It took them until 1948, and this first-ever win by France in Wales proved to be a battle both on and off the field. The crowd at St Helen’s rioted, throwing bottles and fruit at the French players following the Welsh defeat.
France fielded a large pack; Robert Soro and Albert Moga were massive men at lock with skipper Guy Basquet behind them. Soro in particular will be remembered from the clash and both he and try-scoring wing Michel Pomathios returned in subsequent years on separate visits to St Helen’s.
Pomathios became the first French player to represent the Barbarians when he appeared at Cardiff on Easter Saturday in 1952 to the delight of the Arms Park crowd.
Centre Maurice Terrau took an interception to score and then another for a Pomathios try as Wales, led by scrum half Haydn Tanner, disappointed. Forward Ossie Williams kicked his only goal for Wales, though lock Bill Tamplin was the regular kicker.
Wales included five Cardiff backs and five forwards but used fly half Billy Cleaver as a centre and centre Jackie Matthews as a wing.
