Wales’ poor Six Nations marketing campaign resulted in predictable style as France inflicted a 41-28 defeat on Warren Gatland’s group.
Les Bleus ensured the title race with leaders and favourites Ireland ran its distance, as Wales offered some vibrant moments however have been in the end overpowered, with the Irish left needing victory over England to be topped champions.
Every week after demolishing England at Twickenham, France at occasions staged one other thrilling spectacle of whole rugby to triumph in bonus-point style.
Wales led by way of an early George North strive that Dan Biggar transformed, but France proved unstoppable on the events they reached for the turbo button.
Wing Damian Penaud (2), centres Jonathan Danty and Gael Fickou scored tries, along with prop Uini Atonio, with full-back Thomas Ramos kicking 5 conversions and two penalties.
Wales, to their credit score, saved going within the second half and there have been tries for replacements Bradley Roberts and Tomos Williams, and wing Rio Dyer, whereas Biggar added two extra conversions and Leigh Halfpenny one to make sure a shedding bonus-point.
But, in the end, it was a Six Nations marketing campaign that produced 4 defeats and a fifth-place end, whereas it can most likely be remembered above anything for the specter of a gamers’ strike – albeit averted – over off-field points forward of a house recreation in opposition to England.
Wales have simply three video games left earlier than their World Cup opener in opposition to Fiji in Bordeaux and Gatland has an enormous quantity of labor forward.
Wales slipped to defeat in Paris
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Gatland made six modifications to his beginning line-up, together with vastly-experienced trio Biggar, George North and lock Alun Wyn Jones, whereas quantity eight Taulupe Faletau received his a hundredth cap.
France welcomed again Atonio after suspension, with Romain Taofifenua taking up from lock Paul Willemse, who was sidelined as a result of a hamstring harm.
Wales made a assured begin, driving a third-minute lineout from shut vary, however France managed to carry the ball up and escaped conceding a rating.
But Wales have been forward simply 5 minutes later, sustaining relentless stress and patiently constructing phase-play earlier than scrum-half Rhys Webb’s defence-splitting move despatched North over for a strive that Biggar transformed.
France shortly drew stage, although, when fly-half Romain Ntamack break up open Wales’ defence and skipper Antoine Dupont threw out an extended ball to Penaud, who scored, with Ramos’ conversion making it 7-7.
Wales weren’t daunted by the opposition they usually continued to dominate territory and possession, even when France’s scrum started exerting some stress.
Alun Wyn Jones then went off for a head harm evaluation, being changed by Exeter’s Dafydd Jenkins, and Ramos kicked a 35-metre penalty to nudge France forward.
Wales encountered growing problem within the scrums and a second Ramos penalty in 4 minutes pushed France out to a 13-7 benefit.
France now had the bit between their enamel and a second strive arrived six minutes earlier than half-time following extra sharp work by Dupont.
France confirmed flashes of unbelievable play within the snug win
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Although Wales averted preliminary hazard, France’s persistence and accuracy meant they nonetheless had the guests in bother and Danty touched down within the nook, with Ramos changing.
Wales’ early promise and spark had disappeared as France moved by way of the gears, leaving Gatland’s males with a mountain to climb, trailing by 13 factors on the interval.
Wales have been instantly on the again foot after half-time and it took France simply 4 minutes to tug additional away.
Dupont was usually on the coronary heart of sustained assaults and Wales ran out of defensive numbers as Atonio scored from shut vary. Ramos’ conversion opened a 20-point hole between the perimeters.
It was instantly harm limitation for the guests, with France securing a bonus-point by way of Fickou’s Forty ninth-minute attempt to one other Ramos conversion made it 34-7.
Wales gained some comfort by way of Roberts’ 56th-minute strive – his first Test landing – and Biggar’s conversion introduced the deficit again to twenty factors.
Prop Dillon Lewis received his fiftieth cap when he changed Tomas Francis, then Williams added a 3rd strive for Wales, once more transformed by Biggar, however the harm had lengthy been carried out.
