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Wales have not beaten France how or away since their 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final triumph. France, however, are coming off the low of being held to a draw by Italy while Wales are the only team in the championship without a win to their name.
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France: 15 Leo Barre, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gaël Fickou, 12 Nicolas Depoortere, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 8 Gregory Alldritt (c), 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Paul Boudehent, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Yoram Moefana
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Wales: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Alex Mann, 20 Mackenzie Martin, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Mason Grady
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Hello and welcome to our coverage of the Six Nations match between Wales and France from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
1'
KICK-OFF: Ramos kicks off deep for France. Williams kicks long but not out and France carry it back. Wales get over it and win the penalty.
2'
PENALTY, WALES, COSTELOW, 3-0:
Wales open the scoring from the tee.
4'
Penaud bursts through the Wales line and gets France going forward before Wales regroup and hold them at the ten.
6'
It takes 20 phases but France make it to the Wales 22 and once there win an offside penalty right in front of the posts.
7'
PENALTY, FRANCE, RAMOS, 3-3:
Ramos levels matters from the tee.
8'
Wales struggle to get forward but they get lucky as France knock on from a poor kick. They have the ball inside the France half but still struggle to make headway.
10'
TRY, WALES, DYER, 8-3:
A sloppy offload puts Dyer under pressure but he uses his quick feet to find a hole and he goes straight through to score under the sticks.
11'
CONVERSION, WALES, COSTELOW, 10-3:
Costelow adds the extras from the tee.
12'
France lose the ball forward on attack near the Wales 22. It seemed they may have knocked on earlier in a scramble for a high ball. Wales have the scrum on their own 22.
14'
The France pack destroys Wales and they have no choice but to stand up. France win a penalty and Ramos calls for the tee.
15'
PENALTY, FRANCE, RAMOS, 10-6:
Ramos adds three more from the penalty kick to cut the Wales lead to four points.
17'
Wales just about edge a kicking battle with France to feed a lineout about 12 metres insidee their own half.
18'
Wales opt for safety of touch but they had taken it back into their own 22 and Roberts is furious with himself. France have the attacking lineout.
19'
France get their maul going but Wales hold it up and win the scrum. Wales will want to clear the scrum very quickly.
20'
The scrum goes down but the referee wants a quick reset. He doesn't get one though.
22'
TRY, FRANCE, FICKOU, 10-11:
Fickou powers over in the corner as the French attack proves unstoppable. Costelow misses a tackle which allows Fickou to get it down despite two Wales men for company.
23'
CONVERSION, FRANCE, RAMOS, 10-13:
Ramos adds the conversion for France.
24'
France make a good exit after the restart and Wales will have to start from a lineout just inside their own half.
25'
TRY, WALES, WILLIAMS, 15-13:
Watkin hits the gap and has a simple two-on-one and feeds Williams who runs in to score. France won't be happy with that defence.
26'
CONVERSION, WALES, COSTELOW, 17-13:
Costelow converts the try and the stadium is lfited as well.
28'
France use the width of the pitch to put Wales under pressure. Wales need to scamper back and Winnett needs to dot dead under pressure. France have the scrum just five out.
29'
TRY, FRANCE, LE GARREC, 17-18:
Le Garrec snipes as France poured towards the Wales line. Jenkins couldn't shut down the No 9 and he went over.
30'
CONVERSION, FRANCE, RAMOS, 17-20:
Ramos converts the try.
32'
France make another very efficient exit but Wales are at them on the attack until Costelow kicks poorly and gives France a lineout close to halfway.
34'
Wales force France into touch after a great kick chase from Bielle-Biarrey on the French wing. Wales carry away from their line from the lineout and kick long but not out.
35'
Ramos drives Wales back to within five of their line with a stunning kick. Wales secure the ball and try to launch an attack.
36'
Wales knock on as they cross their own 22 and France have an attacking scrum to start another foray towards the Wales line.
38'
Wales kick to get away from their own 22 but soon have France pouring towards the line again. Fcikou crawls and is penalised though and Wales can switch play into the France half.
40'
HALF TIME: WALES 17-20 FRANCE:
France have looked dominant in attack and full value for their two tries. Wales have spotted chances and taken them well. It will be down to which team uses their chances in the second half.
40'
Wales are sloppy in the maul at the lineout and knock on. France will have a scrum just inside their own half.
41'
Wales restart deep and the kick comes down on the France 22. France exit with a hoist but knock it on ten from halfway.
43'
TRY, WALES, ROBERTS, 22-20:
Roberts nearly gets himself into a mess in getting it over the line but Wales have scored. Costelow created the momentum.
45'
CONVERSION, WALES, COSTELOW, 24-20:
Costelow converts after perhaps his best attacking play of the match so far.
46'
France just forced the attack as they approached the 22 and threw a forward pass. Wales will have the scrum inside their own 22.
47'
France throw a forward pass as they cross into the Wales half and that will frustrate their coaches.
49'
Wainwright was lurking out wide and the cross-kick nearly found him. France have a lineout 15 inside their own half.
50'
Wales try another kick pass but Dyer cannot hang on and France have a lineout feed on halfway.
51'
Wales knock on from the kick and France will now have a scrum on the Wales 22. This could be a big moment with France yet to really threaten in this half.
53'
France can attack with advantage now but Wales just about hold on.
54'
France knock on and will come back for the penalty. The referee doesn't warn Wales. France call a scrum five out.
56'
France are over and the try is awarded to Alldritt. However it looks like the TMO has spotted a knock on from France.
57'
France will have another penalty but the score has been chalked off. France have called for another scrum as Wales make a string of changes.
58'
The Wales scrum keeps breaking down and they give away another penalty and it won't be long until the penalty try comes into the picture.
59'
France go early at the scrum and Wales have a free kick. France cannot believe it. That is a massive moment in this game.
60'
Penaud shreds the Wales line and bursts into the Wales 22. France have an advantage as the Wales defenders can't track back quickly. France call for the shot at goal.
61'
PENALTY, FRANCE, RAMOS, 24-23:
Ramos makes it a one-point game.
63'
Davies gets the ball fired back at him and Wales lose the ball on the France 10. They would have wanted to keep the French pegged back and playing without the ball.
65'
TRY, FRANCE,COLOMBE, 24-28:
Colombe has powered over to score and that could just turn this match.
65'
France think they are over the line but the TMO will have to confirm. France keep coming in waves. The try will be awarded.
66'
CONVERSION, FRANCE, RAMOS, 24-30:
Ramos adds the two to pile the pressure on Wales.
67'
France get the best of a situation where Wales kick high but cannot regather. France have a lineout ten inside the Wales half.
69'
TRY, FRANCE, TAOFIFENUA, 24-35:
Taofifenua charges down the kick when it finally comes in and that was a moment of madness from Wales.
69'
Wales are trying to come from deep but they are just causing themselves problems.
71'
CONVERSION, FRANCE, RAMOS, 24-37:
Ramos kicks the conversion.
72'
Now Wales really do need to be desperate having dug themselves into a hole. They are struggling to get away from their own 22 though and France are quite happy to smother them.
73'
Colombe gets onto a jackal and cops a hit for his trouble and stayed down for a moment. Ramos calls for the tee after France get the penalty.
74'
PENALTY, FRANCE, RAMOS, 24-40:
Ramos slots his eighth kick and that should settle this.
76'
Wales do finally burst forward through Davies but a little fumble in the France 22 sees them cough up a scrum. France will feed.
78'
The scrum goes down and has to be reset. Pearce wants it done quickly but that isn't likely . France find a safe touch after the scrum but will have to repel another Wales attack from close to halfway.
80'
FULL TIME: WALES 24-45 FRANCE:
France blew Wales away eventually. However there was a lot of huffing and puffing before they managed to turn it on. Wales show promise in patches but need to find a way to connect for 80 minutes.
80'
Ramos misses the conversion to miss out on a nine out of nine kicking display.
80'
TRY, FRANCE, LUCU, 24-45:
Lucu gets over with a quick scrum move.
80'
Penaud shows great industry to break the line in broken play. Wales eventually force him into touch in their own 22 but they don't feed the lineout straight and France have another attacking scrum to finish the match.
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