Wales v France Live response as French staff crush Welsh in second-half

That is it for as we speak. Follow all of the latest rugby information from the Six Nations on our rugby pages right here.

Wales stay winless within the Six Nations after a 45-24 defeat to France on the Principality Stadium.

Warren Gatland’s aspect performed effectively for 50 minutes, placing themselves into the lead, however fell brief towards a particularly highly effective French pack. Wales scored three tries courtesy of Rio Dyer, Tomos Williams, and Joe Roberts however capitulated within the closing quarter of the sport.

Defeat means Wales should beat Italy subsequent week to keep away from a primary Wooden Spoon since 2003. Rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas palms out the scores right here. Do you agree?

Rugby author Steffan Thomas was within the stadium for the sport. This is his view of how the sport went, learn his match report right here.

He says: “Warren Gatland’s aspect battled laborious and requested loads of questions of their guests in attack, however finally acquired battered into submission by a stronger aspect who ran out 45-24 winners.”

The press convention has come to an finish however Warren Gatland was requested some essential questions on the finish.

What do you make of France?

“They have been a staff who have been somewhat bit down on confidence. We felt if we performed effectively, we have been ok to win. We have been in entrance for lengthy durations. They’ll be fairly glad they acquired a win and a bonus level.”

Why did you modify half-backs early?

“Just contemporary legs. I assumed Gareth Davies would supply one thing totally different in defence. Ioan has moved the ball effectively in attack. I assumed Sam Costelow did effectively as we speak. We’ve labored effectively with him.”

What concerning the attack?

“We created some house and that was the most important factor. When you’re taking part in towards France, in the event you maintain the ball for greater than 5 phases, you are likely to create alternatives. There have been some good issues from an attacking perspective. But we made some errors. “

What do you make of the Italian efficiency yesterday?

“I assumed it was efficiency from Italy. Good for the match as effectively, having lots of groups below strain and creating jeopardy. They’ve been good staying within the struggle, preserving the scoreboard ticking over. Physically, they give the impression of being good at this degree. It’s going to be a problem for us and it’ll be large for them, pondering they will end of their finest ever position. It turns into fairly essential for us.”

Warren Gatland was requested about accidents toTommy Reffell and Joe Roberts accidents.

He stated: “Not too dangerous. Joe simply twisted his ankle.Tommy took a knock to the knee.”

Captain Dafydd Jenkins is now requested the place it went mistaken?

He stated: “It was these little errors in the direction of the top of the sport. You’ve acquired to come back alive as athletes in the direction of the top of the sport.”

Asked about subsequent week, he stated: “It’s enormous. Huge for me as a participant and big for us as a bunch.”

He was additionally requested about beginning within the again row and stated: “Obviously having high quality gamers like Reffell and Wainwright helped. I actually loved it. Extremely upset to not get the win.”

Gatland was requested once more concerning the significance of subsequent week’s sport towards Italy.

He stated: “It’s large. But we’ve acquired to be excited by that. We’ve acquired to embrace that problem. You can’t go into your shell. There’s going to be lots of strain. We’ve acquired to embrace it and entrance up. There have been plenty of components of that sport that have been moderately good.”

He was additionally requested: “Haven’t completed backside in 21 years – how do you deal with that?”

Gatland replied: “I believe by embracing it and never hiding away from it. We stated afterwards we must be higher, particularly in these large moments.”

He added: “The scrum struggled fairly a bit within the first-half. The gamers are studying as you go. Some of that’s about working laborious with the ball. I assumed we have been pleased with carrying. Defensively, we didn’t have as a lot line velocity as we wished. That’s one thing we’ve acquired to proceed to work on. Just a number of issues for us to maintain working at. We’re developing towards a giant ahead pack.”

Gatland was additionally requested if it was an influence sport?

He stated: “There’s little question that influence and dimension was coming off their bench. We thought we have been creating house and holes after 5 – 6 phases. But we didn’t assist ourselves with some simple turnovers.”

Asked about what he was happy with, he stated: “The pleasing factor was we seemed harmful after we saved the ball. We simply have to handle the sport somewhat bit higher in these moments.”

Manager Warren Gatland and captain Dafydd Jenkins are chatting with the press after the sport.

Gatland was first requested right here all of it went mistaken?

He stated: “The final quarter-hour. You may have a look at all of the video games the place we put groups below strain and we didn’t handle it once more as we speak. We had a turnover they usually ended up scoring. Those video games the place you say keep within the struggle and don’t give away something gentle. We overplayed a bit and gave them one thing gentle. We have to study rapidly about dealing with these moments.”

The disappointment on the pitch has not put the followers off having time in Cardiff.

Here are simply a number of the good outfits from as we speak.

Wales supervisor Warren Gatland has been chatting with the BBC’s Sonja McLaughlan after the sport.

He stated: “It is disappointing as there have been some gentle factors that got away. We in all probability damage ourselves by not managing the sport correctly within the final interval.

“They put our scrum below strain. Something we now have been working laborious on however not there in the meanwhile. I assumed our line out was glorious. We did not assist ourselves by a number of the errors we made.”

Speaking concerning the sport towards Italy subsequent week, he stated: “It is an enormous sport for us, however you’ll be able to’t disguise away from it. There can be lots of exterior strain and we perceive that. It is about stepping up and ensuring we study from the issues we now have been doing. We have gamers who are usually not fairly prepared but, some are usually not fairly prepared but at this degree and they have to study very, in a short time what Test Match rugby is about. How it’s important to be correct and keep within the struggle. We have to ensure we’re a bit extra scientific for longer durations so we preserve enhancing.”

Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins has additionally been interviewed after the sport.

He stated: “We felt that the French have been fatigued in a while. They have a giant pack and it did not go to plan. We will have a look at it and are available again subsequent week. They are large males and we knew that was coming. We have been excited concerning the bodily battle however we got here off second finest as we speak and we’re not glad about it. We are actually annoyed.

“We give every thing week in and week out. I do not suppose fatigue will ever be an element. Everyone loves their nation and can give every thing for his or her nation. Next week is very large for us. We do not wish to be backside. We should mirror on this sport and get higher.”

Talking concerning the bodily batter, Sam Warburton stated after the sport: “You do not win the bodily sport amd you do not win the sport. Wales are missing that dimension in comparison with France.

“They coped with it so much higher. You noticed the warning indicators within the first half, it did really feel a matter of time earlier than France took management.”

Big shift right here from Wales and young Evan Lloyd.

WAL 24-40 FRA

G Davies tap-and-go ignites a Welsh attack, earlier than D Lewis drops the ball. Not the most effective offload although.

Scrum time now.

WAL 24-40 FRA

Evan Lloyd on for Elliot Dee.

Unfortunate for Wales there as Gareth Davies drops the ball.

Scrum France.

WAL 24-23 FRA

Mason Grady on for Roberts.

WAL 24-23 FRA

France make an enormous break via Penaud and many Welsh gamers are caught offisde within the course of.

Les Bleus are going for the sticks.

WAL 24-20 FRA

France concede a scrum penalty, and that’s completely essential for Wales.

Dillon Lewis has been exemplary since he got here on.

WAL 24-20 FRA

Ioan Lloyd for Costelow.

Gareth Davies for T Williams.

Alex Mann off for Reffell.

Alldritt spilled it on the grounding.

Penalty to France although, nonetheless.

France going for the scrum once more.

WAL 24-20 FRA

It seems Alldritt drops the ball on the grounding.

WAL 24-20 FRA

Inevitable from France as their bundle over via their openside flanker.

WAL 24-20 FRA

Penalty benefit after penalty benefit there as Wales simply handle to carry out regardless of the French surge.

A aspect entry from Wales contributed to their downfall there.

France going for the scrum, unsurprisngly, only a few metres out.

WAL 24-20 FRA

The French have a scrum on the correct of the sphere close to the Welsh 22.

Pearce took a bump from a French participant within the build as much as that.

WAL 24-20 FRA

Since Dillon Lewis got here on, the scrum has been strong from Warren Gatland’s males.

WAL 24-20 FRA

Keiron Assiratti off for Dillon Lewis.

WAL 24-20 FRA

• 2012 – Wales 16-9 France
• 2013 – France 6-16 Wales
• 2014 – Wales 27-6 France
• 2015 – France 13-20 Wales
• 2016 – Wales 19-10 France
• 2017 – France 20-18 Wales
• 2018 – Wales 14-13 France
• 2019 – France 19-24 Wales
• 2020 – Wales 23-27 France
• 2021 – France 32-30 Wales
• 2022 – Wales 9-13 France
• 2023 – France 41-28 Wales

“It’s a wonderful sport, so entertaining however France will get a rocket from Shaun Edwards at half time. Some of their inside defence hasn’t been ok.

“Wales are inflicting them issues significantly Rio Dyer and Tomos Williams whereas Owen Watkin has seemed robust.”

Here are a number of the finest snaps from the opening 40 minutes.

French scrum now.

WAL 17-20 FRA

Into the final two minutes now of the primary half.

Wales have a lineout affter Costelow pinged it into contact on the left hand aspect.

WAL 17-20 FRA

Dee and Co. nail the lineout close to their very own whitewash, earlier than a pleasant inside offload sees Wales purpose for a size of area break.

Aaron Wainwright sadly spills the ball although.

WAL 17-20 FRA

This sport is kind of one thing.

Absolutely loopy opening levels right here, with tries galore and and a few nice expertise on present.

WAL 17-20 FRA

“France look vulnerable when Wales undergo the phases and once more it is the within defence.

“Owen Watkin goes straight via after two missed tackles and Shaun Edwards won’t be pleased with this defence.”