Wales 24-45 France – Six Nations LIVE REACTION: Les Bleus beat Gatland’s side in frantic Six Nations clash – updates
WALES have now lost four in a row in their first four games of the Six Nations after losing 45-24 to France in Cardiff.
The game was a frantic one, as both sides swapped the lead multiple times before Les Bleus pulled away late on.
- Kick-off time: 3pm GMT
- FREE live stream:
- TV channel: BBC One
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"We didn't help ourselves"
Wales coach Warren Gatland: "We were up 24-23 but we didn't manage the game with turnovers and we're disappointing with some soft points given away.
"We probably overplayed. When we were down by six points and you're thinking just play territory make it easy for yourselves but we hurt ourselves and not played well enough in that last period.
"France put our scrum under pressure, that's something we've been working hard on and we're not there at the moment. I thought our lineout was excellent and our line speed could have been better.
"The plan was if we went multiple phases then we'd cause them lots of problems and we did.
"But we didn't help ourselves with some of the mistakes for us."
Credit: GETTY "The boys give everything"
Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins: "We felt like the French would fatigue later on with their big pack. It didn't go to plan but we'll look at it and come back next week.
"We were excited about the physical battle but we definitely came off second best.
"The boys give everything week in week out and I don't think it was fatigue, everyone will play all day for their country but it's just the accuracy.
"Next week is massive for us because we don't want to finish bottom.
"Italy have won here before so we're not going to take them for granted but we've got to reflect on this game and see how we can be better."
Dafydd Jenkins of Wales wins the line outCredit: GETTY "We have a massive massive pack"
French captain Gregory Alldritt: "We had a great performance today, we were really frustrated after Italy and wanted to make France proud again so it's great to do that at this stadium.
"We have a massive massive pack, and we wanted to be tough on the collision.
"We have some really good young players and I'm really proud of them and that Nolan Le Garrec scored a try as well."
The Principality
Emmanuel Meafou celebrates with his baby on the pitchCredit: GETTY 
Will Rowlands of Wales applauds the fansCredit: GETTY 
Damian Penaud of France celebratesCredit: GETTY Thrilled
Fixtures
The fifth and final round next weekend;
- Wales vs Italy - 14:15
- Ireland vs Scotland - 16:45
- France vs England 20:00
Super Saturday indeed.
The standings…
Wales must get a result against Italy next week to avoid finishing bottom for the first time in 20+ years.
WALES 24-45 FRANCE
FT: And that's all she wrote, folks. France return to form with a very impressive second-half performance at the Principality Stadium.
Warren Gatland's young side acquitted themselves well but the sheer power and depth of this French side was too much to handle is the game wore on.
Wales remain winless, and could yet finish with the Wooden Spoon. France could still finish second.
It's France's highest ever total in Wales.
Nolann Le Garrec of France celebrates at full-timeCredit: GETTY WALES 24-45 FRANCE - TRY - LUCU
80: Beautifully worked down that blind side to secure an emphatic victory with their fifth try of the afternoon.
A crooked Wales line out gifts France one last scrum and they make the most of it as Penaud offloads to Lucu, who dives over. Ramos' kick just drifts off target.
That missed conversion keeps Scotland above them in the table.
France's Maxime Lucu celebrates with teammates after scoring their fifth tryCredit: GETTY
WALES 24-40 FRANCE
77: Nolann Le Garrec is awarded the Player of the Match. He's congratulated by his colleagues with some pretty hard thwacks round the head.
WALES 24-40 FRANCE
75: Wales overplay in their own 22 and are punished.
Bonus point try in the bag for France, and now undoubtedly the match as Thomas Ramos takes his side out of sight with a penalty.
WALES 24-30 FRANCE
72: Over 38% of the action has taken place in the Wales 22 since the resumption.
WALES 24-37 FRANCE - TRY - R. TAOFIFENUA
70: Wales the masters of their own downfall here.
The Welsh stole it inside their 22 and decided to send a hospital pass out wide. It's quickly snuffed out and an attempted clearance is charged down.
Romain Taofifenua charges down Davies' box kick and goes over. Ramos nails the conversion.
Romain Taofifenua of France scores his team's fourth tryCredit: GETTY WALES 24-30 FRANCE
68: These French replacements really have done the business for the visitors. Fresh legs the difference now - could be a few more French tries if things continue like this.
WALES 24-30 FRANCE - TRY - COLOMBE
65: Damien Penaud again with a terrific run down the right channel. Wales are scrambling to slow things down, but France reach the five-meter line again.
They're calling for it out wide but the forwards go again. 22-stone replacement Colombe goes over with the ball clutched to his chest on his debut.
Ramos converts.
Georges-Henri Colombe of FranceCredit: GETTY
WALES 24-23 FRANCE
63: Wales will be delighted that they only yielded three points from that passage of play.
WALES 24-23 FRANCE
60: Wales are really up against it here with this French onslaught. Penaud makes about 30 yards before he's cut down but the hosts are offside.
France opt for the kick and Ramos duly obliges. One-point game here at the Principality Stadium.
WALES 24-20 FRANCE
58: How foolish! It's an early engagement from the French and they are penalised. Huge relief for Wales, who've just used their 'Get Out of Jail Free' card. Madness.
WALES 24-20 FRANCE
56: That was just inevitable. Pure, raw power from the French with Gregory Alldritt eventually powering over right underneath the posts with the help of second row Thibaud Flament.
However, the celebrations are cut short as referee Luke Pearce sends it to the TMO. Yep, it's a knock on but they were playing a penalty advantage, so back for a scrum five meters out.
WALES 24-20 FRANCE
55: Great defence from Wales there with France camped on the five-meter line. Depoortere and Ramos are both cut down before making it over the line before before the referee goes back for a penalty advantage.
Scrum to France.
WALES 24-20 FRANCE
52: Wales have been holding their own in the scrum, but the French have made a few changes to their pack with some giants entering the scene. The Taofifenua brothers most notably.
WALES 24-20 FRANCE
48: Another 'nearly' moment for France but referee Luke Pearce penalises Ollivon for a clear forward pass. Another forward pass happens 30 seconds later from Bielle-Biarrey. Frustrating for French coach Fabien Galthie, who's having kittens on the sidelines. The visitors just overrunning everything and aren't holding their depth.
WALES 24-20 FRANCE - TRY - ROBERTS
44: How about that for a response?! Wales are back ahead immediately after the break courtesy of Joe Roberts. The ball was recycled quickly after Williams went close and there was Roberts to force his way over.
Sam Costelow with a beautiful kick from the touchline to add the extras.
Wales' centre Joe Roberts (L) is congratulated by Wales' wing Josh AdamsCredit: GETTY WALES 17-20 FRANCE
43: Wales with good field position after a knock on from Ramos when trying to catch an up-and-under. The ball pops out and the hosts being a few phases of pressure - a lot better from Warren Gatland's side.
WALES 17-20 FRANCE
40: We're back underway.
Over 70% of Wales' points in the 2024 Six Nations have been in the second half.
