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Recap - Wales vs France LIVE | Guinness Six Nations

By RugbyPass

22 Feb 2020

RugbyPass Live Match Centre

Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the Guinness Six Nations match between Wales and France at Principality Stadium.

Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation from anywhere in the world in our Live Match Centre (click here).

Here are some main talking points ahead of the game in Cardiff:

Can Wales unlock a Shaun Edwards-inspired French defence?

Shaun Edwards coached and organised Wales’ defensive structure for twelve Six Nations campaigns, proving an integral part of the Warren Gatland era that produced Grand Slams and World Cup semi-final appearances.

(Continue reading below…)

Jim Hamilton and Darren Cave preview Wales’ clash with France

The former rugby league star, though, is now performing the same job with France and he returns to Cardiff following an impressive opening that saw Les Bleus see off England and Italy. The Wales players and Edwards know plenty about each other, and the sub-plot is an intriguing one to what is a crucial match in this season’s tournament.

The scrums should be lively

Wales prop Wyn Jones said this week he is prepared for a French scrum that will “hit and chase and cheat.” His comments did not go unnoticed at Les Bleus’ training base, with head coach Fabien Galthie and team manager Raphael Ibanez both returning verbal fire, and English referee Matt Carley could have his hands full early on if ‘pleasantries’ are exchanged.

“This is the Six Nations tournament and in the Six Nations tournament there is no room for these kind of remarks.”https://t.co/9IoCqAKDQM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 20, 2020

Wales perceived some inconsistencies at the scrum so far during the Six Nations, with Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong being highlighted following his scrummaging against them in Dublin last weekend, and Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys stating: “The laws are clear. They are very clear that you must push straight. That’s what it says.” The scrum will be under an intense spotlight.

Will it be more away-day misery for France in Cardiff?

France might be on the trail of a possible first Six Nations title since 2010, but their recent away form against Wales is poor. Les Bleus’ last Cardiff victory came ten years ago, when the likes of Thierry Dusautoir, Yannick Jauzion and Clement Poitrenaud helped inspire a Grand Slam campaign.

Shaun Edwards brings his unbeaten team to Wales this weekend, with a very strong side in the backs department #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/jyF2h9pBWC
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 20, 2020

Their record in Paris is not much better either, and Wales have won eight of the last nine meetings, which includes a World Cup quarter-final triumph in Japan four months ago. Galthie’s team are off and running following victories over England and Italy at Stade de France, but how they fare on the road is likely to define their campaign.

Can George North’s star shine again?

Wales wing North has enjoyed a stellar international career, scoring 40 tries for his country – only Shane Williams has scored more – in 93 appearances, while also starting all three Tests of the 2013 British and Irish Lions’ Australia tour.

At the age of just 27, a caps century is looming large, yet critics were in plentiful supply after he failed to make an impact during a 24-14 loss to Ireland two weeks ago. North, though, was not alone that day in Dublin and it would be no surprise to see him blast out of the blocks, underlining how form is temporary and class is permanent.

“My contract is up with the RFU at the end of the season… but I’m fit as I have ever been – that’s what my scores tell me”
– veteran match official Wayne Barnes talks to @heagneyl ahead of his latest Six Nations assignment #WALvFRA 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇫🇷https://t.co/R6KYLJ5svz
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 22, 2020

Home sweet home for Wales?

Wales’ recent Six Nations home record is something to behold, having gone unbeaten in the tournament at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium since England toppled them in February 2017.

England repeated their feat of two years earlier that day, and it is 2013 since any other rival – Ireland – prevailed on Welsh soil in Six Nations action. Victory over France would make it eight successive Six Nations home wins, while also keeping Wales firmly in title contention. It will be a true test for a new-look Les Bleus team that has yet to be examined away from Paris.

WATCH: ‘Spectacular’ TV numbers recorded in France on the back of Galthie’s revival

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Comments on RugbyPass

GrahamVF 41 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

500k registered players in SA are scoolgoers and 90% of them don't go on to senior club rugby. SA is fed by having hundreds upon hundreds of schools that play rugby - school rugby is an institution of note in SA - but as I say for the vast majority when they leave school that's it.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 48 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

There is a continued murmur in local circles about reciprocal bi annual tours between SA and Argentine. Whether it's full blooded test tours or development tours or a mixture - ie touring with a "test" 20 and a development 20 the cream of which will be used in tests. We actually really enjoy playing the Argies and I believe they enjoy playing us. It goes back seventy years to the Junior Bok tours to Argentine involving Isaac van Heerden.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 56 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

About 500K of those are schoolboys 90% of which will not go on to play club rugby.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 57 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Exactly. Shoo would that it was so easy to develop competitions.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

SA wealthy? Compared to which countries. The economy is in tatters unemployment is at record low numbers and you think SA has money to spend on rugby development -0 and remember the SARU was technically bankrupt and was only saved by the COVID tour of the B&I Lions. No Sa doesn't have spare cash lying round for rugby development and given the resources SARU is doing just fine.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

South African domestic rugby is in great shape. Four top tier franchises fed by a series of competitions ranging from national schools competitions through Varsity Cup to Currie Cup and then to top four franchises is a model Australia would do well to follow. SA should never have more than four top domestic teams.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

That might be the best spin off from SA's involvement north of the line.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Of course not Nick 😉

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

We have our own theories about The Sharks. Plumtree is a good coach but he has not done anywhere near the best he could with the talent and money he has at his disposal and it doesn't help to have a marquee director of rugby who has spent by far the majority of his career playing and coaching sevens.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Don't worry - you'll win again soon then you'll feel a lot better. Right now get on with your SH comps and we'll get on with being barely the best in the world.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

JW you really have no idea of how Africa works. It will take generations not decades no matter how much SA puts into it. The poverty in Africa is something that is obviously beyond your understanding. Do you think the governments of impoverished nations are going to watch happily as rugby pours massive investments into infrastructure to promote what is essentially a white western game? And SA was trying hard to develop the game in Africa until the African vote blocked our "23 bid after the independent consultants to the RFU voted unanimously for SA? The Confederation of African Rugby virtually excluded South Africa.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Nick, our association with Argentina Rugby runs very long and deep. We are exploring reciprocal two/three test tours in the future - and even more games at neutral venues such as in Europe where a lot of both teams have players anyway.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

"has SA actually EVER helped to develop another union to maturity like NZ has with Japan," yes - Argentina. You obviously don't know the history of Argentinian rugby. SA were touring there on long development tours in the 1950's

We continued the Junior Bok tours to the Argentine through to the early 70's

My coach at Grey High was Giepie Wentzel who toured Argentine as a fly half. He told me about how every Argentinian rugby club has pictures of Van Heerden and Danie Craven on prominent display. Yes we have developed a nation far more than NZ has done for Japan. And BTW Sa players were playing and coaching in Japan long before the Kiwis arrived. Fourie du Preez and many others were playing there 15 years ago.

"Isaac Van Heerden's reputation as an innovative coach had spread to Argentina, and he was invited to Buenos Aires to help the Pumas prepare for their first visit to South Africa in 1965.[1][2] Despite Argentina faring badly in this tour,[2] it was the start of a long and happy relationship between Van Heerden and the Pumas. Izak van Heerden took leave from his teaching post in Durban, relocated to Argentina, learnt fluent Spanish, and would revolutionise Argentine play in the late 1960s, laying the way open for great players such as Hugo Porta.[1][2] Van Heerden virtually invented the "tight loose" form of play, an area in which the Argentines would come to excel, and which would become a hallmark of their playing style. The Pumas repaid the initial debt, by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park, and emerged as one of the better modern rugby nations, thanks largely to the talents of this Durban schoolmaster.[1]"

After the promise made by Junior Springbok manager JF Louw at the end of a 12-game tour to Argentina in 1959 – ‘I will do everything to ensure we invite you to tour our country’ – there were concerns about the strength of Argentinian rugby. South African Rugby Board president Danie Craven sent coach Izak van Heerden to help the Pumas prepare and they repaid the favour by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Which country do you think was instrumental in developing rugby in Argentina which then spun off into the rest of Latin South America? South Africa was touring Argentine in the 50's with their Junior Bok side on three months development tours. And they didn't do it to cultivare players for the Boks. Regarding Africa you are not taking into account that South Africa itself is an emerging nation. The rugby union has prioritised the development of rugby in South African rural communities with outstanding success.

It has taken 15 years to build the participation of rugby both in playing and watching. For South Africa on its own to build a viable international rugby competition in africa will take generations - not decades. New Zealanders seem to resent the fact that SA has doubled the income of the URC since their inclusion. If New Zealand Rugby hadn't insisted on have a disproportionate slice of the pie in Super Rugby, SA might not have fled the coop.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 2 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I think this debate is avoiding the elephant in the room. Money. According to the URC chief executive Martin Anayi, the inclusion of SA teams has doubled the income of the URC. There is no doubt that the SA teams benefit from the URC but so do the other countries' teams. Perhaps it doesn't affect a club like Leinster but the less well off clubs benefit hugely from South African games' TV income. I don't think SA continued inclusion in the URC is a slam dunk. They don't hold all the cards by a long way - but they do have an ace in the hole. The Ace of Diamonds.

158 Go to comments

GrahamVF 2 hours ago

How Wallace Sititi humbly reacted to All Blacks Player of the Year honour