points on the board, two penalties have gone their way less than ten minutes into the second half. France 18-9 Wales.

France keep the score board ticking after Parra kicks three points for the home side one. France 21-9 Wales

John Yapp replaces Alun Wyn Jones for Wales, Yapp tends to make an impact when he comes on the field so Wales will be hoping for that.

Tempo has picked up at Stade de France with France and they charge in to the Wales 22, Traille attempts a drop-goal but slices it high and wide.

Lee Byrne has a great run with the ball, getting to the edge of the 22, but the ball is then spilt by Bradley Davies and France clear it.

Hook is sin-binned for a dangerous tackle, a massive decision which could be monumental for the game and cost Wales.

Clerc goes over for France's third try just moments after the sin-binning with Parra adding the extras, France moving out of Wales sight on the score board. France 28-9 Wales.

Wales spice things up a little bit, with a man down they manage to get within two metres of the try line but Jonathan Davies is hauled down short. France get a penalty out of it, and the opportunity is gone for Wales.

George North breaks through the French cover and makes it 30 yards before he is hauled down. The ball goes forward and Wales have lost possession again.

Stephen Jones comes on for Hook once his sin-binning is over, while Mike Phillips is replaced by Dwayne Peel and Richard Hibbard replaces Rees.

Clerc gets close to the Wales line but end up short before his knee goes out of touch. Line out to Wales, five metres out. With just three minutes left of the clock France have already done what they need to.

Full Time

France 28 Wales 9

Wales went to France with a slim chance of winning the championship, and ended up coming fourth despite three wins. They will be disappointed with the game, and the costly decision by the ref to sin-bin James Hook. France will be happy with the win after last week shock defeat by Italy last weekend.

Man of the Match: Lionel Nallet - A superb performance from the French second rower, with two crucial tries for the home side.

France 28 (11)

Tries: Nallet (2), Clerc

Conversions: Parra (2)

Penalties: Parra (3)

Wales 9 (3)

Penalties: Hook (3)

France: M.Medard, V.Clerc, D.Marty, D.Traille, 11-Alexis Palisson, F.Trinh-Duc, M.Parra; T.Domingo, W.Servat, N.Mas, J.Pierre, L.Nallet, T.Dusautoir (C), J.Bonnaire, I.Harinordoquy.

Replacements: G.Guirado, L.Ducalcon, P.Pape, A.Lapandry, J.Tomas, F.Estebanez, Y.Huget.

Wales: 15-Lee Byrne, 14-Leigh Halfpenny, 1J.Roberts, J.Davies, G.North, J.Hook, M.Phillips; P.James, M.Rees (C), A.Jones, B.Davies, A.Wyn Jones, D.Lydiate, S.Warburton, R.Jones.

Replacements: R.Hibbard, J.Yapp, J.Thomas, R.McCusker, D.Peel, S.Jones, M.Stoddart