RUGBY Live

Finished

France 21 - Wales 16

France

Wales

43 comments | Write your comment

  1. France end Welsh Grand Slam hopes

    France end Welsh Grand Slam hopes

    France ended Wales' hopes of a second consecutive Grand Slam with a deserved 21-16 victory in a pulsating night game in Paris. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:80'
    • France
    • Wales
    • 80' Wales throw long but ball is knocked on, France win ball and kick to touch. France win 21-16. Wales Grand Slam dream over and France right back in the hunt. Thanks for joining us.
    • 79' Wales win lineout but knock on in tackle. Ref plays advantage as France hack downfield. Wales retain possession but Williams is clobbered. France concede penalty and Wales kick again into France 22. One last chance. Last play of the game!
    • 78' Wales held up a metre short, Henson almost free but is pulled down just short. France force turnover - looks like Medard - and clear to touch on 22 line. Hook maybe should have gone on his own.
    • 77' Williams wins ball and bursts clear from lineout. The flanker is stopped a metre short, Wales recycle and France concede penalty. Wales kick for lineout 2m from France try-line.
    • 75' Fantastic from Williams as he sneaks in and steals ball and forces France to conded penalty. Wales can now kick downfield for field position, which Hook does superbly. Lineout Wales 10m from France try-line. Superb chance for Wales.
    • 74' High ball from Hook but there's no-one chasing and Heymans replies. Wales try to move it wide but Bastareaud smashes Williams and Wales forced to kick downfield.
    • 73' Lovely strike by Hook and Wales' Grand Slam hopes still alive. Seven minutes to overturn a 21-16 deficit.
    • 72' Great line by Byrne and full-back almost clear but stunning tackle by Dusautoir stops scoring chance. But France concede penalty and Hook now has chance to bring Wales back to within one score. Not an easy chance but he needs to make it.
    • 71' Wales have it all to do now but it's difficult to see where their inspiration is going to come from. France have their tails up and are playing with confidence.
    • 70' Huge kick for teenager Parra. He has to turn France pressure into points. This time he does as he kick creeps over from the 10-yard line. France lead 21-13.
    • 69' Jauzion again stretches Wales midfield and France win penalty for tackle off the ball. Hook is on for Jones as Wales look for a moment of inspiration.
    • 68' France retain possession and feed Trinh-Duc in the pocket, but fly-half misses his drop on goal. Again Wales let off. France should be nine points clear by now but Wales still only a score behind, as Heymans takes loose ball and chips into Wales 22.
    • 66' Jauzion bursts clear, feeds Nallett and it takes a superb tackle from Martyn Williams to stop the France skipper. But France continue to attack and Wales' Grand Slam hopes are hanging by a thread.
    • 65' Big kick from Parra but his effort hits post and Wales let off the hook. France stay 18-13 ahead.
    • 65' Szarwewski off and Kayser on.
    • 63' Good tackle from Henson forces France backwards. Harinordoquy again takes high ball and France kick downfield. Wales try to counter but France tackling is good and they force another penalty for Peel holding on. Chance to move two scores clear.
    • 61' France again feed Bastareaud out wide and the big centre makes outside break but big tackle forces knock-on.
    • 60' Parra box kick and Shane Williams knocks on. The pressure is starting to show on Wales now and France have scrum just outside their 22.
    • 60' Nice clearance by Peel into France half. Can Wales regather their composure and get something out of this game? They have 20 minutes to do it.
    • 58' Wales being forced into playing behind gain line by strong France defence. Byrne takes huge up and under and Jones kicks downfield. Heymans finds nice touch in Wales 22. Wales take quick throw and lucky to get away with it in face of France tackling! Dangerous period of the match this for Wales as France find another touch in their 22.
    • 54' Gatland brings on Henson for Shanklin and Peel for Phillips. Peel gets involved early and forces Trinh-Duc to slice his clearance. Wales have lineout in France 22 but defence is good and Wales concede penalty for handling on the ground.
    • 53' Bastareaud almost through in midfield. France move ball wide and they have men over. Williams almost forces Harinordoquy to make mistake but ball goes to Heymans, he cuts in from the wing and appears to have gone over. Ref goes to TMO and after several views awards the try. 18-13, France lead for the first time and Wales have it all to do now.
    • 51' Wales scrum under pressure but Byrne clears downfield. Medard replies and there's no one back for Wales. Powell clears up and does well to avoid French chaser but France follow up and force scrum in Wales 22.
    • 49' France on the attack now with lineout on Wales 22. Heymans almost breaks through midfield but Shanklin puts his man down and Williams follows through to steal ball after France knock on. Great defence Wales.
    • 48' Wales again offside and Gough takes knock to the head in the process. The big lock looks in a spot of trouble as ref warns Wales skipper Jones about number of penalties they are conceding.
    • 47' Let off for Wales as Parra pulls his kick from in front of the posts wide. Score remains 13-13.
    • 46' Huge hits from Wales. First Jones and Powell on Chabal, and then Gough on Jauzion. Exceelent defence from Wales but Martyn Williams then caught offside and France have chance to take the lead.
    • 43' Trinh-Duc knocks on and Wales have attacking scrum in France half. Bastareaud forces turnover but France are charged down and Wales launch attack deep into France 22 through Shanklin. Referee penalises Wales for going off their feet and France have chance to clear their lines!
    • 41' Trinh-Duc gets the second half started. A fantastic 40 minutes ahead us. Can France last the distance?
    • 40' Parra makes it three from three to make it all square at 13-13 as ref blows for half-time. What a half, full of flowing rugby at great pace! Finely balanced and all to play for.
    • 39' Harinoedoquy breaks clear from scrum - missed tackle by skipper Jones! - and only last ditch tackle by Byrne stops try. France forwards continue attack, Szarzewski again stopped short but Dusautoir follows up for France's first try! 13-11 Wales.
    • 39' Wales concede another penalty at the lineout and France launch up and under. Byrne knocks on and France have scrum just outside Wales 22. One final chance for France before the break.
    • 37' Fly-half Jones sells dummy and almost breaks through France defence, Wales retain possession but concede penalty for coming in wrong side at the ruck, allowing France to clear their lines. Relief for France as they looked under the cosh.
    • 37' Baby is down with a knee injury and sadly he is off. Trinh-Duc comes on.
    • 36' Medard tries to break out from his 22 and only a last ditch tackle by Roberts prevents him cutting free. Poor pass to Baby and the fly-half knocks on giving Wales a superb attacking scrum just outside France 22.
    • 34' Baby again dispossesed - this time by Shanklin - but Wales had encroached offside and ref awards penalty to France. Chance for Parra to cut Wales' lead from out near the touchline. Lovely strike and France back on the scoreboard. 13-6 with five minutes to the break.
    • 32' Baby caught in possession and Wales kick long. Medard makes lovely mazy run into Wales 22 and France now pressing for a score before half-time.
    • 31' Wales and France looking to counter at every opportunity, which is making for a great game. But Shanklin pinged for holding on and France have chance to kick downfield.
    • 29' Powell tries to offload in the tackle but Harinordoquy intercepts and France almost break free through Bastareaud.
    • 27' Great run from Powell off base of the scrum moves Wales into France 22. Wales retain ball but knock on allows France a breather. Wales looking very dangerous!
    • 25' Jones add the conversion and Wales have a 10-point lead. 13-3 Wales.
    • 24' Fabulous burst from Shanklin through the France midfield, the ball goes blind and Byrne cuts a superb angle to shred the France defence for the first try of the game. Fantastic score from the in-form full-back! 11-3 Wales.
    • 23' Box kick from Parra but ball goes straight out and Wales have lineout on halfway.
    • 21' Jones launches high ball and amazingly it hits the camera above the pitch and is defelcted France's way! Unbelievable. Another piece of history in Paris.
    • 20' France have their tails up now and stretch the Wales defence. Szarzewski goes close, Halfpenny somehow stops him but Harinordoquy looks to have touched down. But TV official says he has handled ball in the ruck and awards penalty to Wales which Jones clears to 10-yard line. France very lucky to get away with that!
    • 18' Free-kick Wales and Jones takes quick tap. Bastareaud smashes into Roberts but France had encroached and Wales earn penalty. Shanklin takes Harinordoquy out going for high ball and is lucky not to get yellow card!
    • 15' France turn ball over, Parra kicks downfield and wing Williams returns the ball. France launch series of attacks which come to an end when Malzieu knocks on out wide.
    • 13' Huge bomb from Baby and Wales fail to secure the ball. France come through and launch series of pick and drives at the Wales tryline. Hospital pass from Baby to Heymans and Roberts produces huge hit on the wing. France concede penalty and Wales clear their lines.
    • 12' Parra kicks upfield and Halfpenny makes a rare error as he knocks the ball on.
    • 10' France infringe at restart and Wales earn penalty. Scrappy ball from lineout but Phillips make a lovely darting run down the right touchline before Dusautoir forces him into touch in France 22. Can Wales pinch the French throw? No.
    • 9' Jones again on target as he restores Wales' lead. 6-3 after a frenetic start in Paris.
    • 7' Loose kick from Wales but thankfully for the visitors Jauzion knocks on and Wales have an attacking scrum on France 10-yard line. France again offside and another chance for Wales. Ferocious play at the breakdown with no side taking any prisoners!
    • 6' No recognised goal-kicker in the French ranks but Parra makes a perfect start to level it at 3-3. Great response from France!
    • 4' Great restart from Baby and France secure the ball and launch series of drives through Chabal and his fellow forwards. Looks like they mean business as they spin the ball to the giant debutant Bastareaud and all 17 stones of him! Confident passage from France as they earn a penalty.
    • 3' Wales win lineout and Jones puts up a bomb, Wales force turnover and move the ball left. They had numbers but Shane Williams held on too long. But France have come up offside and Jones now has a chance to give Wales a perfect start from in front of the posts. No mistake and Wales lead 3-0.
    • - A decent start from Baby as he finds a good touch into the Wales half. Very good strike which will give him some confidence.
    • - Wales to kick off and Jones gets the game started.
    • - Well the conditions in Paris look pretty good - still and chilly - as the national anthems get underway. A fine rendition from Bryn Terfel to get Welsh hearts beating and an emotional La Marseillaise from the French crowd. All set for a classic encounter!
    • - There is no doubt Lievremont's job is on the line this evening, but France have a habit of producing big performances when their backs are to the wall, and Wales will be aware of this. There is no lack of talent in this French side, but whether they have had enough preparation - a few days compared to Wales' two weeks - remains to be seen.
    • - Up front, Sebastien Chabal returns to the starting XV in the second row while prop Sylvain Marconnet wins his 71st cap in place of Nicolas Mas. All-in-all, Lievremont has made seven changes from the side that stuttered to a 22-13 win over Scotland two weeks ago and his team announcement on Wednesday was a heated affair, with Lievremont turning on the French press when they questioned his selections.
    • - There is further inexperience at outside centre, where Lievremont has also handed a first cap to Mathieu Bastareaud. Maxime Medard replaces Clement Poitrenaud at full-back while Julien Malzieu replaces Medard on the wing.
    • - In the absence of the injured Lionel Beauxis, Lievremont has moved centre Benoit Baby to stand-off, where he forms a half-back pairing with the inexperienced scrum-half Morgan Parra, who replaces Sebastien Tillous-Borde.
    • - While Wales are settled and confident, France have been under huge pressure from fans and media for their stuttering performances in this championship so far. Injuries have not helped coach Marc Lievremont, but he has still made some questionable selections.
    • - Henson has failed to break up the centre pairing of Jamie Roberts and Tom Shanklin but is likely to see some action of the bench tonight. If he does, it will be his first international action for almost a year. Incidentally, Wales have never lost a Six Nations game when the Osprey has been playing and Gatland will be hoping that record is continued tonight.
    • - Gatland has kept faith with all but one the side that beat England 23-15 in Cardiff two weeks ago, with star wing Shane Williams returning in place of Mark Jones, who drops out of the squad. Also back in the 22 is controversial centre Gavin Henson, who was recently forced to apologise for his behaviour in a Cardiff bar.
    • - What we can tell you is that Wales go into the match with a settled, full-strength team who are one win away from equalling the Six Nations record for consecutive victories. A win tonight will make it nine on the bounce for Warren GatlandÂ’s side and equal the records of England (2002 two wins, 2003 Grand Slam and 2004 two wins) and France (2003 two wins, 2004 Grand Slam and 2005 two wins).
    • - Apparently Friday evenings proved popular during the 2007 World Cup in France so the Six Nations organisers have bowed to the pressure of TV to try something similar with our beloved championship. Oddly enough, broadcasters in the UK have decided not to go to air until kick-off at 8pm (hardly the build-up we usually associate with the Six Nations!) so weÂ’re not yet able to bring you any comments on the weather and atmosphere at the Stade de France.
    • - Good evening and welcome to the first night game in the history of the Six Nations. Like the scheduling or not, we have a cracking match in store as Wales look to continue their assault on a second consecutive Grand Slam against a France side that is under huge pressure to produce a winning performance tonight.

  • Summary

    France versus Wales
    Dusautoir 39’, Heymans 53’ Tries Byrne 24’
    Parra 40’ Conversions Jones 25’
    Parra 6’, 35’, 70’ Penalties Jones 3’, 9’, Hook 72’
      Drops  

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Mark Lawrence

  • France

    Manager: Marc Lievremont

    On the Field

    • Barcella
    • Szarzewski Substitution Out (65′)
    • Marconnet Substitution Out (56′)
    • Nallet
    • Chabal Substitution Out (56′)
    • Dusautoir Try
    • Ouedrago
    • Harinordoquy
    • Parra Substitution Out (71′)
    • Baby Substitution Out (36′)
    • Heymans Try
    • Jauzion
    • Bastareaud
    • Malzieu
    • Médard

    Subs

    • Poitrenaud
    • Millo-Chluski Substitution In (56′)
    • Kayser Substitution In (65′)
    • Tillous-Borde Substitution In (71′)
    • Picamoles
    • Domingo Substitution In (56′)
    • Trinh-Duc Substitution In (36′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Wales

    Manager: Warren Gatland

    On the Field

    • Jenkins
    • Rees Substitution Out (53′)
    • Jones
    • Gough Substitution Out (71′)
    • Wyn Jones
    • Jones R.
    • Williams
    • Powell Substitution Out (67′)
    • Phillips Substitution Out (55′)
    • Jones Substitution Out (68′)
    • Williams
    • Roberts Substitution Out (53′)
    • Shanklin
    • Halfpenny
    • Byrne Try

    Subs

    • Jones Substitution In (67′)
    • Peel Substitution In (55′)
    • Henson Substitution In (53′)
    • Bennett Substitution In (53′)
    • Charteris Substitution In (71′)
    • Yapp
    • Hook Substitution In (68′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

Comment 24 - 43 of 43

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. C'mon IRELAND!!

    From Dimmy, on Sat 28 Feb 11:18AM

  2. As an Englishman living in Wales for many years I was­ so suprised that Station Road Llanelli was quiet last­ night. It was also flowing with tears

    From ynot1539, on Sat 28 Feb 9:35AM

  3. Wake up Mr Gatland, Henson plays like a bum on the­ field as well as in the bars of Cardiff with his pal­ and drinking partner Mike Phillips. Peel should be the­ number 1 and Henson should'nt be in the squad.

    From david.64, on Sat 28 Feb 12:23AM

  4. Fantastic score. Dont you just love the French

    From John B, on Fri 27 Feb 10:07PM

  5. Well played France, we aint bad losers like the­ english, we got beaten by a better team on the day.­ C'mon the Irish tomorrow, should b a walk over for­ u boys.

    From Llion, on Fri 27 Feb 9:54PM

  6. felicitation les bleus!

    From eranu.uvavu, on Fri 27 Feb 9:49PM

  7. heheehhehe so happy

    From eranu.uvavu, on Fri 27 Feb 9:48PM

  8. Hey Llioin and all the other BOYOS, reality check:­ Wales are not that good!!! Allez les blues

    From Jonathan, on Fri 27 Feb 9:48PM

  9. hoho ho ho hohohohoho ho ho hahahahah ho hahaha ho Im­ so happy

    From eranu.uvavu, on Fri 27 Feb 9:46PM

  10. Come on Wales ! :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Fri 27 Feb 9:44PM

  11. We never hear the end of your meaningless wins agaist­ us.

    From laboca123, on Fri 27 Feb 9:37PM

  12. so never hear the end of it glad the boks kicked ur­ arse in france

    From James Rendall, on Fri 27 Feb 9:30PM

  13. I love France tonight, really really do

    From laboca123, on Fri 27 Feb 9:28PM

  14. No anthem mate, but a WORLD CUP

    From laboca123, on Fri 27 Feb 9:26PM

  15. Wales only won by a stupid ref and a try from a forward­ pass

    From daviddowling160265, on Fri 27 Feb 9:25PM

  16. we dont have an anthem?? hahahahahahah no mate we have­ a world cup though

    From laboca123, on Fri 27 Feb 9:25PM

  17. would never cheer england on u dont even have an anthem­ u sing the british anthem

    From James Rendall, on Fri 27 Feb 9:20PM

  18. Yes England arnt very good at the mo, but we have won­ the world cup

    From eranu.uvavu, on Fri 27 Feb 8:58PM

  19. The Welsh have very short memories and yeah because­ they are how they I will support any nation even the­ French against them. Allez les Bleus!!

    From moondog100, on Fri 27 Feb 8:52PM

  20. Balthazar Rodrigue N

    how is france better than wales­ its all down to the two teams on the night but­ statistics actually go the welsh way

    From Michael, on Fri 27 Feb 8:48PM
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account