1: France Vs Wales
France Vs Wales
It was the Stade de France on 31 January 2025, when France thrashed Wales by a huge margin of 43-0 in the opening match of the Six Nations Championship. The French exhibited an unparalleled display of world-class skills and teamwork and made the Welsh side stick throughout the match.
From the early moments of the game, France made its intentions known. Young winger Théo Attissogbe, just 20 years old, and arguably the greatest debutant of the tournament, scored his first try, marking the beginning of what turned out to be a rather long and exhausting night for the Welsh. That such an early effort would not have been missed in topping off that of France’s deeper bench and emerging young talent in the international arena.
It was Antoine Dupont who assumed orchestrating the French attack. The scrum-half’s vision and precision were fully recognized as he made a magnificently choreographed play creating possibilities, and penetrating gaps within the Welsh defense with the assistance of top-performing fly-half Romain Ntamack to conclude in several scoring opportunities left on the Welsh defense scrambling.
A noticeable absence in Wales’ efforts was that of head coach Warren Gatland. There were all the young infractions by which they ruled against key referee decisions, further influencing their cause. With defeat becoming catastrophic for Gatland, he would, however, find something positive in the team’s performance regarding the strength of their scrum and some aspects of the defense. He stated that the match with Italy would be very important in the development and morale of the team.
The match also went to Spain’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who just like Attissogbe earned himself a double, extending France’s lead further. French forwards were able to dominate over the set-pieces to leave a very strong platform for the backs to implement their fine-tuning of plays. This performance underscores France’s considerable strength as an emerging contender for this year’s championship.
For Wales
This was his 13th defeat during his stint under Gatland, raising concern as they prepare to face Italy on a critical away date against Rome. Injuries to key players: Aaron Wainwright and Owen Watkin, added to their problems and made it all the harder for the disheveled team to pull themselves together into tournament form.
Looking ahead
The massive victory sends a loud and clear message to the rest of the telling opponents. Next, France will be playing England at Twickenham. Given their current form, France will be hoping to build on their momentum and pursue Six Nations glory.
In conclusion
Actually, France against Wales was a clear reflection of a team rising, against another transitioning. This combination of the new breed and the experience at France proved too much for Wales, which is struggling with injuries and inexperience. Such will be the hopes of both teams as the tournament progresses: that they might address their challenges, France maintaining high standards and Wales seeking to improve. See more
FAQ’s:
When was and where did the last meeting between France and Wales take place?
The last one occurred at the Stade de France, Paris on January 31, 2025.
What happened in that match last time?
The first of the 2025 Six Nations Championship matches was attended, during which Wales were blown away by France losing to an unheard score of 43-0.
Who were the star performers for the final match?
Antoine Dupont was unbelievably fantastic, linking in three of France`s first four tries, while Theo Attissogbe and Louis Bielle-Biarrey closely followed behind with two tries apiece.
Where do you find highlights or replays to this match?
Generally, it is easy to find highlights or replays on official Six Nations platforms, sport channels and their respective websites. The matches are streamed in the USA using Peacock.
What is the history for France playing Wales in rugby?
According to the records up to January 31, 2025, France will meet Wales on 105 occasions, and both France and Wales could boast of 51 wins each, alongside three draws. It has seen a highly competitive series in history.
Would new rules for this edition of the Championship now apply?
There were indeed new rules that were rolled out in the course of this tournament in 2025, one of which is the introduction of 20-minute red cards for accidental head contact, new offside lines for scrums, shot clock for conversions, and new protocols, all of which dealt specifically with aerial contests and line-out technology.
What’s next in the schedule for France and Wales during this 2025 edition of the Six Nations?
The next clash on the calendar will see France battle England, while the other match pits Wales against Italy. See more
