This clash witnessed the last international appearances of two legendary names in Welsh rugby. After they had appeared at the Arms Park in Cardiff it was learned that both skipper Phil Bennett and his partner Gareth Edwards had decided to retire from international rugby.
Both had played splendidly, as they had done on the vast majority of occasions when they appeared for their country. It was hard to think of better players in their positions throughout the history of Welsh, and indeed world, rugby.
Bennett led Wales to their fifteenth Championship and eighth Grand Slam. Personally, he took his aggregate points to 160, a new best for Northern Hemisphere players, ahead of the 158 scored by Ireland’s Tommy Kiernan.
Wales Coach John Dawes commented: “This team deserve to be recognised as one of the greatest of all time.”
France led 7-0 after a try by flanker Jean Claude Skrela when Wales opened their account as Bennett side-stepped the cover for a corner try that he also converted.
Gareth Edwards dropped a goal and then, two minutes from the interval, Wales struck again. Edwards gave out to JJ Williams, who lobbed the ball inside as he was pushed out of play. Bennett was backing up and with a little leap he was over for his second try. The only score of a tight second half was a drop goal by centre Steve Fenwick in the dying moments.
