France vs Wales LIVE RESULT: Hosts absolutely DOMINATE and score SEVEN TRIES as Wales fall to yet another poor defeat
THE Six Nations is BACK - and France have got off to an absolutely DOMINANT start.
Les Bleus put SEVEN tries past a hapless Wales defence in a one-sided clash in Paris.
In front of their home crowd, France scored 43 unanswered points as Warren Gatland's team fell to a SEVENTH consecutive Six Nations defeat.
Wales lost all five of their matches last year and their last game of the 2023 tournament.
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Try - Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France)
France 7-0 Wales
23. Attissogbe is causing problems with his pace out wide.
Les Bleus are on the drive once again, looking to go for the kill.
That try has really knocked the wind out of the visitors.
France 7-0 Wales
21. That try seems harsh on Gatland's side.
They have done little wrong in this match so far.
But when you have players like Dupont, they can really create something from nothing.
It will all be about seeing how the Welsh react now.
France 7-0 Wales
19. Brilliant play from Dupont to create the score.
He receives the ball and checks backwards and sends a kick out wide straight to the hands of Attissogbe.
Such brilliance is so difficult to defend.
Ramos sends the conversion over from out wide.
Try - Théo Attissogbe (France)
France 0-0 Wales
17. Les Bleus are working through the phases.
Edging towards the Welsh try-line.
Ramos gets it out wide, under pressure, but the Welsh defence remains firm.
France 0-0 Wales
15. Not many people expected this start to the game.
Wales have remained focussed and defended well.
They have added box kicks more to their game and it is testing the French.
Credit: AFP France 0-0 Wales
13. Wales are getting some joy with these chip kicks.
The bounce of the ball goes their way as they attack.
France then win it and burst through the middle but the visitors do well to cover and win the penalty decision for the knock-on.
France 0-0 Wales
11. You can see a definite tactic from Gatland's side already.
They are looking to use the high kicks often to allow them to try and gain twenty yards as they chase it down.
It has given Les Bleus plenty of problems so far in this match.
France 0-0 Wales
9. Wales win a free kick and try an up and under.
It almost worked but some poor handling cost them the ball.
The visitors win it back and look to push forward.
France 0-0 Wales
7. Reffell has come on as a blood replacement and immediately has a massive impact on the game.
His makes a try-saving tackle out wide before winning his side a penalty to take the pressure off.
Gatland will be pleased with the start his side have made in Paris.
France 0-0 Wales
5. Dupont catches Wales out and makes a beeline for the try line.
The visitors do well to get under him and hold him up as the Welsh are awarded the dropout.
They are absorbing the hosts' attacks well in the early stages.
Credit: AFP France 0-0 Wales
3. The visitors lose possession and Ramos sends a big kick in behind the Welsh defence.
It bounces once before going out, giving the French the ball deep in the visitors' twenty-two.
Chance for Les Bleus to go on the front foot for the first time.
France 0-0 Wales
1. This is the moment everyone has been waiting for.
The Six Nations really is one of the standout moments on the rugby calendar.
Wales are working through the phases, looking to drive forward.
Kick-off: France vs Wales
We are underway at the Parc des Princes.
It is an electric atmosphere in Paris this evening.
The visitors get the match started.
Talisman returns to add strength
France will be boosted in this Six Nations trophy quest with the return of superstar Antione Dupont.
Last campaign, he opted to not to participate to focus on sevens rugby for the upcoming Olympic Games.
He will add a lot of creativity to this star-studded Les Bleus side who will be hoping to give the Welsh the worst possible start to this tournament.
Credit: AFP Coach being realistic on demands
Speaking with BBC Sport, Wales' head coach answered whether their underdog status was something they could use this evening:
The pressure in on them. We didn’t expect the rain, perhaps that can even it up a bit. Yeh we’re planning a siege mentality, we need to go out and have no fear. Just enjoy the occasion.
Warren GatlandWales replacements:
16. Elliot Dee, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Keiron Assiratti, 19. Freddie Thomas, 20. Tommy Reffell, 21. Rhodri Williams, 22. Dan Edwards, 23. Blair Murray
Wales starting XV:
15. Liam Williams, 14. Tom Rogers, 13. Nick Tompkins, 12. Owen Watkin, 11. Josh Adams, 10. Ben Thomas, 9. Tomos Williams, 8. Aaron Wainwright, 7. Jac Morgan (c), 6. James Botham, 5. Dafydd Jenkins, 4. Will Rowlands, 3. Henry Thomas, 2. Evan Lloyd, 1. Gareth Thomas
France replacements:
16. Julien Marchand, 17. Cyril Baille, 18. Georges-Henri Colombe, 19. Hugo Auradou, 20. Mickaël Guillard, 21. Oscar Jegou, 22. Nolann Le Garrec, 23. Émilien Gailleton
France starting XV:
15. Thomas Ramos, 14. Théo Attissogbe, 13. Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12. Yoram Moefana, 11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10. Romain Ntamack, 9. Antoine Dupont (c), 8. Grégory Alldritt, 7. Paul Boudehent, 6. François Cros, 5. Emmanuel Meafou, 4. Alexandre Roumat, 3. Uini Atonio, 2. Peato Mauvaka, 1. Jean-Baptiste Gros
France's class and chemistry
France's quality is rightly lauded up, but what tends to go under the radar is their chemistry.
In tonight's starting line-up, there is eight players from Toulouse alone, including superstar captain Antoine Dupont and Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
A further two from La Rochelle and another two from Bordeaux Bègles.
We're back!
Here. We. Go.
After a long year of waiting the Six Nations is finally back and we have a mouth-watering clash in Paris set to get going very soon.
France are the favourites and start their campaign against a Wales side that are still in the midst of a rebuild.
Team news is already out, of course, and the French are ready to welcome back a couple of their heavy hitters.
We can't wait for this one!
