PARIS — Was anybody else ever actually going to steal the present within the Six Nations’ curtain-raiser?
Antoine Dupont took centre stage with ease on Friday night time in Paris as France cruised to a 43-0 victory over Wales, reaffirming their title credentials. For his half, Dupont additionally confirmed what everybody already knew: he’s the person of the second and does not appear like stopping any time quickly.
The electrical scrum-half regarded to have nabbed the primary factors of the championship himself, taking a fast faucet penalty earlier than darting underneath the posts after simply three minutes to convey the Stade de France trustworthy to their ft, earlier than he was proven to be held up. Both method, it was a warning to Wales and the remainder of the competitors.
If his masterful cross-field kick to arrange Théo Attissogbé for his or her opening attempt does not give opposition coaches and gamers nightmares, the benefit with which he carved open the Wales defence on his strategy to organising his aspect’s third attempt certainly will. His three attempt assists on Friday took him to twenty general within the Six Nations, transferring him away from former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar and equal second with Scotland’s Finn Russell on the all-time record.
The ominous factor is, it wasn’t simply Dupont who caught worry into the opposition. The bundle of vitality that’s winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey was as energetic as ever and nipped over for 2 tries. Attissogbé, who had large sneakers to fill changing the injured Damien Penaud, greater than rose to the event with two of his personal. The depth of this French aspect is rising they usually go into video games understanding they’ve payers scattered throughout the sphere who can produce particular person flashes of brilliance on the drop of a hat.
Whereas they weren’t excellent — with 16 dealing with errors and 15 turnovers conceded — that could possibly be put right down to the rust that usually comes within the opening match of a Six Nations marketing campaign. The very fact is, France are the actual deal.
For Wales, it is the identical previous script and the numbers aren’t fairly — seven tries in opposition to, zero scored. 12 penalties conceded. The defeat was their thirteenth in a row and marked the primary time since 2002-03 they’ve misplaced seven straight Six Nations matches. Additionally it is the primary time Wales have failed to attain within the championship since 1998.
The shortage of expertise was clear once more for Warren Gatland’s aspect, however he remained upbeat about their efforts and intent. “In all probability once they look again, there have been instances the place we have gone three or 4 phases and have not acquired something out of it and possibly we have carried on making an attempt to play and ended up going nowhere,” Gatland instructed a submit match information convention. “I do not assume it is a utterly unhealthy night time of the workplace as a result of there have been components of that recreation the place we have been good.”
As for the positives, Gatland’s aspect defended bravely and did look to run the ball once they might, however they did not come near penetrating the French defence. Nonetheless, they confirmed all of the grit and coronary heart that Welsh followers would have needed to see from their aspect.
“We have to get that monkey off our again in the intervening time, however I need to have a look at these forwards and have a look at the best way they stored carrying and the best way they stored defending,” Gatland mentioned. “They gave it every part however we’d like to ensure we’re sensible by way of the best way that we play to hopefully get that win subsequent week in Rome.”
Centre Owen Watkin will nearly actually miss the essential journey to Italy subsequent week, as will Aaron Wainwright who suffered a head damage. Regardless, Wales are in determined want of a win earlier than any extra harm is completed. France will take to Twickenham, the place they ran out 53-10 winners in opposition to England of their final Six Nations conflict.
To not fear England followers, however Dupont wasn’t unhealthy in that recreation, both.
Additional studying:
– Why every staff 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 record
– Six Nations historical past, previous winners, extra
