France kicked off their Six Nations campaign with a thriller, defeating Wales 43-0 at the Stade de France on Friday night. Antoine Dupont made headlines with his dazzling return to international rugby, leading the French side to a commanding victory over their old rivals.
Returning to the championship after missing last year's tournament to prepare for the Paris Olympics, Dupont didn't take long to remind everyone of his immense talent. France's captain was heavily involved throughout the match, contributing to many of his team's tries as they decimated Wales, who struggled to keep up.
From the outset, it was clear France had arrived with intent—desperate to assert their dominance early on. The first breakthrough came from Dupont's extraordinary skill set; he executed an impeccable cross-field kick to Théo Attissogbé, who scored the first try of the championship at just 18 minutes. Thomas Ramos added the conversion, putting France up 7-0.
Just minutes later, Dupont showcased his ability again. He set up Louis Bielle-Biarrey for the French second try, making it 14-0 before Wales' woes worsened. Owen Watkin, Wales' center, was sidelined due to injury, forcing them to shuffle their lineup and introduce debutant Dan Edwards.
This unfortunate turn of events contributed to Wales' difficulties. The pressure mounted when France capitalized on their mistakes. A high tackle from Evan Lloyd resulted in a yellow card, leaving Wales momentarily down to 14 men. Dupont seized the opportunity, weaving through the fragmented defense and assisting Attissogbé for his second try, extending France's lead to 21-0.
Wales managed to hold on, but as the first half wore on, the gap widened. Shortly before halftime, Dupont again displayed his extraordinary vision, floating a wide pass to Bielle-Biarrey, who scored again. With Ramos' conversion, France was up 28-0 at the break, leaving Welsh fans disheartened as they entered the locker rooms.
After halftime, the match witnessed France continuing their offensive onslaught. Dupont, who had already influenced the game significantly, was substituted ten minutes after the restart, sparking some debate about whether it was premature. His coach Fabien Galthie, clearly confident with the game well in hand, opted to save his captain for tougher challenges ahead, particularly next week’s clash at Twickenham against England.
The only worry for the French side was fly-half Romain Ntamack, who would later be sent off after his shoulder made contact with Ben Thomas’ head. What initially appeared to be just a yellow card was upgraded following video review, making it one of the few blots on otherwise spotless performance.
Despite losing Ntamack, France continued to press forward. Replacement hooker Julien Marchand added the fifth try, coming from a well-executed maul, followed by Émilien Gailleton reaching over the line for the sixth—efforts punctuated by Ramos’ perfect kicking throughout. The scoreboard showed 43-0 by the time Gregory Alldritt capped the night with the final unconverted try.
Sadly for Wales, the match marked Warren Gatland's 150th game as head coach—an occasion marred by the largest defeat his team has suffered against France in Paris. The Welsh squad, now under serious scrutiny, will be heading to Rome next week to face Italy, desperate to snap their losing streak which has now reached 13 matches.
The performance exhibited by both teams on Friday night has set the tone for the remainder of the tournament. France's formidable showing underscored their status as favorites for the Six Nations, boasting depth and talent—especially with Dupont leading the charge. Meanwhile, Wales will have to recover quickly, finding ways to rediscover their winning ways after suffering not only defeat but also their first scoreless outing against France.
Overall, France's victory was not just about the scoreboard; it was about the statement they made. With Antoine Dupont orchestrally conducting their every move, the French team has illustrated they are very much back and ready for the challenges to come.