Five Talking Points as France hammer Wales in Six Nations opener
SACRE BLEUS: France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey scores their second try. Pic: ©INPHO/Manuel Blondeau
It’s always one hell of a show at Stade de France these days.
From the minute’s applause in memory of France U18 Medhi Narjissi, swept out to sea in South Africa in August through the anthems – when focused LED glare spotlit the teams in a sea of darkness – we were in heavy goosebump territory once again.
France looked ready to run through walls. It sounded as if the crowd would shove them into the breach. The first Thunderclap came after 20 minutes; the first in-match Marseillaise rendition 10 minutes later. It’s beyond special.
Get there if you can.
No Penaud? No problem
The ridiculous Damian Penaud has scored 15 tries in 12 matches for Bordeaux this season. But he missed the Autumn Nations Series with a chest infection, and withdrew from the squad this week with a toe injury.
He really should have been missed. He wasn’t. Opposite club and country wingman Louis Bielle-Biarrey had two by the break. His replacement, 20-year-old Pau flyer Theo Attisogbe, also had two in the first half, and was a slightly misjudged Romain Ntamack crossfield kick from a hat-trick.
He has scored four tries in four Tests for France since July.
Looking at the scoreline – even at 40 minutes when it was 28-0 – it might seem hard to believe, but Wales had actually played pretty well at Stade de France.
Warren Gatland had warned Six Nations opponents at the tournament launch in Rome to underestimate his side at their peril. And, in Saint-Denis on Friday they posed some intriguing questions when they had the ball, and it’s not as if they were easily broken down defensively when they didn’t.
It’s just that France were in lock-cracking mood, and once they had the combination, well…
In the 49th minute, France switched out their entire front row, both second rows – and Antoine Dupont – at the same time. Five minutes later, the new-look pack scored France’s fifth try.
It’s too early to say whether this is a serious new policy for Les Bleus, but it looks as if it could be. What’s arguably more interesting is the fact that Dupont was taken off so early – he normally stays on until the staff are absolutely certain the match is won.
This is a clear signal of confidence in replacement Nolan Le Garrec to close out the game from some distance.
It has been a consistent line heading into the Six Nations that France and Ireland are favourites for the Six Nations – with England and Scotland cast in the roles of reputation mockers-in-chief.
But, as they saying should probably go, everyone has a theory until they’re tackled by the opposition number eight. The point is that no one really knows what will happen until the games unfold.
France lived up the hype on Friday night. There are three difficult away days to come, admittedly, but they’ve given themselves the best start in their quest for a Six Nations title the hard way.
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