France delivered a stunning opening performance at the Six Nations, demolishing Wales 43-0 at the Stade de France, marking the Welsh team's 13th straight Test defeat and setting the stage for one of the most lopsided matches the tournament has ever seen.
The match on January 31, 2025, saw the French squad, captained by the illustrious Antoine Dupont, showcase their dominance, securing victory with relative ease, as Wales faltered under pressure, failing to score for the first time ever against France in the Six Nations.
Antoine Dupont, making his return to the Six Nations after missing the previous tournament due to his focus on Olympic preparations, was at the heart of France's attacking prowess. He was not just effective but extraordinary, providing three assists, rightfully earning praise as he orchestrated Les Bleus' offensive strategy throughout the match.
The opening exchanges showed some promise for Wales, with their experienced backs, Liam Williams and Josh Adams, initially instilling hope. But this positivity was short-lived as Dupont's penetrating style began to unravel the Welsh defense. Just 18 minutes in, he executed a sublime cross-field kick, landing perfectly for Theo Attissogbe, who darted over the line for the first try of the evening.
Five minutes later, Dupont's vision and precision shone again as he linked up with Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who made the most of his opportunity to score. Soon after, Wales' troubles compounded when Owen Watkin left the field with knee issues, forcing tactical changes just as France began to find their rhythm. With the score at 14-0, the tide firmly turned against Wales.
Wales' defense, already strained, saw hooker Evan Lloyd sin-binned for a high tackle on Bielle-Biarrey. Dupont capitalized on the growing chaos, and Attissogbe soon found himself crossing the line once more, putting France comfortably at 21-0. Their relentless attack culminated with another picturesque assist from Dupont to Bielle-Biarrey, leaving Wales facing an uphill struggle at 28-0 by halftime.
Despite trailing considerably, Wales made significant efforts to fight back early in the second half but quickly succumbed to the inevitable. French substitutes poured onto the field, maintaining relentless pressure. Julien Marchand scored from close range only nine minutes after the break, and Emilien Gailleton followed up shortly with another try as the French admirably retained their dominant grip on the game.
Things took a turn for the worse for France when Romain Ntamack, celebrating his return to the international arena, received a red card late on for dangerous play. His absence looms large as France prepares to face England next week. Nevertheless, Wales' misery continued as Gregory Alldritt powered through for the final score, rounding off the night with France triumphing 43-0.
This defeat has placed massive scrutiny on Warren Gatland's future, marking his 150th match as head coach for Wales after returning to the role. "I think we started off alright, we tried to play some rugby... But there are no excuses about the results," said Gatland, hinting at the disappointing performance and the need for considerable improvement.
Wales captain Jac Morgan reflected on the match, lamenting the lack of discipline during their performance. "Discipline probably let us down quite a bit... against a team like France, they capitalise on your ill discipline and your mistakes," he quoted, emphasizing the way their errors were ruthlessly punished by the French side.
Looking forward, both teams have upcoming important matches, with Wales set to travel to Italy next week, hoping to turn around what has been a disheartening tournament start. France on the other hand, will look to extend their winning streak against England, showcasing their status as one of the favorites for the Six Nations title.
The stakes are high, and with France's recent performance, they enter the next encounters with confidence, leaving Wales to reconsider their strategies as they strive to recover from what has proven to be one of their most challenging starts to the championship.