PARIS — France soared to an Antoine Dupont-inspired 43-0 victory over Wales in Paris on Friday that proved they imply enterprise on this 12 months’s Six Nations.
Dupont, who skipped final 12 months’s championship to organize for the Olympic Rugby Sevens event which France received, delivered a hat trick of assists as Les Bleus handed Wales their thirteenth consecutive Check 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 have been at all times going to be up towards it, Wales seemed calm below 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 fitting hand facet.
With the early nerves subsided, France quickly scored a second. This time they performed the ball by fast fingers to the fitting, the place left winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey had swooped across the again to choose up the final move and get a attempt of his personal.
To compound Wales’ woes, centre Owen Watkin was pressured off after sustaining a knee damage. His absence pressured 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 crimson 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 have been out of the blue treading water, France have been longing for extra and their scintillating younger wingers offered.
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 received his second on the stroke of half-time as nicely, thanks once more to an exquisite large move, this time to the left, from Dupont.
Fullback Thomas Ramos was excellent 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 attempt of the second got here through pure power, producing a textbook maul from a lineout which Julien Marchand completed off.
In a close to mirror of their opening attempt, Émilien Gailleton obtained a cross discipline 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. In contrast to Lloyd’s within the first-half, Ntamack’s was upgraded to a crimson 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 the direction of the tip as France picked up a bonus level, whereas Wales have been left licking their wounds as soon as extra as they registered a thirteenth straight loss.
The 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 listing
– Six Nations historical past, previous winners, extra
