Gatland: We struggled with the expectations

WALES went into Saturday’s game knowing they needed to beat France by 27 points to snatch the Six Nations title from England.

But against a French team still reeling from a shock loss to Italy, on home soil and with their reputations on the line, that was never realistically going to happen.

“Sometimes as a team we love the underdog tag, we love when we’re under a bit of pressure,” said Warren Gatland afterwards.

“But when the expectation is that we go out there and perform, we’ve struggled with those expectations. For me, that’s the disappointing thing.”

Their preparations were hampered when defence coach Shaun Edwards did not travel with the squad having been disciplined for allegedly for an altercation with a member of the backroom team.

The cause was further derailed with the departure of flanker Sam Warburton, who hobbled off with a knee injury.

France were gifted with the lead when Ryan Jones infringed in a ruck and Parra kicked the resulting penalty. Leigh Halfpenny went close to a clear run at the try-line but France fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc pulled off a desperate ankle tap to deny him.

It was their last ray of hope. France extended their 11-3 half-time lead with another Nallet try, while wing Vincent Clerc also touched down and scrum-half Morgan Parra booted 13 points to claim the runners-up spot on points difference.

FRANCE: M Médard, V Clerc, D Marty, D Traille, A Palisson, F Trinh-Duc, M Parra; T Domingo, W Servat, N Mas, J Pierre, L Nallet, T Dusautoir, J Bonnaire, I Harinordoquy.

Replacements: L Ducalcon for Pierre (66), P Pape for Mas (66), G Guirado for Servat (70), F Estebanez for Traille (70), A Lapandry for Harinordoquy (72), J Tomas for Parra (73), Y Huget for Clerc (75).

WALES: L Byrne, L Halfpenny, J Roberts, J Davies, G North, J Hook, M Phillips; P James, M Rees, A Jones, B Davies, AW Jones, D Lydiate, S Warburton, R Jones.

Replacements: J Thomas for Warburton (15), J Yapp for A Jones (52), S Jones for Hook (66), R Hibbard for Rees (67), D Peel for Phillips (67), R McCusker for Thomas (71).

Referee: C Joubert (South Africa).