The warning signs were there from the first minute as the visiting side exploited gaps in the home defence and wing Aurelin Rougerie found himself just metres from the try line.
It wasn’t long before France had the first score of the match. Stade Francais Paris fly half Lionel Beuxis slotted over the first of his 12 points after Wales were caught offside.
France were disciplined throughout, and powerful in the set piece. And their physical presence earned them the first try of the match when Jerome Thion bundled over from close range, despite the best efforts of James Hook. Beauxis added the extras and France had a ten point lead after just 13 minutes.
Wales played their part in an entertaining first period, with creativity at the line-out and a good amount of ball in hand. But it was the French who extended their lead twenty minutes later.
Wales had weathered a particualrly heavy storm under the posts. Twice they survived the TMO in as many minutes. But when Dwayne Peel’s attempted clearance from within his goal area was partially charged down by Imanol Harinordoquy, scrum half Pierre Mignoni was on hand to dot down. Beauxis slotted the conversion to make it 17-0.
France looked destined to go into the interval with a clean sheet but the home side scored the try they deserved in the final moments of the first period. Martyn Williams, whose defensive efforts were immense, showed his attacking abilities with a darting run that opened up space for James Hook to dance through the usually solid French defence. Hook was tackled a metre from the line but his momentum carried him across the whitewash. His conversion cut the lead to just 10 points and gave the home crowd hope Wales could get back into the match in the second half.
But France asserted their dominance in the opening minutes of the second period. However sutbborn Welsh defence from the impressive Alix Popham et al kept France away from the try line and their only reward was a Beauxis penalty goal after 47 minutes. Les Bleus scored their third try of the match on the hour mark through Rougerie, and then a late try from replacement front row Sebastian Bruno as the clock ticked down. That made a final score of 34-7, with France’s defence showing the kind of resilience that will be needed come Rugby World Cup time, which is only 12 days away.
