Wales v France Six Nations Rugby

high. Welsh rugby is really after that pummelling in Dublin a couple

of weeks ago. Can't the Dragon get off the canvas tonight and deliver a

knockout blow to the grand slam seeking French?

Settling the grudge is painful. Ireland rudely interrupted the

titleholder's defence. Improve, Wales have been told, or else.

France have won the crunch. France have discovered a superstar. When

friends are on a roll, whoever you are, you were. -- when France are on

a roll. Beware. Good evening from Cardiff. The lights are out here in

the millennium Stadium as the atmosphere builds towards this

match, the seventh match of this year's 6-nation championship. Six

down and nine to go, and this weekend, some hopes could well be

banished while others will be enhanced with matches tonight in

Cardiff and tomorrow at Rome and Twickenham. Here at outside since

the Welsh defeat in Ireland two weeks ago there has been a lot of

soul-searching in every element of Welsh rugby. How important is it

tonight, never mind the performance, how much is tonight about winning?

It is certainly about winning and performing better than in Dublin.

It is certainly about winning and There has been a lot of honesty

spoken in the changing rooms and in the Welsh public and they need to

perform tonight for all of Wales. For France, played two, 12, both in

Paris. How different is this? It has to be the confirmation of the last

two games. We have been good individually but as a team we need

to play better and today is a big chance for us to make the

difference. We can see the French team assembling in the tunnel. As an

impartial observer, this is the kind of game you look at on paper and say

this could be a fantastic motivation and a great match. There is a little

pressure on both sides. Wales need to win to stay in the competition

and France are going for the grand slam, but Wales have to change their

tactics. They have to go on or to passes and try to get the ball out

much use George North and Jamie Roberts to get it to the flanks and

attack France that way. Shame, how important is the battle in midfield

where we have for centre three quarters whose average weight is

17.5 stone. I am just glad I don't have to play against them. It was

always going to be physical, France and Wales, and by picking the

centres they are showing that. There will be a lot of physicality. One

new piece of team news is that Alun Wyn Jones is missing from the Welsh

side because of a foot injury he sustained training yesterday. You

can see Sam Warburton there and he issued a warning to his team-mates,

a lot of them over 30 years of age, and he told them it is not quite the

last chance but there is a sort of Damocles if Wales under perform

tonight if they play as they did in Dublin. What are the key areas they

have to get right tonight. They made so many errors, key mistakes that

lost momentum. Too many penalties. They talk about Dan Lydiate making

tackles. You have to keep the penalty count down. They have to get

continuity, keep momentum, . Night-time international sport has

that extra frisson as the Welsh take to the field. You may have spotted

them much publicised Twitter spats between Mike Phillips and one

direction after their performance in Ireland. Maybe rugby union have

learnt something from Harry and his mate about how to take the stage.

Wouldn't it be great if we had the best match ever? We are now being

rejoined by BBC Wales and our colleagues on the red button who

have been listening to other commentators for the last few

moments. He will be go with the first match of round three of the

Six Nations championship for 2014. It really is still wide open, and

this match could have a major airing on who wins the championship this

year. # Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i

mi. They sing the muscle is -- the

French national anthem. # Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i

mi. # Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri.

# Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad. # Dros ryddid collasant eu

gwaed. # Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm

gwlad. # Tra mor yn fur i'r bur hoff bau.

# O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau. The heat is turned up, lights on,

sound up, Ruth shot, Wales ready. The defending champions at home

against the French. A late change in the second row, Jake Ball comes in

partner Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones out with a foot injury. Behind

the scrum, Rhys Webb comes in for Mike Griffiths, George North moves

to the centre, Liam Williams onto the wing. Wenceslas Lauret comes

into the French macro -- back row, Pascale Pape the cap than in the

second row. Not sparkling over a full 80 minutes in the last game,

with Remi Tales, outside half on for the first time. Brice Mach will be

the first cap if he comes on. Alain Rolland of Ireland, his last

international before retirement beckons. The captain of Wales, Sam

Warburton, he will remember with a smile, he sent him off in the World

Cup final. We're off. Wales against France. A huge sense of dissipation

as Huget sends the dummy, comes away, not quite out of his 22 but

delivers to Jean-Marc Doussain, scrum-half.

Wales have the penalty. Good evening, Jonathan. Alun Wyn Jones,

we have mentioned what a huge loss he is. He is a world-class player

but it will be interesting how Buster Road goes today because that

is where they should target. Work on him, find the gaps, so... Here is

Jake Ball, came on against Ireland for his first cap. This his second

start. Here is the penalty offence. Interesting that Taulupe Faletau is

back. The contact didn't happen against the Irish. They were lacking

them. He is a brilliant ball-carrier, Faletau,

them. He is a brilliant ball-carrier, and that will give him

something extra. Leigh Halfpenny. This is his range. Taking the long

ones. Now he takes them from everywhere.

Free ball. What a start for Leigh Halfpenny. What a start for Wales.

That is a great kick. Jules Plisson puts French into the

Welsh half for the first time. Faletau catches.

Damn idiots. Jamie Roberts. George North. A little run into Wesley

Fofana. Rhys Webb puts on down towards young Jules Plisson. That is

a lucky escape for the France outside half. It will be interesting

to see how the French, because earlier the anthems, it is the kind

of atmosphere that will inspire the French as well. Yes, it is a

fantastic atmosphere. Wales tend to run everything so far so they are

obviously trying to keep the ball in play. Dimitri Szarzewski plays into

the first line-out. Liam Williams, who plays a lot for

his region, the Scarlets, at fullback, straight down the middle.

Halfpenny gives him the instruction to go with the aerial route. That

was a difficult kick to take on with two men back there. I have seen

France in their previous games, England should have won that game

and I didn't see the structure, they scored their tries from two ticks

and then a brain right against the Italians, again with no structure

and when the ball was loose people like Fofana were brilliant, so it

will be interesting to see how they play. Catch and drive was a big

strength of theirs. Here is a test. Richard Hibbard to throw into the

first line-out. Now the chase is on! George North

macro scores! Well, we will seek confirmation but that looks a

perfectly good try. REFEREE: Can we just have a check

and see that? The question is, tried, yes or no?

Graham Hughes has been asked to check for a push. Well, it did not

look like a push. The players' reaction was good and the Welsh

players have gone back for the conversion. The inside ball, they

are targeting... That is not a push. What is a mistake with the fullback.

-- that is. A little arm on the shoulder. He has caught the ball and

then knocked his head. The try has been awarded. France is in a rare

old pickle. What a start for Wales, Martin.

Absolutely perfect. George North's inside ball. He put the kick ahead.

It's not the perfect start for Wales because Leigh Halfpenny, great

surprise, misses the conversion, but it is still Wales eight, France

zero. They put their weight on it, plenty of numbers, straight over and

that is the channel. Faletau with the safe catch again. Rhys Webb has

two use it quickly and sends it-the this time it is one of the France

danger men. -- sends it high. Lauret is driven backwards but it is there

for Doussain. Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams look at each other.

Gethin Jenkins was in there first, Sam Warburton not far behind him.

Priestland went for the deeper runners. Lauret just about brought

him down. Luke Charteris back in the second row. Richard Hibbard, the

hooker. France knocked behind the rear feet.

And that is the captain. A very quick, quick tempo they are playing

at but the French defence is coping very well at the moment. Already the

difference in the speed and intensity for the Welsh than two

weeks ago. The brake on the ball, so much quicker. Apart from that

conversion from Leigh Halfpenny, the perfect start. England had to fight

high and at tempo. This is the danger with the French side. They

will be used to this and absorb this, and when they get the ball,

they will pick the tempo up and attack Wales. Rugby is a game of

momentum. At the moment, momentum and bounce of the ball is with them.

If it goes with France, Wales will have to defend because this French

side will come at them. A bit of free calibration for Leigh

Halfpenny. -- re-calibration. Back on form. Wales 11, France zero.

Nothing from the game. They are not in it yet. Well, they haven't had

any possession. I don't think they've even been in the Welsh half

yet. Well taken by Luke Charteris. Faletau not taking that. Outside the

22. And he does well to bring down the

dangerous number eight again. This time it is the fullback, Dulin.

Doussain, the scrum-half. A dangerous path. But is the first

danger sign from France. -- collapsed. -- that is the first. And

it was held up by Warburton. That is their main man, Picamoles. He will

go with the carry. Tackle, a good tackle. France's position slowed

down after a slight hesitation. The recycle, the switch, over two double

ack. -- over to Dulin. And again, dangerous on the counter. Faletau

makes the tackle. Great hands. Ooh, Wales is outnumbered there!

On his own. Yes. Grabs him and hold him up. Some twists and turns and he

gets to the ground but it is slow ball again for France.

They are not committing anybody to the ruck so they will have to take

it up the middle. Defenders out wide. Tackle by Rhys Webb and George

North. A chance for Wales to break it! Will France get a hand to it?

Nobody is there! Jamie Roberts can't make the tackle. Have a look at it.

And Huget crosses for his third time in the championship but is it a try?

I think that will be called a knock-on. In making the tackle. I

think it is John Lacey who has made the call. He has called it without

going to the table. That's a brave call. The French players know it,

don't they? Yeah. A great finisher, this guy. Tremendous. That is good

captaincy, that is. Very good. It is a knock-on. By either captain! He

knows he has done it! Definite. The captain made the knock-on and then

insisted. It is a knock-on. You cannot get any more conclusive.

I don't know what he is complaining about! A good ball for France but

not making Wales look under pressure, really.

The first scrummage. First of the game. It goes the way of so many. A

strong scrummage, France. Domingo. Very, very experienced. A big test

for the Wales front row. Mas against Gethin Jenkins. John

Lacey called in again. REFEREE: Come here. Come in for just

one second. We spoke about this beforehand, OK? We asked to keep

your head and shoulders above. Here we are. OK? Time on.

Free kick to France and Wales going through before the ball came in.

Encouraging signs. They are quite confident, look. The French, they

think they have the dominance so they will call a scrum now, try to

get a penalty. A lovely, inviting blindside off the

referee's side of the scrum. Wales turn it the right way. Oh! Penalty

against them! Rather ominous for Wales, that. If they are this

confident early they could go for a scrum anywhere within the five metre

area. What it does do is it just gets into his psyche, the mind of

Alain Rolland. They are coming in on the outside and not driving

straight, but even so, it is an encouraging sign for Wales. It is an

investment. To hurt the French scrum is OK.

Left footed, accurate, and France are on the board. 11-3. They have

had a lot of pressure, a lot of ball, and they have the momentum, I

know. They will come away with some points. Rhys Priestland down into

the French 22. And Huget catches and delivers. And Dulin doesn't make too

much ground. Can use the tactics, the difference for both sides? Wales

just want to keep the ball in hand and kick field, so they do like a

set piece, a slow pace, the French. A slow game. If you look at the

Welsh backline, if you look at where they are, they are all in midfield.

There they go. And they bunch them. Good ball to run, though. Rhys

Priestland takes the advantage line. Accidental offside, but running into

his old man. France's scum. -- his own man. France's scrum. Definite

obstruction, running into his own player. There is Philippe

Saint-Andre, France's coach. REFEREE: Crouch. Bind. Set. Penalty

to Wales this time. I think Wales had the penalty last time. It looked

like a slip but he is giving Gethin Jenkins it look. It has just gone

away from him. I saw some of the backs to the ground. It is a new

pitch but with the roof on, there is a loss of moisture in the pitch. --

a lot of moisture. If there is a lottery in the scrums, it is one

apiece. Leigh Halfpenny, kicked number four.

Taulupe Faletau takes the pass off Alex Cuthbert.

What a difficult man Louis Picamoles is to bring down. It used to be the

number eight was bigger than the winger, but not any more. A very

good kick, good chase, Picamoles is the main man. He has had to take it

in. Wales have to rebuild from a

standing start after the line-out. Dan Lydiate and Sam Warburton

hunting together. This put the centres under pressure. Nyanga does

well, but now it's loose. This is good French interlinking play.

Gethin Jenkins gets back to make the tackle, but France are on the move.

Advantage to France. France had a great opportunity

there, lovely break but it was a poor pass to Buster row and it took

the whole pace out of the movement. A couple of glimpses, they do kick

loosely, Wales. There is big Mathieu Bastareaud. The

penalty was awarded. The pass is behind them, which them forced him

to go back inside. Nicolas Mas is 33 but scampering around.

That is a bad miss. International goal kickers don't usually miss

those. It is a let off for Wales, that Best Buy France's scrum-half

Doussain. -- that Miss by Doussain. Liam Williams clings onto Doussain.

Brice Dulin Reddit well. He still has work to do, Wales pile forward.

That is very well played. He leaves it for his scrum-half, and France

clear after all that. This is all coming down to people who watch the

line speed, Wales putting the French under so much pressure. It is also

the quality of the French passing, great chase by George North but the

French do very well. This centre and the wing by their against the Welsh

backroad and they held their own and on the ball. A driving maul by Wales

is now a rock. Charter Ross ticks up. -- Luke Charteris picks up. He

takes on Nicolas Mas and goes past him.

Good skills by Huget, but they are still deep in the 22 with the scrum

advantage. There is a certain release of pressure now for France

as they come out through Thomas Domingo. Gethin Jenkins storms up on

Nicolas Mas. They go back a long way to Brice Dulin. France are putting

themselves under pressure. They haven't got the greatest tech

lengthwise, and this is a great tackle, Nyanga read that very well.

George North saw him coming. A long throw has worked well for

Wales. Sam Warburton at the tail, Dan Lydiate behind him.

Warburton loses out in the air. Dimitris Rusedski has taken out Rhys

Priestland -- Dimitri Szarzewski. No chance to line up a French defender.

Good charge by the French forwards. He tries to go around the edges. It

is the kick from Jules Plisson. Good take. The bounce is important,

not on, Wales can counter. It is too slow. Richard Hibbard and Dan

Lydiate over the ball. Five seconds, Sam Warburton to Gethin Jenkins.

Advantage is over. No advantage now. Back to where the kick was. The line

of the kick. That is a poor kick but the pressure was on him. The French

are really dropping men back into their spaces around the fullback.

Good played either French. The bounce of the ball went Wales's way.

It nearly bounced into Hugo Bonneval's hands.

Dmitri Rusedski goes long. It's been quite an odd word half hour for the

French. The platform from the French five is not as strong as you would

believe. We should put the tempo into this game but at the moment the

Welsh are everywhere. It is the panic button in the French team to

slow the tempo of the game. There is no control or composure coming from

the French half, that is the problem. They are not using the

confidence they usually have. One for you, one for us, penalties.

Gethin Jenkins singled out, going straight down. It is a big kick for

Doussain. He needs to put this over. Wales have buried their tactics.

Change of kicker. Jean-Marc Doussain has been relieved of duties and

Jules Plisson has taken over. He has missed one in front of the post. If

you have that confidence, your job is to kick goals full of you can

just missed one and handed over on the right-hand side of the field for

the left butter. -- for the left foot.

Why doesn't he start kicking, then? Wales lead. 14-6.

Liam Williams with a follow-up tackle. Luke Charteris Arnold over

-- bundled over. Doussain just didn't want to take control and

responsibility, and ended up giving the scrum away. He obviously has

some demons at the moment. He is lacking confidence. It doesn't

really help in the stand-off. He is shaking his head still. Wales seem

to get the nod. Good scrum there. Sam Warburton like that. That looked

like a slip from Gethin Jenkins. But they were going forward, which is

good news for Wales, but they are due a penalty. Is Richard Hibbard

striking for the ball was like I don't think he struck for that ball,

just went straight over. When he strikes for the ball he loses his

weight and momentum, so it looked as if he kept his weight down that

time. Faletau this time picks up. At pace.

It is quick enough for Wales. Now it slows down, now it has slowed down.

They don't want the advantage, they want the points. Good move by Wales.

Good scramble. There is a righty in their play as well. -- variety. You

can see they are running at Fofona. Clever play. He made it clear early

on, you have to roll away as quick as you can, but clever play from

George North. 14-6. Wales lead. They haven't shaken France off. Early

try, George North. Taking advantage of some confusion.

Kick number five for Leigh Halfpenny. Three more points for

Wales. The easiest. I think the English and Irish will

be happy with this scoreline. At 35 and it is. Change of kick. -- 35

next. Had to cover for the centre. And again, Nyanga makes the tackle.

You could throw a blanket over the Welsh players now. Cuthbert with a

chance to stretch those long legs. A great tackle, that is. They lined

him up... Here they go. Wrong ball. We have been there before. Same for

both sides, mind. He understood every word he said! They want some

clarification at the scrummage, and for the French to even pose the

question reveals doubts about their scrummage. A line-out ball and

Nyanga the provider. Ooh! Webb just pauses. Priestland

left footed. Back for France. That was a better kick. Long kick, good

kit. -- kick. They will be happy with that, Wales. They will set the

tempo and control the game again. I tell you one thing that looks

good, Jonathan. The pitch. It looks good but I still see some of the

boys slipping. It is better than it would have been with the roof open.

It hasn't stopped raining for the last month. And there it is for

Webb. And a knock-on. Now, then, two captains called over.

REFEREE: The scrums are a mess. I'm giving you the opportunity to do

what you need to. If it continues I will have to get somebody else on.

Do you want to sort it out? OK? It is the card warning! Nothing new

there, then, is it? Just a mess. Just willing everybody to stay up.

The Welsh have come under a lot of criticism this week in their

performance against the Irish. By thing they have really stepped up in

this first half. -- I think. It is rolling... Wales get it.

Faletau eventually comes away with it and you can hear the stadium

erupted. And that is just for a scrummage one!

And think they've got to be conscious of the clock now. A minute

and a half left. It penalty, three points. -- a penalty.

Psychologically, that scrum is huge. Total deflation for the French. That

is great. The drive is on, the French don't strike. Eventually get

his hands on it. And you haven't seen Picamoles on the front foot,

have you? He is the ball-carrier. Wales are winning the back and the

moment. -- and the front at the moment. -- and the front at the

puts Wales into a 20-6 lead. It has been

six against France. STUDIO: So, crisis, what crisis?

six against France. minutes also, a messy next 25

minutes but the Welsh won't be minutes also, a messy next 25

this ever reliable rugby. But you can see Huget for -- thought he had

scored. The responsibility was later handed over to Plisson. But after

that kick at half-time it means Wales have that advantage. And I

suspect that even though you look at possession and territory and it

looks even Stevens, it is all Welsh. A real contrast this week. Change in

tempo. Players like George North and others getting into the game far

earlier than in the Irish game. And they are getting over that game

line. Very busy around the rugged areas and creating mismatches.

And the score reflects that. But the crisis across the channel! The worst

first half from a French team in a very long time. Everything is going

wrong, to be honest. The front five we thought would be dominating, you

know, we lost a ball in the scrum, a vital ball. And then when we have

the ball we don't know what to do with this ball. And our strength is

on the wings and we don't get them any goals. So from the Welsh team we

played average but we were so bad they looked really good!

In the second half, you might do the kick-off! I have been impressed by

Wales. To my mind, they haven't changed their game plan. They are

getting over the gain-line. Everybody is running good lines.

There is an appetite, a good energy. This is what they did to strength --

with strength from the off. There is a huge amount of space, he is

saying, guys, guys, we have an overlap. Lovely hands from George

North and then Leigh Halfpenny spots the gap. He can't run into it. The

defenders go in. There is confusion in the French defence. They have

been confused for 40 minutes, actually. Usable hands from George

North. Williams in there. Leigh Halfpenny spots the space. I think

they have to sort that out. Yes, the fullback should know that Dulin need

some help. But then it is do late. France did score a try but then it

was ruled out. -- too late. That was the right decision? It was. That is

one of the moments where we were quite aggressive in defence. Even if

the Welsh didn't play very well. But you can see Pape made a very good

tackle on Priestland and finally we managed to score the try. But too

little for the French team. Every time we have the ball, we are slow.

The structure of our game is not there. We look like a team who has

never played together. I think that has been France's DNA so far. The

first two tries, quite a lucky bounce, and then it was turned over

for the third try and then two against the Italians. So it is not

something they are driving themselves. It is the counterpunch.

At when we have the ball in hand and it is 50-50 with the Welsh, we

didn't really do that well. But Scotland, everybody was saying the

Welsh were very poor in that match. If we focus here on the French

errors. How much of those errors are down to France and how much are they

down to Wales being actually good? That is hard to say but when you see

that international level, you cannot miss that kind of penalty. We have

not so many opportunities so if you missed some points and then drop

some balls and you give the possibility to the Welsh to have

some turnovers, easy mistakes. Too easy for the Welsh. Well, the Welsh

have paid an average game and they just play on the errors that the

French are making. And the Welsh have a far better line speed this

week then two weeks ago. So every time they are trying to get into the

game, there is a sea of red and they are taking the ball disjointed and

flat and cumbersome and not having a chance to go anywhere. For me, the

French are playing like Wales did two weeks ago. So we will play in

two weeks? In their error count. Whatever they are trying to do,

because I have not worked out their game plan, it is not working. They

are not driving any energy to make it work. Without making it like a

coaching clinic, I'm sure many will be watching tonight to coach many

clubs or whatever, you tell anybody playing in the backs you take the

ball at pace and you run onto the ball, and the French are so static.

Why? We have a classic example of the French being so lazy. Good

defence by the Welsh side but look at the French. They are all over the

place. And nobody is making an effort, nobody is putting their hand

up. They are all looking in different directions. It is like a

bunch of players picked from the street, putting a kit with white

shorts, go out and play. They need to organise the backline. The centre

should position the players around him. At the moment there is no tempo

at all. You were never backwards and coming forwards and the Greenwoods

of this world, very strong personalities and I'm sure Jamie

Roberts is doing the same thing out there. How much is it down to the

personality of the players, not as players but as people? It has been

hard to find it in the backline, these two guys could make the

difference that the main issue that they cannot really make the pass,

they can score tries but by themselves. They have to put their

head up and see what is happening around them. Let's talk about the

forwards. Let's talk to Martyn Williams in the commentary position.

When the scrum goes down it is a penalty one way or another but it

seemed as if Wales managed to turn things around. I think Alain Rolland

himself said the scrumming is a mess, but as mentioned earlier in

commentary, this Welsh front row, you can come out and talk about

angles and lines but it all starts in the front, and in the first few

scrums they went forward, Gethin Jenkins was penalised for being on

the outside. The French, they get don't get dominance, they struggle.

It was the penalty before half-time, this is a match-winning

scrum. Psychologically, the Welsh boys have so much confidence from

this. I'd say the Welsh are on top of it at the moment. We will use you

Jonathan -- we willed you on Jonathan, the French out already

very early, so we will tell you what we have tomorrow. The first match of

two is from Rome tomorrow afternoon. we have tomorrow. The first match of

two is Italy against Scotland. You could call it the Wooden Spoon match

but it is fascinating given what has happened so far, and then at

Twickenham, England against Ireland. England do through the

Golden Lion gates to the dressing room, and Ireland looked like the

only team that could win a Grand Slam. England and Ireland in the

women's Six Nations, live at Twickenham tomorrow night of tarmac

and when the Six Nations is done and dusted there is this. You have seen

our burden our comets. Here are the shorts. -- our dynamic helmets. Here

by this short. This will make you as fast as a frog, fish type thing.

Sport relief, my friend. You have to train hard and that means going

uphill. It's not about training. You are supposed to do it for fun.

Whether you run, swim or cycle for sport relief, joined the games.

The sport relief mile and then asked accoutrements on the Sunday.

The sport relief mile and then asked accoutrements on There is Mathieu

Bastareaud. From a Welsh perspective, is it more of the

same? If it's broken, don't fix it. They've laid well in the first half,

set pieces going well. The kicking game is good, the line speed is

working well and could continue to do the same. Thomas, if you were in

the French dressing room at half-time, what would you say? There

is nothing to say. Players know the platform is not there. The ninth and

ten should take the lead in that team and there is nothing to be

happy with, so the second half can only be better. You only have to

look at that backline and see how creative and struck the, it has

every skill set you would want your backline to have, but for whatever

reason, another French winger not being able to get his backline to

function, it beggars belief. It is an embarrassment. The Welsh began

this match I saying it was a must win in the light of what happened in

Dublin. Halfway through, 90% of the people here tonight are happy with

how it is going, but you never know what will happen in the second half.

Let's go back to Martyn Williams. One happy Welsh coach, job half

done. The French coach has made a change at half time, taken the

Shepherd's crook to the scrum-half Jean-Marc Doussain and taken in

Maxime Machenaud. Wales trying to get rid at the

interest -- trying to get Dmitri Szarzewski into touch. Driven back.

Wesley Fofana driven back. There is an advantage to France. That is

great play by France, great pressure by the Welsh. The Welsh tackling is

totally disrespectful of France's strength. Even though we Picamoles,

has not made many metres tonight. There is a good take by Jake Ball,

good tackle by Nyanga. Good turnover, they squander the field

position. Richard Hibbard, still going long. The Welsh drive from the

line-out. Pape has caused disruption at a penalty is now a world. It is

the second they are to arrive. They are shapeless, aren't they? It is a

lot to do with the halfbacks, control of the game, but they seem

to be giving wide and is not going forward. That is a fantastic tech.

It has gone really well, execution was perfect. He is a confident

player. A tech like that will raise his game. -- a cake like that will

raise his game. Warburton wins. France take them all to ground. That

is a great tackle. Penalty France. Jamie Roberts is dazed. He told him

to roll away, I don't thing he knew where he was. In these days of

concussion but recall, we have to be careful. Good line speed.

Dmitri Szarzewski, 31. 78 cap. They worry in France about his

scrummaging after another layer was injured on the club duty. France are

making no ground and Wales managed to hold up. That is a big job

holding him up. The French have gone off the top every line-out, which is

bizarre, not very French. They have given these long passes but it is

difficult to do anything. Great work from Dan Lydiate in holding basta

rout. Bastareaud. Lovely midfield scrum. Wales have

packed at far side George North is working this side. You have George

North against Jules Plisson. Do you think they should stop the

clock now until the ball comes out of the scrum?

He is speaking to the referee and saying he wants to know what they

are saying in French. He dropped his knee. He had the

initial hit, Adam Jones, whether he slipped again I am not sure but he

is not happy. Jules Plisson will kick at goal and

Adam Jones is not happy. Knees to the ground. When you say against a

kicker like Jonny Wilkinson and Neil Jenkins, any time you take a cake

and the wider second kicker in the team, the pressure is there because

you know they don't miss very often, and you cannot afford to miss. Young

Jules Plisson, just his third cap. But not the direction. The flag

stays down and Wales get away with it. Adam Jones will feel a little

taller. There was a? In his head about the distance. He tries to kick

it a little too hard and put a little book on it. The new

scrum-half, Maxime Machenaud. Gethin Jenkins, what a good tackle by the

prop. Domingo and the Picamoles straight

over the ball. 80 minutes of the second half played and it is waiting

for its members to come back to life. The French need to pick the

game up. They are the ones behind. The French drive this line-out,

right on the 22 and they go off the top again. Both their tries against

the Italians and the driving line. Let's see what happens. There is one

of those ankle chops. France have to come into play. Sam Warburton gets

his man, Maxime Machenaud runs into Warburton. Dan Lydiard again makes

the low tackle. Get away from George North, and France have butchered the

try went to score seemed easier. That was a brilliant tackle. There

has been some great strength by Oster Road, great strength.

-- basta rout. I thought there was a push there. They are checking for a

push. I don't think it was a dirty foul. A

penalty. Oh... Cuthbert thought about the tackle but withdrew,

didn't he? Identity anything wrong in that. There was the pass earlier.

It will be an interesting decision here. This is the one. A hand on his

shoulder... It was a knock-on blue. Their ball. That is how dangerous

this man is. Even with George North making the tackle, he brushes him

off. And if the pass goes to Bonneval, France go.

Rhys Webb will feed a scrummage that close to the Welsh goal.

He has gone into his pocket. Both. Ten minutes in the bin. One piece.

It will be interesting to see if they slip that, but he warned them.

Two props yellow carded, so two other men will have to make the

walk. There goes Gethin Jenkins. A slight pause here. Nyanga has been

sacrificed for France. A pair of sixes go off.

Again, it looks like it was unlucky with the referee. He is a big lad,

isn't he? This is the break. Just pushes George North off. Good

tackle. I was just wondering if that was

going to go down. But it is a penalty to Wales. Does anyone really

knows what goes on here?! With the forwards either side of it, do you

really know what goes on? Big mistake. Needed a head touch there.

Nearly gets away from Jamie Roberts. Slings out the past two Picamoles.

And still Picamoles cannot make any ground. -- the pass to Picamoles.

Numbers on the right-hand side if he can release them. Out of play!

Touch! Touch! Tell you what, they have to get these winners into

touch. John Lacey with the flag in the air. Sorry, that is his dad.

Yeah, brilliant player. When he touched the ball a couple of times,

they have added something to them. Clears the tempo to the game. This

is France not able to take advantage of the overlap. Up goes the touch

judge's flag. Meanwhile, the replay is on. Just looking at this. There

is the bang of heads. Just pushes back woods. I think he is all right.

Yeah, thank -- I think if you are in that rock, you put your head town as

soon as possible. George North back on his feet. There he is. Bastareaud

just pushes over the five yards! Richard Hibbard to throw onto the

line-out to the Welsh 22. Who will pick up the scraps? And it is

France. Knock-on by the French. Very unlucky. William John. Stole the

ball in the line-out. -- brilliant jump. I think the French aren't

happy. A lot of French in Cardiff this evening. They are not happy

with that decision. They thought the ball was stolen at the line-out. It

is a scrummage and anything could happen here. Yes.

Paul James has come on, one of the best. I think Wales will fancy

themselves over on that side. The trouble is, if he cannot take it,

you goes down again. -- he. The thing is, the French are now really

dominating possession and you feel they have to get some points from

this. They come over with the seven man

scrum and that explains why Wales march on. And they have the penalty.

Totally dominant. He struggles in that position. Paul James fresh on,

helping to earn Wales that penalty. Up to the halfway line they go. A

good scrum once again. And just leave it in there. They know they

have got the penalty. It is level on the penalties. Three apiece. Hibbard

long again. And he caught it. The Williams was a long way back. --

Liam Williams. And this is a danger man.

Through the gap and another good tackle by Rhys Priestland. Danger

from the French from deep. The second row complains. His winner

did not read his pass. This was the pass. Into touch. Is this forward or

not? It has got to before do. Looks forward to me. Out if you look,

there is a red wall there. Nowhere for France to go. Bastareaud takes

on board some water. World-class player but he has been very quiet,

hasn't he? I just think defensively food-mack... Overran it a bit, got

away with it. A change for Wales just before the hour. On comes Ken

Owens to replace Richard Hibbard in the middle of the front row. His

first task is to throw into the line-out. And he does well to sweep

up. The power of George North! Holding

his side. What a pass by Charteris. So close for Liam Williams. If

anybody is going to get his arms above the ball it has got to be Luke

Charteris. Tries his best but unlucky. Dutiful pass. -- dutiful.

France trying to slow this game down. I think we need to speed it up

a bit. They have got to get a platform and go forward first. Good

tackling there. Lovely pass out of the tackle. Picamoles just manages

to get his legs working. Wales have got the penalty! I think

it is Sam Warburton who did the work there. It is. Great work at the

breakdown by the captain. Yeah, he was isolated. Brilliant work by Sam

Warburton. At, again, it was the defence who looked like they had

broken the line again but great work by the Wales players to get back and

organise the line. Just gets low so early, Sam Warburton. So, so strong

over that ball. Fantastic work. That is Sam Warburton on the halfway

line, which means it is in, in the range of Leigh Halfpenny. This is

the first chance for points in the second half. This would absolutely

knock the stuffing out of the French. You know, all territory and

possession in the second half, they haven't had a penalty. When they

have had the pressure on. So this would really be a kick in the gut.

Bread of Heaven went with the last kick. A harsh goes with this one. --

silence. And it remains a silence. Just pushed it. Just again, France

taking their time. Just to settle themselves, reading their composure.

This is the signal she is going up in the air! That was well taken by

Machenaud. And taken. Straight down the middle. It's a long kick now for

Plisson. Think Wales are definitely winning the kicking game. -- I

think. Gethin Jenkins and Mas warming up in the bin. And then the

sacrificial lamb, you can come back on in a minute. -- he can.

Good ball, that's not so good. It's quick now. A good tackle by Fofana.

Wales haven't got a scrum-half. If there is no scrum-half there, that

should be anyone's ball. Cuthbert has done well to present

the ball. That is a soft penalty, and this could cost France. So

obvious in front of the unforgiving figure... Hold on.

He's. Louis Picamoles, shown yellow. He played the ball on the floor. He

ruled away but then left his hand, and I don't like that. Disrespect

for the referee, giving him applause. That's not good. He is on

the deck, he cannot do anything. Trouble for France. Yes, trouble. If

only they played better in the second half, and managed to move the

ball well and create opportunities, but they cannot really come back

into that game, so even if it is better there is still a long way to

go to win the game. Jamie Roberts straight through. France scramble

back. There is a player down in the French ranks. Jules Plisson is down.

Has he made it? Graham Hughes, the Max official, -- the mashed

official. Wales don't need this now. Walk away. Difficult to tell from

his body language if he scored that or not.

I think they scored. Great strength and power, reaches out as a script

to the line. -- as it scraped the line. Does he ruled? -- does he roll

it? This is the one. Short of there. Does he plays it

once and then roll it? Could everyone just be quiet and let me

talk to the TMO? Is the ground -- is the grounding OK? The grounding is

fine. We are looking for a knock-on in the lead up to the drive.

Grounding is fine. He thinks there is a knock-on in the leader. If

there is no knock-on, it is a try. No, there is not. He is still going.

He has controlled it. That is not a knock-on. It is a try.

He regains control, I think. You may award the drive. -- the try. Sam

Warburton scores for Wales, after they charge by Jamie Roberts. They

may not look that happy, but look at this. He has been running all game.

The simple two points added by Leigh Halfpenny. Wales waited for the

points in the second half, but here is the cap and leading the charge

for the line. That is the whole that Picamoles would have been guarding.

That is the number eight now sat on the bench. A great try. France ring

the changes. Picamoles is in the bin, he cannot do anything. And on

into the front row, Yannick Forestier, a prop. Reptile bot,

outside her -- reptile but, outside, Tales, outside half, he is

on to. 15 minutes left. They will go catch and drive. They are going for

the corner. Reptile but, -- Tales, 29, six cap. His second cap. -- his

sixth cap. Brice Mach, the new hooker. Throws it in. It has somehow

been scooped three for themselves. Basta rout held by more Britain.

This is Tales. It is there for Machenaud.

It's going loose. Wales applaud their efforts in the pence. That

defence was absolutely immense. I think they have had a point to

prove, the Welsh team, and even when the other Welsh offered, they did

not look like rating the French defence. After the game, 20 to talk

about. Happy if you were wearing red. This is the first try. A clever

little kick, and he bangs his head on the scrum-half's leg, loses the

ball. That is a great try, on the line, of course, a try.

Still some defending to do for Wales. France have rung just about

all the changes. Ken Owens is on for Wales.

Slightly different from the volume of noise coming from the Welsh

opponents two weeks ago. Wales have put themselves under huge pressure.

Warren Gatland said this is it for some of you unless you perform. They

have put in a performance tonight. A great performance. And another good

scrum by Wales. France march backwards. Penalty. Not very often

you see that. French scrum retreating that quickly. The Welsh

tight five have been outstanding, totally dominating the French.

Got away with it. Turns into a very long kick, putting Wales with an

attacking line. Adam Jones, huge performance tonight at the set

piece. With Ken Owens on board, nothing has changed. The Welsh pack

kept going forward. Not a perfect performance. French

penalty. France now back in the Welsh half,

through Remi Tales. What is important is to keep the French Open

because points wise, that is a great tackle. The work he puts it is

incredible, Gethin Jenkins. What a way to bounce back. Brice Mach with

the throw. Damien Chouly wins. Switch of play.

Dan Lydiate with another shopping tackle. That is frustration. They

are not getting over the gain line with no half breaks or off-loads.

Dan Lydiate has been back to is own self tonight putting a great

defence. Rhys Priestland has put as many tackles as anybody. It is Rhys

Webb who makes the tackle and Wales get the turnover.

Jake Ball has been destructive. What is Jenkins up to? A little scene of

chaos here, initiated by a kicking prop. I think it will be an

interesting last ten minutes because a lot of players are out on their

feet. Wales are now prepared to ring the changes. When Adam Jones and

Gethin Jenkins go off, it will be to a huge round of applause. There is

Warburton again, sums up the performance for me. Jake Ball has

played well as well. Such applause for the outgoing Adam

Jones and a cheer for Mike Williams -- for Mike Phillips coming on for

Rhys Webb. Also Justin Tipuric. Rhodri Jones is on, back on form.

They game is going to speed up. Dan Biggar comes on to replace Rhys

Priestland. Live from Rome tomorrow, Italy play Scotland, the first of

the games tomorrow. Mathieu Bastareaud comes off, and then has

this one overtaken, it will be massive tomorrow at Twickenham with

England versus Ireland. The scrum will be Ray influential tomorrow.

This put Wales right back in the points difference as well. Now,

then, Mike Phillips, point to prove. I don't think he will be saying much

today. Different prop, same old story!

Here is Rhodri Jones. He has a fine record against France, Mike

Phillips. And he's looking at the scrum, thinking, oh, there is space

for me on Sam Warburton's side. Wales going forward but they are

penalised. Louis Picamoles is back on. Costly.

Costly indeed. I think all the foreigners in the

French league, is it influencing the national performances with all of

the foreigners in France? France come slowly to this line-out. They

go to the captain, who is still on, and he finds Picamoles. Past Ken

Owens. Picamoles tries to put the pass in but it has been typical of

France's night. The pass goes into touch. I think us but has worked it

out and gone into touch. -- I think Cuthbert. That should be a France

ball. Luke Charteris safely gathered. Mike

Phillips finds touch and Bonneval takes it quickly. A twin hit from

Cuthbert and Faletau. Good pace from the captain. A

wonderful tackle by Liam Williams, who stays down. Back up now. Good

pick-up. Good pick-up. Bonneval way off his wing. Again, it

just kills the momentum in the play. I think they're not happy. Another

one has been ripped out here. For the French. Just looking at

comparisons. Things are happening in the championship. A big game

tomorrow as well. Sam Warburton with the catch.

Pape has done well to come through the middle of the line-out.

Almost a first touch, that, for down big. -- Dan Biggar are. Sticky

yellow Paul James has made some tackles tonight. Here is the

scrum-half, Machenaud. And James Hook on the field, Ashes

it out of play. -- ushers it. Any ideas on man of the match? Yes, it

is not going to be a Frenchman! Sam Warburton, Toby Faletau both

contenders. Meanwhile, work to do. Elbows by the French captain. A

little bit of the ball but Wales counter. And Coombs has inserted

himself in the middle of that drive. The French frustration shows.

I think the front five have been fantastic and it lays the lines. For

me, the scrum has been immense. The tackle, the workrate. It is the

platform where everything has been built on. So for me, the RBS man of

the matches that there, Gethin Jenkins. Ha-ha! It is nice to see

him smile! Well, the majority are happy anyway!

More than half! Faletau Tidwell there to sort out a weak scrum. --

did well. The closing minutes. Good strength

by the scrum-half, Machenaud. Paul James is up on him. Luke Charteris

puts his six foot ten body on the line again. Mike Phillips tries to

rip the ball clear. Picamoles retains control. France with the

penalty. Machenaud takes it quickly. And still a locked of the ball. Yes,

I think they are frustrated, the defence. -- still a lot. Shaun

Edwards will be very, very happy tonight. You might even crack a

smile, Shaun Edwards, tonight! There he is in the great top. And Warren

Gatland. They wouldn't be happy to concede in the last minute. Having

done all this work. A lot of tackles from the Welsh at

Crow. -- back row. Wales have got the turnover. One last attack. They

don't need to go left because he spots the gap! Unlucky there.

Desperate tackle. What can they do? James Hook keeps it on the park. And

invites Dulin for one last attack. And Wales still going. I like

Dulin, though. He is a very nice fullback. A huge performance. We are

into overtime now. Picamoles dancing but, as he has done all night,

getting nowhere. Just manages to squeeze the ball away. Warburton

puts him down with help from Paul James. And he has had a huge game as

well, hasn't he? We are near the touchline and incomes Warburton

again. Out goes the ball! -- in comes. And the final whistle. And a

huge recovery result for Wales! Welsh players celebrate, Welsh flags

flying happily and proudly at the Millennium Centre, because that is

the final score. I think it's been a platform on which the forwards have

led and then the defence. Absolutely immense. Amazing. Great, great

result for Wales. Yes, and a lot of questions asked from players and

they have been answered. Outstanding performance from Wales.

JOHN INVERDALE: Well, the Welsh Dragon has really breathed life into

this Six Nations now, especially with that margin of victory. The

Welsh prospect of winning a third consecutive title is really back

alive and kicking. Let's here from the man of the match. -- hear.

Well, that is more like it. Did you feel you had something to prove

after your match previously? Yes, we have proved we are a good team and

great to get a nice win. The forwards took a real hammering in

Dublin. How much should you feel you owe this a real performance? Yes, a

lot of harsh words have been spoken and we had to deliver. From the five

especially. The coaches have given us a kick up the backside and we

performed quite well today. Do you believe this championship is still

within your grasp? I suppose it depends on a few other results but

we are targeting four out of five and we will see how we get on.

Congratulations for you today, you are man of the match. Is that the

response you were looking for from your team, Sam Warburton? Exactly

the performance. We knew we had it in us and to do it in front of a

home crowd is awesome. Just how many of these players felt that they were

playing for their future in the red jersey? Yes, I think that was the

motivation. We said in the week we didn't take our place for advantage.

I had worked with him twice. He is a top-class referee. Many

congratulations, Sam. JOHN INVERDALE: Sam Warburton's

first ride in 25 tests since he scored against Fiji in the World

Cup. -- first try. And that was when he was sent off. Two matches

tomorrow. We are on air at 1pm for the game and at 3:30pm for the

England match. That is Wales' biggest victory over France since

1950 here. Comprehensive is a very good word. Very clinical and

second-half I thought they were very mature in the way they played.

Sustained that treasure. Just got over the line and perhaps to get

over the white try-line in the end. But to be fair to Wales, the line

speed and defence was incredible. And very clinical when they had to

be. When they got into France's 22, they got over and Sam Warburton got

over that line and won the game for them. The moment that Picamoles was

yellow carded, that meant game over? I think maybe Picamoles had a go

because he properly didn't think he deserved to get the yellow and that

is why he gave a bit of cheek at the end. But it was a crucial part of

the game, a turning point. Generally there are seven points scored when

somebody gets the yellow card but that is a bit cheeky, a bit

unnecessary. Not a great thing for kids to see. Not particularly quick

with the ball but they take their time. Rhys Webb is dragged in so Sam

Warburton comes in. He comes in and has a sniff around as to what is

going on. Eye cannot see anything, he thinks. Warburton is through and

lunges for the line and it is a given and well deserved. The Welsh

prepared the game well. They played most of the line out in front and

today they played a live it at the back, so I think they surprised the

French by these quick balls, because that targeted the way they did in

defence, that created gaps for the centres and some momentum for the

team. Warburton always comes across as very avuncular but I get the

impression over the last few weeks he has been very authoritative and

wobbly has said some harsh words to the players, but the proof is what

happened today. He doesn't hold his tongue among the squad and the team

and as we found in the last two weeks, I spoke to the guys and every

player in that squad had been addressed about the poor performance

in Dublin and the first thing they all said was that they had to make

sure that would not happen again. He doesn't mince his words and it has

been a tough two weeks for the guys and that has worked. But things are

obviously easier if you score a try in the first few minutes. It is such

a great reaction by every member of that squad, and that was a great

squad effort. It was confusion in the backfield by the French. George

North is in the right place and he capitalises on it. It was the worst

art you can imagine for a French team. When you come to Wales and you

need to prove something, you think in your head you don't really know

what to do and that is what happened in the first half. Can you explain,

with there to are established internationals, where are they?

Morgan Parra got injured but he is coming back. We need his experience

and I think he will be back for the next game. Jules Plisson in the

second half managed to do things, and Remi Tales has the confidence of

the coaches after what he did with new autumn, but can't do is a major

player. Anything you want to say about this game and what might

happen tomorrow, give us a shout. Suddenly the prospect of a second

championship doesn't seem so remote. It is certainly up in the air. A big

game tomorrow, Ireland and England, France ruled out of this Grand Slam

in a couple of weeks and it is all open. There are a lot of good teams

still competing for this championship. The only certainty is

that it will be very busy in Cardiff for the next ten hours. If there is

going to be a Grand Slam in this year's Six Nations championship, it

will be an Irish one. We will see you at Twickenham. Goodbye.