FRANCE 5 WALES 9
(at Stade Colombes, Paris).
Wales, led by centre John Dawes, followed the Triple Crown by the gaining of the Grand Slam, the latter being the first one since 1952.
It was the first win by Wales in Paris for 14 years, but the French team did not make it easy. In fact, the home side took the lead with a try by their great forward Benoit Dauga and a further Dauga charge saw Barry John attempt to stop him and suffer a bloodied nose, which put him temporarily off the pitch.
France looked set to score again as right wing Roger Bougarel threw the ball inside, but full back JPR Williams nipped in to catch it ten yards from his own goalline. Away he stormed on a 70-yard run, before going inwards to draw the cover and find scrum half Gareth Edwards racing up on the left wing outside him and he dived over in the corner.
John’s conversion attempt missed, but he placed a penalty early in the second spell to put Wales in front and then he produced a gem of a try as he took an Edwards pass on the blind-side to glide past the French defence, after hooker Jeff Young had taken the heel against the head.
It was tense and exciting, and a good French team made Wales work all the way to success.
Scorers.
France – Try: Benoit Dauga. Con: Pierre Villepreux.
Wales – Tries: Gareth Edwards, Barry John. Pen: Barry John.
