Drama galore from France, Wales

IT may not have ended with the predicted result, but the match in Paris was definitely the most exciting of the Six Nations tournament to date with lots of points, plenty of drama and a thrilling finish.

The inclusion of Gerald Merceron at out half, even if only for 45 minutes, finally inspired some attacking French rugby, but unfortunately the team seem to have forgotten how to transform attacks into tries and, for the first time this year, forgot how to defend. Ironically, Wales chose the two areas in which France has been the strongest this season, to attack. One being the French front row and the second their second phase defence. Since the rule changes which forced loose forwards to stay bound to the scrum came into effect, the front row has regained its importance in both attack and defence at scrum time.

While Robert Howley’s 70 metre run for Wales’ first try was an outstanding individual effort, he was given the opportunity by the power of David Young at tighthead prop. Young was always able to control either Christian Califano or his replacement Sylvan Marconnet, turning the scrum sufficiently to give Scott Quinnell and Howley an easy passage over the advantage line.

The same was true in reverse on defence when the strength of the Welsh front row never permitted France’s tighthead prop Pieter de Villiers the same opportunity. That sound base allowed Scott Quinnell to have his most influential match for Wales. While the statistics will show that Neil Jenkins scored 28 points and Howley’s try was perhaps the turning point in the game, three of the Welsh tries — the one he scored himself and two others — were made possible by Quinnell. Although defensively France were always well lined out across the paddock, the power and pace of Quinnell was able to demand the attentions of a minimum of two defenders which allowed space for Wales to continue their attacks.

The other influential Welsh player was centre Mark Taylor, who was able to take best advantage of Quinnell’s interventions and distribute the ball at the right moments. France’s problem was that they don’t have anyone vaguely resembling a Taylor in their midfield. Recently, I have criticised the French training methods and the fact they no longer work on the individual skills needed in three quarter play and on Saturday it was never more evident. Both centres Sebastien Bonetti and Thomas Lombard, although possessing the ability to break the line, blew certain tries when, in a two on one situation, something that would have been unthinkable in French teams of old.

France were unlucky that Merceron had to leave the field shortly after half time as he always seemed capable of making the breaks and making the right decisions. His kicking in the first half hour kept Wales pinned in their own half.

ALTHOUGH the second half try of Philippe Bernat Salles was one of the best of the championship, France’s attacking organisation was never as good after Merceron was replaced by Christophe Lamaison.

If the French were unlucky not to have scored more points in the first half, it was due to Welsh players deliberately putting themselves in an offside position, stopping seven point opportunities by conceding certain three point penalty goals. The third time in a row must have almost merited a yellow card for the Welsh offender.

France’s next big battle is not against England in three weeks’ time but in trying to regain some confidence and credibility during the next fortnight. Giving vent to their disappointment, a large portion of the 80,000 spectators whistled and jeered their team as they left the Stade de France on Saturday. Even worse, the president of the FFR Bernard Lapasset publically stated that French rugby has been humiliated and there is not one of the players, apart from Merceron, who resemble a player worthy of representing his country.

Wales, on the other hand, have perhaps benefitted from their enforced rest, with Graham Henry saying the last three weeks have been his best in terms of preparation since he took over the Welsh coaching job.