Wales v France

0:00:47 > 0:00:52I said to the players, I think we're better than them.Ireland have

0:00:52 > 0:00:59stolen the game.Who gets there first, Watson or Anscombe?Following

0:00:59 > 0:01:01an incident in Edinburgh that led to some players being questioned by

0:01:01 > 0:01:08police, Jacques Brunel has... Interception. Wales will leave with

0:01:08 > 0:01:15nothing.It's a much welcomed victory for France.George North is

0:01:15 > 0:01:20in for try number two.France have beaten England, the Stade de France

0:01:20 > 0:01:27erupts.

0:01:27 > 0:01:32Six weeks ago it was all positive thinking and optimism. Now, after

0:01:32 > 0:01:35four weekends and occasionally brilliant and often attritional

0:01:35 > 0:01:39rugby, the blue and red meet with second placed the best either can

0:01:39 > 0:01:43hope for. A championship that for one side still has echoes of a TMO

0:01:43 > 0:01:47decision at Twickenham, and of another, a night out in Edinburgh,

0:01:47 > 0:01:51ends on a chilly Cardiff evening with a lot at stake still. With a

0:01:51 > 0:01:54World Cup 18 months away it's about momentum. And as always, it's about

0:01:54 > 0:02:02pride. It has been a most extraordinary final day already of

0:02:02 > 0:02:05this year's Six Nations championship. The England against

0:02:05 > 0:02:09Ireland game at Twickenham is still going on. Assuming it goes that way,

0:02:09 > 0:02:13Ireland will get three extra bonus points for winning the Grand Slam to

0:02:13 > 0:02:17give them an emphatic position. Scotland winning with a kick from

0:02:17 > 0:02:20Greig Laidlaw in the last minute of the match. Italy had so many chances

0:02:20 > 0:02:25to win. But it means England will finish fifth, the lowest they have

0:02:25 > 0:02:30finished in the history of the Six Nations championship. Who would have

0:02:30 > 0:02:33thought that would happen six weeks ago? You can see clearly the prize

0:02:33 > 0:02:39for this match at the principality tonight is second place, for Wales

0:02:39 > 0:02:45or France. It's seriously cold here, we are all reputable warm. Given the

0:02:45 > 0:02:49breakdown has been a great talking point of the championship this year,

0:02:49 > 0:02:54we have a considerable back row of experts. Sam Warburton in the red

0:02:54 > 0:02:59Corner, along with Martyn Williams and surge is in the blue corner. We

0:02:59 > 0:03:09haven't decided number eight yet. Serge can be number eight.Ireland,

0:03:09 > 0:03:13emphatic winners at Twickenham and in the championship.I was wrong, at

0:03:13 > 0:03:17the start of the championship I said I didn't think anybody would win the

0:03:17 > 0:03:21Grand Slam given the quality of teams. But to win a Grand Slam under

0:03:21 > 0:03:24the circumstances is a fantastic effort, well done to Ireland.The

0:03:24 > 0:03:29table said it all. Look at the Gap. You can criticise the style of play

0:03:29 > 0:03:33but they have scored 20 tries in a challenge so far and it's thoroughly

0:03:33 > 0:03:39deserved, they have been outstanding.They have been affected

0:03:39 > 0:03:42in Atonement, starting really well with a lot of chances in Paris. They

0:03:42 > 0:03:46were going to finish at the top of the championship and it's really

0:03:46 > 0:03:54good for Irish rugby.Johnny Sexton's drop goal on that very

0:03:54 > 0:03:58first day, was probably the defining moment in the championship.In my

0:03:58 > 0:04:02experience, looking back to championship wins, and when Leigh

0:04:02 > 0:04:05Halfpenny kicked three points in the first game of the champ Richard when

0:04:05 > 0:04:13we went out to Ireland, winning in at the Aviva with the Contra --

0:04:13 > 0:04:16controversial penalty at the closing minutes of the game. It was a

0:04:16 > 0:04:20defining moment of the championship. Johnny Sexton is one of the best

0:04:20 > 0:04:24players in the tournament so far. I saw him play in Ireland against the

0:04:24 > 0:04:30Welsh and I believe on that game he played as well in handling and

0:04:30 > 0:04:34kicking, and also tapping, his kicking penalties. He's one of the

0:04:34 > 0:04:38outstanding players so far.I'm sure we will talk about England later,

0:04:38 > 0:04:42but they have lost three matches in the championship in succession, and

0:04:42 > 0:04:47that's their first defeat at home since Australia in the World Cup in

0:04:47 > 0:04:522015, assuming the scoreline stays this way. Wales have been playing

0:04:52 > 0:04:56France in international rugby since 1908. In the course of that time,

0:04:56 > 0:05:00there's only one Welsh forward who has scored four tries in that series

0:05:00 > 0:05:06of matches. Have a guess who that is. Here he is, a younger version.

0:05:06 > 0:05:12Good memories. Just for the hair as much as anything. I could do with

0:05:12 > 0:05:19that today, it's so cold. For some reason, it just fell in my way

0:05:19 > 0:05:23against France. I loved playing in Paris, my favourite away ground. A

0:05:23 > 0:05:29fantastic stadium and atmosphere. I was the key, if I don't score I will

0:05:29 > 0:05:36get pulled off, probably. I thought I'd retired here. And I is wait to

0:05:36 > 0:05:42see the Grand Slam.Good memories. Never mind your head, what about

0:05:42 > 0:05:45Shane Williams? It's spectacular.He can have whatever hairstyle he

0:05:45 > 0:05:55wants.You better get a shift on, Sam. We could go any angle on this

0:05:55 > 0:05:59discussion and the depth Wales have, but there were times when Wales,

0:05:59 > 0:06:03whoever the coach was, he would have 15 and a few others to pick from.

0:06:03 > 0:06:07Now Warren Gatland has selection decisions in almost every area of

0:06:07 > 0:06:11the squad, a wonderful luxury to have. The Wales strength in depth

0:06:11 > 0:06:12the squad, a wonderful luxury to have. The Wales strength in depth

0:06:12 > 0:06:16has been building over the last two years quite nicely.I think now if

0:06:16 > 0:06:20you were picking a World Cup squad it would be such a strong team of 34

0:06:20 > 0:06:26that could all genuinely start. Wales are in a very good place. You

0:06:26 > 0:06:32could have two fifteens and British Lions still wouldn't be involved.I

0:06:32 > 0:06:36will not go back as far as the 70s but Wales haven't had as much

0:06:36 > 0:06:40strength in depth as they do now. Until you put it down on paper and

0:06:40 > 0:06:43you see it like that, I would be very comfortable with that 15 taking

0:06:43 > 0:06:46to the pitch against France today and coming away with victory.

0:06:46 > 0:06:49Looking at the guys who haven't even made the team at the bottom.

0:06:49 > 0:06:52Phenomenal strength in for Wales.It gives

0:06:52 > 0:06:54Phenomenal strength in for Wales.It gives them a nice luxury, rather

0:06:54 > 0:06:59than picking the best 15, they can pick more on tactics, which we have

0:06:59 > 0:07:03seen today with the back row and number ten. They can pick depending

0:07:03 > 0:07:08on tactics rather than just the best 15.And a greater onus on the coach

0:07:08 > 0:07:11now, it's not just playing the hand you have been dealt, you have to

0:07:11 > 0:07:17choose what hand you will play.It's something Warren Gatland has tried

0:07:17 > 0:07:22to build. In ten years, take two or three players out of the team and

0:07:22 > 0:07:26you would struggle. Now he has selection issues, which is what you

0:07:26 > 0:07:30want as coach.The French, I can't remember the last time there were so

0:07:30 > 0:07:34Mirnyi French fans here in Cardiff. I don't know if they have a renewed

0:07:34 > 0:07:38confidence or they are re-engaging with the team, or maybe they just

0:07:38 > 0:07:43fancied some sub zero temperatures in Wales for the weekend. Putting

0:07:43 > 0:07:47the World Cup final in 2011 to one side, the French Cockrell has not

0:07:47 > 0:07:50had much to crow about in recent times.

0:07:50 > 0:07:52had much to crow about in recent times. Certainly since 2010. But as

0:07:52 > 0:07:57we look at the Six Nations finishing positions over the last nine

0:07:57 > 0:08:01seasons, maybe the resilience and defiance they showed in Paris last

0:08:01 > 0:08:09weekend points to a sign of better things to come.

0:08:09 > 0:08:14This has a heavyweight feel to it. England need a bonus point win to

0:08:14 > 0:08:19stay in contention for the title. Beautifully struck. England take the

0:08:19 > 0:08:26early lead.Again, it's a penalty against France. Elliot Daly from his

0:08:26 > 0:08:34own half. Brilliant kick.Maxime Machenaud, this to level the scores.

0:08:34 > 0:08:43Crossfield kick.It's unfortunate to get him around the neck. I know it's

0:08:43 > 0:08:45not deliberate but it prevents a probable to write.Penalty try

0:08:45 > 0:08:52awarded.-- a probable try.England have to score twice.Elliot Daly is

0:08:52 > 0:09:02completely free. Jonny May scores for England.England within three

0:09:02 > 0:09:04points but they can't get their hands on the ball and give away the

0:09:04 > 0:09:18penalty.The Stade de France erupts.

0:09:18 > 0:09:25Ireland are champions of the Six Nations.

0:09:25 > 0:09:31Nations.Merci!It was a very buoyant Paris last weekend. England

0:09:31 > 0:09:36have lost three matches in a row in the Six Nations in six years. Fran

0:09:36 > 0:09:41Savant won three in a row in the Six Nations in eight years. It's a

0:09:41 > 0:09:51terrible record. -- France haven't won.Looking at what happened a few

0:09:51 > 0:09:55months ago, the way France played last week was outstanding. We were

0:09:55 > 0:10:01really proud of what France put into their effort in beating England.

0:10:01 > 0:10:05They were desperate in attack and defence. The breakdown, there seems

0:10:05 > 0:10:12to be a very... In that area and I'm very proud of what France achieved.

0:10:12 > 0:10:16We will talk about the Welsh back row shortly, but the French back

0:10:16 > 0:10:21row, it's a very young pack altogether. Camara, just 23, is the

0:10:21 > 0:10:28real talisman for the eight.Camara is outstanding. His footwork is very

0:10:28 > 0:10:32impressive. When he carries the ball, he always makes some yards,

0:10:32 > 0:10:37always goes forwards. I have to say, the way he played his rugby is

0:10:37 > 0:10:43outstanding so far. I really privileged to see him.Looking at

0:10:43 > 0:10:47the players France have, they've always had great individual players

0:10:47 > 0:10:50and always produced great players, but they always seemed poorly

0:10:50 > 0:10:57coached in the last few years. Bringing in two recently retired

0:10:57 > 0:11:00players into the coaching staff has helped them. And he is one of the

0:11:00 > 0:11:09real shining stars of the French team.Jacques Brunel is also a

0:11:09 > 0:11:12legendary coach and he knows how to talk to players and talk to

0:11:12 > 0:11:16youngsters. That's the turning point of the French team. He gives them

0:11:16 > 0:11:23the confidence and belief to play the way they are able to do. And so

0:11:23 > 0:11:27far he has made a great impact.It seems to me every French match

0:11:27 > 0:11:31recover, we have a discussion about the rotation of crops at nine and

0:11:31 > 0:11:36ten. But maybe Machenaud and Trinh-Duc other two players to take

0:11:36 > 0:11:43France to the World Cup.Definitely. Machenaud, so far, he's one of the

0:11:43 > 0:11:47outstanding players, kicking the way he does in the game. Playing with

0:11:47 > 0:11:53the forwards and backs. Making a great duo with Trinh-Duc. An

0:11:53 > 0:12:01experienced player, one of the most capped French players, 65 caps. He

0:12:01 > 0:12:06knows his game, he's 32, 31, and he has the full experience to know what

0:12:06 > 0:12:10it takes to lead the team and control the game.His goal-kicking

0:12:10 > 0:12:15will be pretty important tonight. He is a goal-kicking scrum half and as

0:12:15 > 0:12:19Greig Laidlaw proved in Rome today, it can sometimes prove the

0:12:19 > 0:12:23difference between victory and defeat. Many of you watching might

0:12:23 > 0:12:26not have cottoned onto Remy Grosso before last get in Paris when he won

0:12:26 > 0:12:34the manner of the match award, but he was immense. -- man of the match

0:12:34 > 0:12:41award.He goes all over the place to call for the ball, doesn't stay on

0:12:41 > 0:12:47the wing. He wants to make a good impact. The fact he came through the

0:12:47 > 0:12:51French Academy and French rugby, was able to play for the French team.

0:12:51 > 0:12:59I'm pleased to see him. He seems to enjoy that, and seems to push him

0:12:59 > 0:13:05very far for how we can affect the game.Where has he been? He's 29.He

0:13:05 > 0:13:12has appeared from nowhere.He was in 2015 World Cup for France, and he

0:13:12 > 0:13:17played one game. After that, with the changes of the coaches, he's

0:13:17 > 0:13:25sometimes prefers another winger. I have to say, with the youngsters who

0:13:25 > 0:13:31are coming, Grosso is one of the great talented players.Wander

0:13:31 > 0:13:35around the streets of Cardiff this morning, chatting to fans, and it's

0:13:35 > 0:13:38interesting how the Welsh fans take this team at the moment. I'm not

0:13:38 > 0:13:42sure anybody is terribly sure how good the side is, or more to the

0:13:42 > 0:13:46point, how good it might end up being. They could have went back in

0:13:46 > 0:13:50England and Ireland. They might even have been going for a Grand Slam in

0:13:50 > 0:13:56Cardiff tonight. That has been achieved twice in the past decade,

0:13:56 > 0:13:59but it's five years since the last title when Rob Howley was in

0:13:59 > 0:14:05temporary charge. Tonight is the 102nd time Warren Gatland has led

0:14:05 > 0:14:09his team into battle and he is with Sonia McLoughlin now.

0:14:09 > 0:14:10his team into battle and he is with Sonia McLoughlin now.Fifth-place

0:14:10 > 0:14:14finish this time a year ago. How important will it be to finish

0:14:14 > 0:14:21runners-up?I think it's good for building up into the World Cup in 18

0:14:21 > 0:14:26months. That's important. We want to finish well today and reflect on the

0:14:26 > 0:14:33Six Nations say we had a couple of tough calls as well. You need a bit

0:14:33 > 0:14:39of luck. If France go on to win today then they thoroughly deserve

0:14:39 > 0:14:45it. The second finish will be a fair reflection of where we are at the

0:14:45 > 0:14:49moment.You have chopped and changed at fly-half during the campaign. Why

0:14:49 > 0:14:53does Dan Biggar win out over Rhys Patchell and Gareth Anscombe today?

0:14:53 > 0:14:58I think because the game will be a defensive game. His strengths, what

0:14:58 > 0:15:02he is good at in terms of his kicking game and crossfield stuff,

0:15:02 > 0:15:08chips over the top, brilliant in the air. Good defender, working on the

0:15:08 > 0:15:12attacking side, and I think the game will be tight. We have gone with him

0:15:12 > 0:15:17knowing the things he is excellent at, world-class at, and some other

0:15:17 > 0:15:24things that need to continue to improve in his game. We might make

0:15:24 > 0:15:28changes later on, but we think today will be a very tight encounter

0:15:28 > 0:15:33against a very physical French team. Wales are led today by a certain

0:15:33 > 0:15:36Mathieu Bastareaud today, you mentioned physical! How do you

0:15:36 > 0:15:40prepare for a team with a player like that?Get in his face as quick

0:15:40 > 0:15:44as you can and shuts down the space. He's very quick and strong. He was

0:15:44 > 0:15:50good last week. We will try to close the space down on him as much as we

0:15:50 > 0:15:55can. Keep the ball in the park and tried to take the legs from them is

0:15:55 > 0:16:00Good luck today.Thank you.One of those sporting phrases that someone

0:16:00 > 0:16:03is the first name on the team sheet, but three months ago Hadleigh Parkes

0:16:03 > 0:16:06was not even wells, and now he is the glue binding together the Welsh

0:16:06 > 0:16:18backline. -- was not even Welsh. When I first came over, the

0:16:18 > 0:16:23opportunity was to make the most Europe has to offer. The fiance and

0:16:23 > 0:16:29I have enjoyed that aspect of it. The travel has dried up in the last

0:16:29 > 0:16:33few months! But I would much rather this was happening, I would rather

0:16:33 > 0:16:38do this than travel anyway.Straight through goes Hadleigh Parkes, comedy

0:16:38 > 0:16:41first tried within four minutes. It's gone really well, I'm enjoying

0:16:41 > 0:16:45it. It's something I never thought would happen. To have it happen has

0:16:45 > 0:16:51been amazing. I've thoroughly enjoyed it.Hadleigh Parkes finds

0:16:51 > 0:16:55Tipuric and Wales are running away. I'm going along quite nicely. The

0:16:55 > 0:17:00two games we have lost, there were opportunities in those games to win.

0:17:00 > 0:17:06I think it's going in the right direction and it's quite exciting.

0:17:06 > 0:17:09You are used these bigger teams. Physically you have to match them.

0:17:09 > 0:17:13You can't give them too many penalties. You have to be pretty

0:17:13 > 0:17:16switched on because they will get their forward back into the game,

0:17:16 > 0:17:20especially kicking to the line and getting the drive going. We have to

0:17:20 > 0:17:25be ready for that.He's back, the big man's.He powered his way over.

0:17:25 > 0:17:28Bastareaud, you know what's happening, but he has subtle

0:17:28 > 0:17:31footwork that makes it tougher. Somebody has to put out their hand

0:17:31 > 0:17:36and be a speed bump and others around can help out and hopefully

0:17:36 > 0:17:39make an effective tackle. If we get our discipline right and play in the

0:17:39 > 0:17:47right areas, there is no reason why we can't have a good result.

0:17:47 > 0:17:49we can't have a good result.Sam Connor what's your verdict on this

0:17:49 > 0:17:56guy?He's made a massive impact straightaway. -- Sam, what's your

0:17:56 > 0:17:59verdict. The Diack Jamie Roberts, the physical end of the spectrum,

0:17:59 > 0:18:07Owen Williams is the more playmaker, flair player. -- look at Jamie

0:18:07 > 0:18:11Roberts. This guy is a combination of the two. He has good kicking

0:18:11 > 0:18:16skills and great hands. He has come in at 12, a difficult place to come

0:18:16 > 0:18:22into, and he has gone in seamlessly. He has a lot of strings to his boat.

0:18:22 > 0:18:24We had the privilege to sit down and interview him for BBC Wales a couple

0:18:24 > 0:18:28of weeks ago and he's fantastic, I grabbed a guy who is loving what is

0:18:28 > 0:18:34happening to him. The words you used, the glue of the team, one of

0:18:34 > 0:18:37the smartest rugby players I've seen in a long time to stop it's a great

0:18:37 > 0:18:43story.It's how the man inside him plays as well, and the number ten

0:18:43 > 0:18:46jersey is worn by somebody who divides opinion. What does Jonathan

0:18:46 > 0:18:52Davies make of Dan Biggar?It would not be Welsh rugby if we were not

0:18:52 > 0:18:57having a debate about who will play fly half, using three in the last

0:18:57 > 0:19:00quarter of games, Jonathan. It's Dan Biggar today, what does that say to

0:19:00 > 0:19:08you about how this game will go?I think Dan was number one when the

0:19:08 > 0:19:12season started. I think it will be a tight game. A big aerial battle, and

0:19:12 > 0:19:18he's one of the best in the world at catching and dating. It's an

0:19:18 > 0:19:22opportunity for Dan to show he can play the expansive game and where

0:19:22 > 0:19:26they are trying to get it. -- catching and kicking. It's a big

0:19:26 > 0:19:32game for Dan today. Get Halfpenny and George North into it. And also

0:19:32 > 0:19:37Dan Biggar's strengths, defensively and dictating the play.Don't Wales

0:19:37 > 0:19:42just need to identify their best fly half, whether it's Dan Biggar,

0:19:42 > 0:19:46Gareth Anscombe, Rhys Patchell, and stick with them?I think so. It's

0:19:46 > 0:19:52one of these things where last autumn and this season, they have

0:19:52 > 0:19:55three international stand-offs. They have Argentina this summer, I doubt

0:19:55 > 0:19:59if Dan will go, he can have a rest, and the other two can fight it out.

0:19:59 > 0:20:03But next autumn they will have to decide who is number-1 and stick

0:20:03 > 0:20:08with him through the World Cup. Dan today, if he can show he can play

0:20:08 > 0:20:15the expansive game,, it puts him in number-1 position.Dub edition for

0:20:15 > 0:20:19the number ten jersey, but in the back row you could pick anybody from

0:20:19 > 0:20:23six or seven players. -- competition. All considerable

0:20:23 > 0:20:30players in their own right. Thinking of who is not involved and Sam falls

0:20:30 > 0:20:34into that equation. What does Justin Tipuric bring to the Wales back row?

0:20:34 > 0:20:43Very high energy levels and great handling skills. A great link. He is

0:20:43 > 0:20:47like Martyn was when he was playing. One of the finest players I have

0:20:47 > 0:20:51played with. And in channels, it's what he's picked for, so comfortable

0:20:51 > 0:20:56out there. And he's great tackling. Both quality, you can see the

0:20:56 > 0:21:01balance. He has done nothing wrong this tournament. Hopefully he can

0:21:01 > 0:21:06make an impact off the bench if he gets the opportunity.Talking about

0:21:06 > 0:21:08back row players and we talked about the

0:21:08 > 0:21:10back row players and we talked about the breakdown a lot in the course of

0:21:10 > 0:21:13this championship. There is a temptation that the breakdown means

0:21:13 > 0:21:18the back row, but not necessarily for stop turnovers won in the Six

0:21:18 > 0:21:21Nations, four of the top ten people involved are French players and none

0:21:21 > 0:21:27of them play in the back row, you have a centre, scrum-half, hooker.

0:21:27 > 0:21:31It's interesting, it's basically the person who gets there, Sam.People

0:21:31 > 0:21:32focus on

0:21:32 > 0:21:33person who gets there, Sam.People focus on the number seven when it

0:21:33 > 0:21:38comes to the breakdown, but it's a skill that everybody has to have,

0:21:38 > 0:21:461-23. I think France, the coaches have told them, particularly last

0:21:46 > 0:21:50week, they were so aggressive at going after the ball in the

0:21:50 > 0:21:54breakdown and Machenaud is a great example of that. He's extreme to get

0:21:54 > 0:22:04rid of. Fran Sabin told to target this area. In this situation, George

0:22:04 > 0:22:11Ford is too far away. -- France have been told to target this area. This

0:22:11 > 0:22:16is a common theme happening here. The France number six is on the

0:22:16 > 0:22:24wrong side again, Lauret, and it's a common theme, the tackled player is

0:22:24 > 0:22:28not blown away to Greg. To combat this, there are two things I would

0:22:28 > 0:22:33think, one you have to get a lot closer to the attacking player,

0:22:33 > 0:22:36which Owen Farrell does in a situation. If I am coaching young

0:22:36 > 0:22:39players, I always say that you have to be with an arm's length of the

0:22:39 > 0:22:45bulk carrier, to get yourself a better chance of getting there. Owen

0:22:45 > 0:22:48Farrell is so much closer to the bulk carrier, giving you a better

0:22:48 > 0:22:52chance to get rid of the threat at the breakdown. The second thing, in

0:22:52 > 0:22:58the week to the game, you could go to the referee as a captain or coach

0:22:58 > 0:23:04and say, you need to roll faster. Looking at the defence to the

0:23:04 > 0:23:11attack.The most pleasing thing in this competition, a couple of clips

0:23:11 > 0:23:19here, Tipuric out wide on the outside. Watch how wide Tipuric is.

0:23:19 > 0:23:21For too long Wales have been too narrow and the forwards have been

0:23:21 > 0:23:25very narrow. What's been really encouraging is the forwards passing

0:23:25 > 0:23:31the ball. Sybil pass from Alun Wyn Jones, but for two long you have

0:23:31 > 0:23:36seen him to get under his shoulder and just carry. But this is out the

0:23:36 > 0:23:40back to Hadleigh Parkes it throws a fantastic pass. Number seven and six

0:23:40 > 0:23:44on the outside. It's something Wales have struggled within the past but

0:23:44 > 0:23:50they are evolving into real lethal attacking game for stop and that's

0:23:50 > 0:23:54against Ireland, a strong defensive side. And Cory Hill, the centre row,

0:23:54 > 0:23:59we have seen in the past, around the corner and carry up. It's great ball

0:23:59 > 0:24:02to Scott Williams and Halfpenny scores. This has been the most

0:24:02 > 0:24:09encouraging thing of the campaign. We are being coached to do that at

0:24:09 > 0:24:16Wales. It gives you the extra player out why to exploit the overlaps.

0:24:16 > 0:24:20Here is the ovation, France led by Mathieu Bastareaud, from villain to

0:24:20 > 0:24:24hero in French rugby in six weeks, the traditional forward role, coming

0:24:24 > 0:24:29into the arena. Huge pyrotechnics for the final match of this year's

0:24:29 > 0:24:35Six Nations Championships. Serge, do the French fans come here with

0:24:35 > 0:24:40expectation or Hope?Expectation, from the way the France team played

0:24:40 > 0:24:44lastly, we hope today they will play without any pressure and that they

0:24:44 > 0:24:49will be willing to throw the ball away and get that sense of scoring

0:24:49 > 0:24:54tries and trying to win the game.We talk a lot about home advantage in

0:24:54 > 0:24:58the Six Nations, but nine of the last 18 games between these sides

0:24:58 > 0:25:03have been won by the waiting. Explain that. We've had 14 matches

0:25:03 > 0:25:10in this year's Six Nations so far, 1120 minutes of international rugby

0:25:10 > 0:25:14if you are counting. 80 minutes ago. And that romance took in, we have

0:25:14 > 0:25:21had quite a day so far. Second place is at stake in this match. -- and at

0:25:21 > 0:25:27Rome and Twickenham, we have had quite a day so far. Commentary after

0:25:27 > 0:25:35the anthems comes from Jonathan Davies, Ryan Moore and...

0:25:35 > 0:25:37# Allons enfants de la Patrie Le jour de gloire est arrive

0:25:37 > 0:25:41# Contre nous de la tyrannie L'etendard sanglant est leve

0:25:41 > 0:25:45# L'etendard sanglant est leve

0:25:45 > 0:25:53# Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces feroces soldats

0:25:54 > 0:26:02# Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras Egorger vos fils, vos compagnes!

0:26:02 > 0:26:07# Aux armes, citoyens Formez vos bataillons

0:26:07 > 0:26:15# Marchons, marchons

0:26:15 > 0:26:23# Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons # !

0:26:41 > 0:26:49# Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi

0:26:51 > 0:26:59# Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri

0:27:00 > 0:27:09# Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad

0:27:11 > 0:27:19# Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed. #

0:27:22 > 0:27:28# Gwlad, gwlad

0:27:28 > 0:27:35# Pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad

0:27:35 > 0:27:43# Tra mor yn fur i'r bur hoff bau

0:27:46 > 0:27:54# O bydded i'r heniaith barhau. #

0:28:11 > 0:28:22COMMENTATOR: Good evening. Hello, Alun Wyn Jones had a rest in the

0:28:22 > 0:28:27last round but he is back in the second row as captain. Just Navidi

0:28:27 > 0:28:35where's the sacred seven shirt and Justin Tipuric WES six. Dan Biggar

0:28:35 > 0:28:38has been handed the more sacred number ten shirt. Scott Williams

0:28:38 > 0:28:42partnering Hadleigh Parkes in the centre. Halfpenny at full-backs,

0:28:42 > 0:28:50Steff Evans is the wing, but starts on the bench. There is no Martyn in

0:28:50 > 0:28:56a French front row, the outstanding captain of France is injured. --

0:28:56 > 0:29:04there is no Guilhem Guirado in the French rent roll. -- French front

0:29:04 > 0:29:05role.

0:30:00 > 0:30:04It seems only yesterday Johnny Sexton was dropping a goal in Paris

0:30:04 > 0:30:11whose sent Ireland on the track of a Grand Slam. They achieved that at

0:30:11 > 0:30:15Twickenham today. This in Cardiff is per second place. It is Wales

0:30:15 > 0:30:29against France. Hadleigh Parkes. Takes Wales out of their own 22.

0:30:29 > 0:30:37Benjamin Fall, the French full-back. His first touch. Justin Tipuric and

0:30:37 > 0:30:49Alun Wyn Jones. Holding up. The French prop, Jefferson Poirot. The

0:30:49 > 0:30:54ball for Wales.

0:30:55 > 0:30:57ball for Wales. George North over the ball, leaves it for Gareth

0:30:57 > 0:31:09Davies. Leigh Halfpenny. Faletau.

0:31:12 > 0:31:20Cory Hill, scorer of a try, his first, against Italy. Rob Evans.

0:31:20 > 0:31:27Always try to get the ball away. Tipuric sorts out the bouncing ball

0:31:27 > 0:31:39and it goes- the first time. George North with the follow-up tackle.

0:31:50 > 0:31:53First penalty of the game.

0:31:57 > 0:32:03Wales will be disappointed with giving a penalty away because the

0:32:03 > 0:32:07defensive set was good up until then. They have to meet the

0:32:07 > 0:32:10significant French physical challenge first opportunity they

0:32:10 > 0:32:18were doing. Thereafter they need to keep the ball I've and move the big

0:32:18 > 0:32:22French side around.I think that is the case. Run them out of steam. You

0:32:22 > 0:32:25don't want to be playing in your own 22 because they are a big French

0:32:25 > 0:32:30side. The kicking game will be instrumental because there are some

0:32:30 > 0:32:35big lads in Grosso and Fickou who will be comfortable under the high

0:32:35 > 0:32:40ball.

0:32:41 > 0:32:52ball.The French line-out has not been that efficient. This one works.

0:32:52 > 0:32:57Wales trying to push towards the touchline. Tipuric over the ball.

0:32:57 > 0:33:05Delays the release.

0:33:09 > 0:33:16The first glimpse of Bastareaud on the charge. Trinh-Duc. First points

0:33:16 > 0:33:20of this game in Cardiff and it is the French outside-half with the

0:33:20 > 0:33:26drop goal.

0:33:27 > 0:33:33drop goal.Great start by France, very simple. That tactic I think

0:33:33 > 0:33:40that is underused.It is, I just felt he had no backs outside him,

0:33:40 > 0:33:47the ball was slow. He had no option. Took it very well.Wales took the

0:33:47 > 0:33:54restart quickly. Chaos at the back, Liam Williams with the follow-up!

0:33:54 > 0:33:57Confusion in the French ranks from the moment they let the restart

0:33:57 > 0:34:04bones, to the moment Trinh-Duc got himself in a pickle, Liam Williams

0:34:04 > 0:34:11with the immediate response for Wales.

0:34:11 > 0:34:18Wales.Bastareaud talking to the referee. Would it be bad for me to

0:34:18 > 0:34:22see how typically French? Not dealing with the kick-off, not

0:34:22 > 0:34:25paying attention, not dealing with the subsequent play. Whatever you

0:34:25 > 0:34:32do, even if it does not go ten get your hands on it.It does go ten, it

0:34:32 > 0:34:37bounces, they all waited.What I'm saying is you cannot afford to take

0:34:37 > 0:34:43the chance. Have to claim the ball. I don't know what Trinh-Duc is doing

0:34:43 > 0:34:47and I think he's injured himself. They played on and it's a very good

0:34:47 > 0:34:53try by Wales. France will be desperately disappointed, what a

0:34:53 > 0:34:56shambles.They were still complaining when the ball did go ten

0:34:56 > 0:35:06metres.

0:35:10 > 0:35:23The routine of Leigh Halfpenny, if you stern words with himself.

0:35:25 > 0:35:31Just pushed it a little bit. Just didn't come at all. This is the

0:35:31 > 0:35:38kick, drops short, then it bounces over so it's play over. Then,

0:35:38 > 0:35:41nothing on. I have no idea what Trinh-Duc is trying to do to be

0:35:41 > 0:35:43honest.

0:35:57 > 0:36:05Just outside their 22, Wales take their time. Gareth Davies down

0:36:05 > 0:36:22towards Fall. Tauleigne, the French number eight. Trinh-Duc.

0:36:23 > 0:36:35Fickou, powerful surge by Gomes Sa.

0:36:36 > 0:36:47Poirot, the other prop. Good counter rucking by Wales but away comes

0:36:47 > 0:36:52Camara.

0:36:52 > 0:36:55Camara.I think Bastareaud is limping after that tackle from

0:36:55 > 0:37:05Williams.Machenaud, this is Doumayrou at centre. Justin Tipuric

0:37:05 > 0:37:13twists out of the way. Drops the ball, chance for Wales to counter.

0:37:13 > 0:37:17Scott Williams, Liam Williams. Leigh Halfpenny sets off in pursuit.

0:37:17 > 0:37:25Gareth Davies with him. Grosso covering back for France.Everyone

0:37:25 > 0:37:31knows Wales, two plusses, get it away from the traffic, good play,

0:37:31 > 0:37:35good kick, all from the turnover. Very good attacking position for

0:37:35 > 0:37:43Wales.So often you see the first receiver of the turnover being a

0:37:43 > 0:37:46kick, I spent its best to push it through two pairs of hands then you

0:37:46 > 0:37:55can make the decision.Tipuric. Wins the line-out. Penalty advantage

0:37:55 > 0:38:03Wales. It's a free play. It's also forward progress from the forwards.

0:38:03 > 0:38:08Gareth Davies on his own for the moment, cannot find Liam Williams

0:38:08 > 0:38:17but there was the advantage. This is another point for Wales.France have

0:38:17 > 0:38:19shown throughout the championship if they get put under pressure they are

0:38:19 > 0:38:25prone to giving away penalties.I think it's so important, France are

0:38:25 > 0:38:30always going to give you opportunities. We saw in the

0:38:30 > 0:38:36Scotland game, Scotland winning on kicks but you got to play in the

0:38:36 > 0:38:39right areas and you will get penalties from an ill disciplined

0:38:39 > 0:38:52French side. For some reason they cannot giving penalties away.

0:38:52 > 0:38:55Not for the first time this championship Vahaamahina gives away

0:38:55 > 0:39:07a penalty.He is very adept at it. You can say that.

0:39:39 > 0:39:46Missed with his first, readjusted for his second.The penalty is good.

0:39:46 > 0:39:55Wells extend their lead, 8-3. -- Wales extend their lead.

0:40:05 > 0:40:13Not Hadleigh Parkes this time, George North. Catches the restart.

0:40:13 > 0:40:27Justin Tipuric under real pressure from Pelissie. Gareth Davies, deep

0:40:27 > 0:40:35towards Benjamin Fall. Back up into the slightly hazy air. Good

0:40:35 > 0:40:45follow-up tackle. Does well to get it back.

0:40:45 > 0:40:50it back. Gareth Davies looks outside-half. He was at the bottom

0:40:50 > 0:41:01of the ruck. It bounces. Everyone is onside says the referee. France

0:41:01 > 0:41:09surge forward. Bastareaud are not limping now. Camara held by Liam

0:41:09 > 0:41:18Williams.

0:41:18 > 0:41:23Williams. Pops it up for Machenaud. Pelissie, good slip from the hooker,

0:41:23 > 0:41:29on comes Doumayrou.

0:41:29 > 0:41:36on comes Doumayrou. Quicker hands this time. It's gone loose again.

0:41:36 > 0:41:40Tipuric improvises well. Liam Williams. Slightly on his own. For

0:41:40 > 0:41:55the moment. Gareth Davies arrives. Scott Williams. Navidi. Hadleigh

0:41:55 > 0:42:03Parkes puts too much on it. There was a Welsh overlap.There was, but

0:42:03 > 0:42:07as it started in the autumn, they did not engage defenders so when you

0:42:07 > 0:42:11create numbers you have to engage a defender otherwise they drift on

0:42:11 > 0:42:15onto the centre the winner so it looked as if you've got an overlap

0:42:15 > 0:42:19but unless you engage them they are just going to drift onto it so they

0:42:19 > 0:42:22have to straighten up a little bit. Squared shoulders up, hold

0:42:22 > 0:42:27defenders.

0:42:32 > 0:42:36defenders.Pelissie has been very prominent. Quick ball from the

0:42:36 > 0:42:45line-out. The loop play. Liam Williams key men of his wing to take

0:42:45 > 0:42:53the man.

0:42:55 > 0:43:05Just a penalty. He's the ball. Holding on and dangerous into the

0:43:05 > 0:43:09tackle, penalty.Interesting, little runaround by the French. The

0:43:09 > 0:43:15interesting thing to me was the back three of Wales, defended very well.

0:43:15 > 0:43:20Liam Williams spotted the last man was Halfpenny. Creative stuff from

0:43:20 > 0:43:26France.

0:43:27 > 0:43:34France.That's the replay. Good position. Over the ball. Feet above

0:43:34 > 0:43:42the horizontal, that is the reason for the penalty.Again it's just

0:43:42 > 0:43:47silly play.Yes.Another penalty against France, this time for taking

0:43:47 > 0:43:52Justin Tipuric and the air. It's a free pass and a chance for George

0:43:52 > 0:44:01North. No advantage. Back to the line-out infringement. It's an easy

0:44:01 > 0:44:07one to spot.It is so obvious, the question you might pose is what goes

0:44:07 > 0:44:11to a player 's mind when he decides to do that and the answer is

0:44:11 > 0:44:16nothing.

0:44:16 > 0:44:22nothing. That visually obvious as well, not subtle.Gabrillagues who

0:44:22 > 0:44:27gave it away.

0:44:27 > 0:44:31gave it away.Everyone in the stadium saw what he did wrong.To be

0:44:31 > 0:44:35fair to France I think they have improved game on game in this year

0:44:35 > 0:44:40's Six Nations. But this is a constant problem and if you are

0:44:40 > 0:44:45giving penalties away that are needless...Jacques Brunel had gone

0:44:45 > 0:44:51into semiretirement. Certainly on the international scene. The one

0:44:51 > 0:44:56thing he's always done, his players love him they want to play for him

0:44:56 > 0:45:02and the old coach lost the changing room.They will have to play for him

0:45:02 > 0:45:07this summer, they have a nice, easy to of New Zealand!

0:45:27 > 0:45:37The last one before it and now this one, straight to the middle. 11-3.

0:45:37 > 0:45:40It's not just the fact that you concede points from kickable

0:45:40 > 0:45:45positions like France did there, it is that it constantly takes away any

0:45:45 > 0:45:48momentum you have. It gives the initiative to the opposition, and

0:45:48 > 0:45:53territory as well.

0:45:56 > 0:46:07Hadleigh Parkes calls for it. France with some late counter rucking which

0:46:07 > 0:46:12does hold it up.

0:46:12 > 0:46:18Dan Biggar.

0:46:18 > 0:46:23That's a good clearance.It's a good exit. Restarts are a very unrelated

0:46:23 > 0:46:30part of the game, they are absolutely crucial -- a very

0:46:30 > 0:46:35underrated part of the game. Very simple, good catch, two drives.

0:46:45 > 0:46:51Vahaamahina catches, Pelissie with the throw and he goes to the back of

0:46:51 > 0:46:59the maul.

0:46:59 > 0:47:07Wales hold the maul up.He was talking. Players can to help him.

0:47:07 > 0:47:17Did not go to ground. Now Wales can clear their lines again.Technical

0:47:17 > 0:47:24defect, getting the ball to the back but not keeping there.

0:47:24 > 0:47:30Alun Wyn Jones able to just come around and put his hand on the ball

0:47:30 > 0:47:35and direct everything.

0:47:35 > 0:47:40It can be quite a lonely place, stuck on your own in the middle of a

0:47:40 > 0:47:49French maul.It can be! When there are not as many cameras, certainly.

0:47:49 > 0:48:06No idea! Bagley. -- thankfully.Tom Francis.

0:48:14 > 0:48:22Gomes Sa is the French tight head. From Guinea-Bissau originally which

0:48:22 > 0:48:32is more Portuguese by history. He came to Lisbon, then to France. It's

0:48:32 > 0:48:39a bit too messy. Gareth Davies takes it quickly.

0:48:39 > 0:48:46it quickly. Support arrives, Tipuric to scrum-half, Rob Evans. Faletau.

0:48:46 > 0:48:58Scott Williams long, Liam Williams. No touch. Play on. Faletau. Acting

0:48:58 > 0:49:07scrum-half. Cory Hill above his head. Faletau again. Dan Biggar.

0:49:07 > 0:49:12George North in pursuit. Navidi also. George North gets hands to it,

0:49:12 > 0:49:15went backwards.

0:49:21 > 0:49:30Faletau, Tipuric. Ken Owens. First there. Go the other way says

0:49:30 > 0:49:39everybody. Rob Evans. That is out of play this time.

0:49:41 > 0:49:44play this time.Both attacks, the site are not committing much to the

0:49:44 > 0:49:48rucks and mauls, now straightening it up so defence is very comfortable

0:49:48 > 0:50:01on both sides. There is the hit.

0:50:01 > 0:50:1020 stones and that the centre.

0:50:24 > 0:50:33Camara wins the line-out. Machenaud thinks there's a bit of space up the

0:50:33 > 0:50:38blindside, Fickou, gets the past two Pelissie, Lauret with him, good

0:50:38 > 0:50:45tackle by Liam Williams. Machenaud, Vahaamahina, Poirot, it's going to

0:50:45 > 0:50:53be a try for Fickou.

0:50:53 > 0:50:59So often when you see opportunities made you don't see players

0:50:59 > 0:51:03finishing, the panic and take the wrong option. But there tremendous

0:51:03 > 0:51:13play by France. Recognition of the right time to release the ball.

0:51:13 > 0:51:16Brilliant play, first of all the forwards, the inter-passing down the

0:51:16 > 0:51:19right-hand side and once they've done the break down the right-hand

0:51:19 > 0:51:27side everyone congregates, there he is, Fickou started it off, he's on

0:51:27 > 0:51:31the ground, Pelissie spends, Lauret on the outside and once you've

0:51:31 > 0:51:35attracted all the traffic defenders to the right-hand side there you go

0:51:35 > 0:51:39it's a lovely pass and Fickou is there, he started it and he finishes

0:51:39 > 0:51:43it under the post. Brilliant French try.

0:51:55 > 0:52:05Conversion is good from Maxime Machenaud.So many times you see

0:52:05 > 0:52:09players in this position wanting to run into the defender instead of

0:52:09 > 0:52:15drawing players properly but he's immediately available, it means the

0:52:15 > 0:52:20Welsh outweighed could not reorganise, to be fair to the Welsh

0:52:20 > 0:52:23defenders on the outside they had an impossible task because there were

0:52:23 > 0:52:29three or four French players outside them.Back under way after a little

0:52:29 > 0:52:36bit of brilliance from Fickou.

0:52:52 > 0:53:03Doumayrou, France asking for a bit more ground, Wayne Barnes unmoved.

0:53:13 > 0:53:21France picked off a Welshpool. Doumayrou. Fall.

0:53:30 > 0:53:34Trinh-Duc, France going from side to side, beautifully picked up, now by

0:53:34 > 0:53:46Liam Williams. Gareth Davies. Ken Owens there but France have numbers.

0:53:47 > 0:53:51The game has come alive.I was just going to say, thoroughly enjoyable

0:53:51 > 0:54:04so far from both sides.Lovely cross kick. Camara almost gets it.

0:54:04 > 0:54:10kick. Camara almost gets it. Think it's his latencies injured.

0:54:11 > 0:54:12it's his latencies injured.Williams committed himself because he saw the

0:54:12 > 0:54:21other Welsh player was grounded and there would have been an overlap.I

0:54:21 > 0:54:24love the variety in France's play. When there are a lot of defenders in

0:54:24 > 0:54:31front of them, Fickou passes it, Pelissie, all the defenders are

0:54:31 > 0:54:35attracted to that area, everyone goes there, all the players are

0:54:35 > 0:54:49there, bouncing ball, dutiful pass, it's a great line. Brilliant try.

0:54:52 > 0:54:58We have more than one French player down. Camara is carrying on. But

0:54:58 > 0:55:04Zach Fulton try scorer, he is fine. This is Camara, he does not look too

0:55:04 > 0:55:13good at all.They will not want Camara to go off, he's been one of

0:55:13 > 0:55:23their consistent performers.

0:55:28 > 0:55:31Doumayrou is back on his feet.

0:55:51 > 0:56:04Faletau protect it. Leigh Halfpenny.

0:56:04 > 0:56:06Doumayrou has him.

0:56:14 > 0:56:19Dan Biggar delivers safely, Cory Hill. One of the finds of the

0:56:19 > 0:56:30season, Cory Hill. Second row of the Dragons. Liam Williams.

0:56:30 > 0:56:31Dragons. Liam Williams. The captain, Wales second most capped player of

0:56:31 > 0:56:40all time. 117 today. Evans makes a yard or two through the tackle.

0:56:40 > 0:56:47Scott Williams, Faletau. Hadleigh Parkes. Leigh Halfpenny stretches

0:56:47 > 0:56:58out with an arm. Josh Navidi. Spun round. Good angle, good pass, Alun

0:56:58 > 0:57:04Wyn Jones, good off-load by the captain again. Rob Evans. Scott

0:57:04 > 0:57:12Williams.

0:57:12 > 0:57:20Williams. Bastareaud over the ball. The referee whistle goes.

0:57:21 > 0:57:23The referee whistle goes.You see him doing the hard graft, Alun Wyn

0:57:23 > 0:57:29Jones. And the ambition and the dexterity for that off-load. What

0:57:29 > 0:57:34Wales are doing well at the moment is they are clearing French

0:57:34 > 0:57:38defenders out. France have caused other teams significant problems

0:57:38 > 0:57:44around the breakdown all over the field. Whilst Wales perhaps are not

0:57:44 > 0:57:47engaging and are a bit too deep whilst they are making the pass and

0:57:47 > 0:57:53Arab lateral they are retaining the ball and doing it well.They are

0:57:53 > 0:57:57holding the inside defenders. Scott Williams needs to take it may be a

0:57:57 > 0:58:01yard closer to the defensive line and just hold that one and then they

0:58:01 > 0:58:04can break in numbers but this guy, I tell you what, his game has improved

0:58:04 > 0:58:10year-on-year. He works on something and this year, from the autumn as

0:58:10 > 0:58:14well, is lines of running, giving an option to the scrum-half, has been

0:58:14 > 0:58:19brilliant. He just runs a great line on the blindside shoulder of a

0:58:19 > 0:58:27defender.This was the moment away Bastareaud goes in for it and it is

0:58:27 > 0:58:33a knock-on somewhere.Unfortunate there. Scott Williams got a bang on

0:58:33 > 0:58:40the head. He will have to get off and get it checked. Interesting to

0:58:40 > 0:58:50see what they do here.It looks as if the day is done for Camara.It

0:58:50 > 0:58:53interesting because you've got Steff Evans who can command, George North

0:58:53 > 0:58:59can go in the centre or they could put Gareth Anscombe on and put Dan

0:58:59 > 0:59:04Biggar at number 12. Let's see what happens. He's up on his feet.

0:59:04 > 0:59:09Surprises me I think that he had a bang on the head but he must have

0:59:09 > 0:59:15been thoroughly checked and can play on.

0:59:16 > 0:59:27on.Babillot comes into the French back row, his first cap.

0:59:29 > 0:59:32Always a proud moment, first cap. He will be thrilled and children should

0:59:32 > 0:59:45be. -- and so he should be.The missing captain in the middle.

1:00:20 > 1:00:29George North into midfield. Scott Williams, straight into it.

1:00:29 > 1:00:32Bastareaud covered. Williams and Hadleigh Parkes have to get back

1:00:32 > 1:00:39with a lot of French shirts breathing down on them. Stolen by

1:00:39 > 1:00:47France. Liam Williams looked up. Poirot long and police seek drops

1:00:47 > 1:00:54the ball.The front row, and those other players you want it there if

1:00:54 > 1:00:56you are a Frenchman. Great opportunity again, the turnover

1:00:56 > 1:01:01ball.

1:01:01 > 1:01:08ball.You see here... We haven't got a kick, but... You've got to drop on

1:01:08 > 1:01:19that, slide, make sure your body is there.

1:01:20 > 1:01:29there.Can't take the pass at shin level, Adrien Pelissie.Try to get

1:01:29 > 1:01:33the ball out to him, and unfortunately not the best pass for

1:01:33 > 1:01:42Pelissie to take.

1:02:04 > 1:02:20Burying gauge. -- Brillante engage -- pre-engage.It's a modern thing.

1:02:20 > 1:02:26It means going girly to get the advantage, the weight going forward.

1:02:26 > 1:02:31The only way I can describe it is if you are setting off for a sprint and

1:02:31 > 1:02:36you're set of leaning forward on the front foot, see how much quicker you

1:02:36 > 1:02:40get away than when you are leaning on the back foot. It's a small

1:02:40 > 1:02:43thing, but it makes a difference, which is why they are trying to stop

1:02:43 > 1:02:50it.

1:02:50 > 1:02:55Seems all right this time. The captains might want to get it away a

1:02:55 > 1:02:58bit quickly. Hadleigh Parkes couldn't quite time his run.Head to

1:02:58 > 1:03:06head there.Machenaud...Ken Owens is also limping. A wonderful catch

1:03:06 > 1:03:13by George North. As to leave the scrum-half alone.That should be a

1:03:13 > 1:03:24penalty.Rob Evans at scrum-half. Navidi in midfield.

1:03:24 > 1:03:29Bastareaud came a little late on Hadleigh Parkes. But they are all

1:03:29 > 1:03:37back in position.

1:03:37 > 1:03:47back in position.A high tackle, a simple tackle.

1:03:55 > 1:04:00Pelissie has had a rough minute. Just can't go over the shoulder

1:04:00 > 1:04:05again. Can't do it.

1:04:05 > 1:04:08again. Can't do it. Today's game, you can't go over the top of the

1:04:08 > 1:04:12shoulder. You are going to get penalised.On that occasion he

1:04:12 > 1:04:16couldn't claim the player was going down or was slept. Just aimed too

1:04:16 > 1:04:26high. -- or slipped. It's an ill disciplined penalty, wasn't

1:04:26 > 1:04:30necessary. As all the options open to tackle wherever he wants, and he

1:04:30 > 1:04:39chooses the wrong one.

1:04:57 > 1:05:04Just like the last two, Keyes said. Just like the last two.

1:05:08 > 1:05:21Even better.He's found his range now. Just punched the first one. Now

1:05:21 > 1:05:27he's in there. All the French players know him, he knows how good

1:05:27 > 1:05:31he is and the length of his kick as well. He has been over into Long,

1:05:31 > 1:05:39and in the end they give five penalties away now.A bit of a gap

1:05:39 > 1:05:47behind Faletau, who turned well and took it.

1:05:47 > 1:05:49took it. Made up for lost ground.

1:06:11 > 1:06:19The big handoff from Remi Grasso, seen for the first time. Hadleigh

1:06:19 > 1:06:30Parkes with the tackle in the end.

1:06:39 > 1:06:42Again, France's recycling pretty quickly.

1:06:52 > 1:06:55The first one looked a little forward. That looked more than a

1:06:55 > 1:07:03little forward.France throwing a few inside Bourse. Fall looks very

1:07:03 > 1:07:11dangerous when he gets the ball. -- inside balls. Clearly forward. One

1:07:11 > 1:07:17thing rugby union has to work on is the decoy runners. They have to time

1:07:17 > 1:07:22their run, after look like they have the ball, stay behind the ball. It's

1:07:22 > 1:07:28so easy for defenders just to drift. That's just an example, you can see

1:07:28 > 1:07:33the wider context, but what Wales will not want to happen is France

1:07:33 > 1:07:38start to get beyond the initial defence. The scrambled defence is

1:07:38 > 1:07:42good, has been good, but surely as a defence coach, you would far prefer

1:07:42 > 1:07:47it not to come into play.Ireland are listening to Paul Grayson, the

1:07:47 > 1:07:52old England outside half, talking at about France before the tournament

1:07:52 > 1:07:55began, saying they were so protectable nowadays. They come in

1:07:55 > 1:08:00with runners, around they come. But this game and this campaign, they

1:08:00 > 1:08:03have offered much more with the crossfield kicks and passing game,

1:08:03 > 1:08:12short and long. What can Benjamin Fall do? Up into the air. Gareth

1:08:12 > 1:08:20Davies is up and underneath it. Justin Tipuric, over the ball.

1:08:20 > 1:08:28Faletau. Tipuric began at scrum-half. Gareth Davies, slowly

1:08:28 > 1:08:32back up to his feet. He's right now.

1:08:38 > 1:08:42Gael Fickou under pressure from Liam Williams, and Liam Williams seizes

1:08:42 > 1:08:49the ball majestically. Scott Williams flicks it up for Ken Owens.

1:08:49 > 1:08:55The Heather Kerr makes a couple of yours, good yards. Hitting them hard

1:08:55 > 1:09:06in midfield. -- the

1:09:06 > 1:09:17in midfield. -- the hooker. Scott Williams onto Tom Francis.

1:09:22 > 1:09:28Faletau tried to cut the angle.

1:09:28 > 1:09:35Tackle by Bastareaud.There he is, Mathieu Bastareaud. Such a

1:09:35 > 1:09:39powerhouse. Not just in the tackle, but over the tackle.He's very

1:09:39 > 1:09:46strong over the ball. What Wales have to do as well, a couple of

1:09:46 > 1:09:49opportunities there, but Scott Williams against a couple of the

1:09:49 > 1:09:52front row players. After spot the run and call for the ball when they

1:09:52 > 1:09:56see a mismatch on the front row forward, especially this late into

1:09:56 > 1:10:04the first half.It's the same for Wales. Make the most in recognising

1:10:04 > 1:10:08there were number is clear. Liam Williams just slightly overrun, the

1:10:08 > 1:10:16man on the outside. Navidi just gets the ball away. There was a gap, had

1:10:16 > 1:10:21he been two yards deeper he would have been in the corner.To the

1:10:21 > 1:10:26short side, no missed passes. You are right, Brian. Hold his depth,

1:10:26 > 1:10:38and it was a chance.Popped up for Bastareaud. Pelissie.

1:10:38 > 1:10:42Poirot, not a great pass for Doumayrou. He's a strong old

1:10:42 > 1:10:47customer too.

1:10:47 > 1:10:54customer too. Another tackle by Cory Hill. 34 out of 44 was his tackle

1:10:54 > 1:11:04stats for the championship. Wales slowdown.

1:11:05 > 1:11:08slowdown. Doumayrou held up by Tipuric and Scott Williams. The

1:11:08 > 1:11:18referee says Maul. Wales get a put in off the scrum.Roux good work by

1:11:18 > 1:11:23Tipuric.

1:11:26 > 1:11:33Tipuric.-- good work by Tipuric. The rules of the ruck didn't apply

1:11:33 > 1:11:39and Wales get the effective turnover.

1:11:39 > 1:11:43turnover.They are all in there, Cory Hill, Tipuric, Scott Williams.

1:11:43 > 1:11:53Turnover ball.

1:12:20 > 1:12:28Wales earn themselves a penalty at the scrummage.What this will do

1:12:28 > 1:12:33now, it's a penalty, looks rather innocuous, but no, the line-out in

1:12:33 > 1:12:37the French half. Wales should win it, and maybe you get something just

1:12:37 > 1:12:47before half-time. There's no need for it in the scrum.

1:12:47 > 1:12:49for it in the scrum.And maybe knowing it's so close to half-time,

1:12:49 > 1:12:58Dan Biggar went for a little bit more yardage there. A good to touch.

1:12:58 > 1:13:02Trying to get an explanation, Jefferson Poirot. Solve a mystery!

1:13:02 > 1:13:08Of why he was penalised.

1:13:09 > 1:13:11Of why he was penalised.Liam Williams off his wing and then

1:13:11 > 1:13:18appended. -- then up ended. France control the undignified process

1:13:18 > 1:13:25pretty well. Wales are still on the attack and Liam Williams did well to

1:13:25 > 1:13:27present.

1:13:33 > 1:13:41Scott Williams straightens, twists. Again, it's... It's that holding up

1:13:41 > 1:13:49and holding on that costs the attacking team.

1:13:50 > 1:13:55attacking team.A bit streetwise by Gareth Davies. I'm sure he knew it

1:13:55 > 1:13:59wasn't his penalty, but if you say, you made the mistake, you

1:13:59 > 1:14:02effectively denied the opposition the opportunity to do the same and

1:14:02 > 1:14:10I'm not surprised fans were upset about it.

1:14:10 > 1:14:13about it.One try apiece in the first half. We are into overtime at

1:14:13 > 1:14:20the interval. France will make their way slowly towards the line-out. One

1:14:20 > 1:14:26last chance.

1:14:26 > 1:14:29last chance.This is when game management comes into it. France

1:14:29 > 1:14:34have one Chansiri on out. The next breakdown, the whistle goes. What do

1:14:34 > 1:14:42you do? Attack like normal and see where you go, or Punch three, four,

1:14:42 > 1:14:48five times, drop the ball in the middle and see where you go.Here

1:14:48 > 1:14:56comes Bastareaud. Still going.Get over the gain line.

1:15:00 > 1:15:10A brilliant bit of ripping by Scott Williams. If Grosso has a trademark

1:15:10 > 1:15:16handoff,...There you go, take the points. Williams taking out the man

1:15:16 > 1:15:25beyond the ball.Grosso flat on his back. Doesn't look good for the

1:15:25 > 1:15:28French captain.They have the penalty, it will give them the

1:15:28 > 1:15:32chance of three points before half-time. That's exactly what I'm

1:15:32 > 1:15:36talking about, moving the ball wide and getting into situations where

1:15:36 > 1:15:41you have

1:15:45 > 1:15:48you have your forward and round the corner several times and you are

1:15:48 > 1:15:55virtually guaranteed.It's beyond the ball.He had a word with him

1:15:55 > 1:16:00last week and took him off. Look, just curb it a little bit. You wear

1:16:00 > 1:16:05your heart on your sleeve, and that maybe makes you the player you are,

1:16:05 > 1:16:14but sometimes you have to curb it, just little things like that. Try to

1:16:14 > 1:16:22counter ruck.Virtually within a metre of the bowl. Within a metre

1:16:22 > 1:16:26you'll probably get away with taking a player. Anything like that and you

1:16:26 > 1:16:32won't. And if you do take a player come you can't carry on running with

1:16:32 > 1:16:37him. You have to let him go and play on with the game.A very

1:16:37 > 1:16:42load-bearing joint, the ankle under Mathieu Bastareaud. But he's still

1:16:42 > 1:16:46on the pitch. Maybe he thinks he can get to half-time and get a bit of

1:16:46 > 1:16:50treatment and then see what's what. Meanwhile, the most accurate kicker

1:16:50 > 1:17:01in this year's tournament, Maxime Machenaud.

1:17:15 > 1:17:23It's a rare miss by Machenaud. Wales will go in at half-time with a four

1:17:23 > 1:17:35point lead. Wales 14-10 France.

1:17:35 > 1:17:43STUDIO: It's an interesting contest, if it hasn't quite caught fire yet.

1:17:43 > 1:17:46Thanks to Francois Trinh-Duc, Liam Williams scoring a try in the corner

1:17:46 > 1:17:52after Trinh-Duc himself had given France the lead. Just four points in

1:17:52 > 1:17:59it. It's a good way to finish off this championship and it's anybody's

1:17:59 > 1:18:04game. What more could you want on this Saturday evening? First

1:18:04 > 1:18:06thoughts, Sam Warburton? Entertaining game, both teams

1:18:06 > 1:18:13playing. Wales attacking, France deep in their half. Both teams want

1:18:13 > 1:18:14to win and they want to score tries.

1:18:14 > 1:18:15deep in their half. Both teams want to win and they want to score tries.

1:18:15 > 1:18:19It's good for us, good for the neutral, but France have looked

1:18:19 > 1:18:22really good, I think. France looking good structurally. They look good

1:18:22 > 1:18:27off the ball, organising well. I think they are looking dangerous.

1:18:27 > 1:18:31It's good for the sport as a whole that France are looking and getting

1:18:31 > 1:18:34better progressively in this tournament.We can definitely see

1:18:34 > 1:18:39the way they are pushing the game. They started well with the drop

1:18:39 > 1:18:48goal. But they didn't adjust to that exception and the Welsh scored the

1:18:48 > 1:18:55try. So far there were some positive and negative. I want to say that the

1:18:55 > 1:19:01way they play is really interesting and hopefully it will give us more

1:19:01 > 1:19:06belief and a more positive attitude. You talk about the kick reception.

1:19:06 > 1:19:11An extraordinary preamble to the Liam Williams try. What was going on

1:19:11 > 1:19:14with the restart?It was a Comedy of

1:19:14 > 1:19:14Liam Williams try. What was going on with the restart?It was a Comedy of

1:19:14 > 1:19:17Errors from the French point of view. A great start and the drop

1:19:17 > 1:19:20goal. Wales will have highlighted there is a lot of space on the ten

1:19:20 > 1:19:28metre line. Doumayrou is a player we have highlighted. Alun Wyn Jones is

1:19:28 > 1:19:32much sharper. He knows it will bounce. It's a great kick from Scott

1:19:32 > 1:19:38Williams. And this is a laurel and Hardy moment from Trinh-Duc. He's

1:19:38 > 1:19:44holding his knee

1:19:44 > 1:19:48holding his knee as if he has injured it but it's comical. France

1:19:48 > 1:19:52making simple mistakes to lead Wales back into the game the.It is

1:19:52 > 1:19:58decision-making where we have struggled to make decisions, going

1:19:58 > 1:20:03for the ball and making sure we stop the action. The referee recall in it

1:20:03 > 1:20:10afterwards. You need to make the decision first.Imagining a still

1:20:10 > 1:20:11photo of Francois

1:20:11 > 1:20:13decision first.Imagining a still photo of Francois Trinh-Duc doing

1:20:13 > 1:20:15that. Liam Williams scoring there, and he gave away a wanton penalty at

1:20:15 > 1:20:19the end that Wales got away with. Interesting the relationship he has

1:20:19 > 1:20:23with Warren Gatland, who obviously thinks he is a great player, but

1:20:23 > 1:20:26understands that amid the volatility there are some personal issues as

1:20:26 > 1:20:34well.The way he dealt with it last week, his punishment was not coming

1:20:34 > 1:20:39back on last week. Some players you can give tough love, some players

1:20:39 > 1:20:43you need to put your arm around. You can give Liam Williams some tough

1:20:43 > 1:20:48love and he will take it on the chin and come back better dustup he's

1:20:48 > 1:20:50known for giving players a second chance and he has done that this

1:20:50 > 1:20:53week.The French tried was like the France of old.

1:20:53 > 1:20:57week.The French tried was like the France of old.Definitely. We can

1:20:57 > 1:21:03see from the set piece, Machenaud going to the blindside and serving

1:21:03 > 1:21:13his winger. After that we get Le Roux in support. Gael Fickou will

1:21:13 > 1:21:19take up the space and target to get through and score the amazing drive.

1:21:19 > 1:21:26This is what France have been exceptional on that try. Also keep

1:21:26 > 1:21:31the composure and keep the space and try to play wide.It's all about

1:21:31 > 1:21:37getting Gael Fickou that try. Working midfield and spot the gap.

1:21:37 > 1:21:41He burst onto the scene a few years ago and was a real star of the

1:21:41 > 1:21:47future. Hasn't quite kicked on, but that was brilliant to watch.

1:21:47 > 1:21:50Sometimes we have seen France rather do the Conservative thing and go

1:21:50 > 1:21:57narrow, but they got a couple of turnovers. They got a line break,

1:21:57 > 1:22:00two passes, got where the defence was disorganised and you can see on

1:22:00 > 1:22:04a couple of angles Wales were slow to get back into shape and they have

1:22:04 > 1:22:07exploited Wales in the midfield and got their reward. France doing well

1:22:07 > 1:22:12off the line breaks and exploiting the Wales weak points.What France

1:22:12 > 1:22:16have done well is away penalties in all aspects of the game. A whole

1:22:16 > 1:22:21raft of them. Whether it's offside, not releasing, whatever, line-outs.

1:22:21 > 1:22:31What do you put it down to?It's about the pressure of the game.

1:22:31 > 1:22:37Sometimes they are not lucid at certain points.

1:22:38 > 1:22:43certain points. It has cost them a lot. It's something where you can't

1:22:43 > 1:22:51be clinical and keep your composure. Some penalties you give away because

1:22:51 > 1:22:55you are under pressure and you need to give penalties away. What France

1:22:55 > 1:22:58do is let teams off the hook by giving away silly penalties.

1:22:58 > 1:23:02Jonathan touched on it in commentary. You have Leigh Halfpenny

1:23:02 > 1:23:06in the opposition. You know anything within 50 metres has to be squeaky

1:23:06 > 1:23:11clean. You mentioned it's all different types of penalties, not

1:23:11 > 1:23:16just in the contact area. It scrums and line-outs. You can't get a

1:23:16 > 1:23:21foothold in the game and it kills momentum.That's the momentum with

1:23:21 > 1:23:25penalties. It's not just the three points you give away, it the

1:23:25 > 1:23:30opposition the opportunity to kick the ball 30 yards downfield and you

1:23:30 > 1:23:33are suddenly in defence after being in attack. Penalties are a killer

1:23:33 > 1:23:39from momentum perspective.Brian said in commentary when there was a

1:23:39 > 1:23:43penalty at the line-out, he said, people ask, what are players

1:23:43 > 1:23:45thinking when they give away a penalty like that, and the answer

1:23:45 > 1:23:51is, they are not thinking. It is possible, even in the cauldron of

1:23:51 > 1:23:54the Principality Stadium, it's possible to zone out for a second.

1:23:54 > 1:24:01It is. We have the ability to sit here with all the slow motion, it's

1:24:01 > 1:24:05happening out there at 100 mph. Some of the decisions are pretty poor.

1:24:05 > 1:24:09But when it is constantly happening, the coaches, Shaun Edwards for

1:24:09 > 1:24:12instance, if you give penalties away, you will not be in the team

1:24:12 > 1:24:16the following weekend.Giving away penalties come you want to stay in

1:24:16 > 1:24:19single figures at the end of the game. As soon as you are going into

1:24:19 > 1:24:24double figures with penalties, you are in trouble.That also comes with

1:24:24 > 1:24:32the pressure you apply on your opponent. You create a lot of

1:24:32 > 1:24:36tension. You don't pay attention to some detail, and you definitely make

1:24:36 > 1:24:40mistakes.One other thing to talk about, Scott Williams, it appeared

1:24:40 > 1:24:48that he took a heck of a bang to the head in contact with a French knee.

1:24:48 > 1:24:51We are not qualified doctors appear. You look at that and instantly think

1:24:51 > 1:24:59it must be a head injury assessment, but perhaps not.Not every blow to

1:24:59 > 1:25:08the head is HIA. The neck gets to wrench back here. I think it's more

1:25:08 > 1:25:14a neck wound than head wound.Any fans watching who think, why didn't

1:25:14 > 1:25:19he get taken off the HIA, in any game of professional rugby you have

1:25:19 > 1:25:22a medical professional watching the laptop, they have a three second

1:25:22 > 1:25:26delay on the game, and they are constantly looking for anybody who

1:25:26 > 1:25:31might have a HIA, how are they on their feet, do they look wobbly or

1:25:31 > 1:25:34show any symptoms? Scott was not showing any symptoms, and if

1:25:34 > 1:25:39anything now we are overcautious to make sure HIAs do not occur. Scott

1:25:39 > 1:25:47has his neck in an awkward position but it's clearly not an HIA.Two

1:25:47 > 1:25:52games earlier today. A very contrasting games. The one in Rome

1:25:52 > 1:25:55was a thriller. Sensational advert for the Six Nations and it

1:25:55 > 1:25:59definitely banished any thoughts of Italy not been worth their place in

1:25:59 > 1:26:03the championship. They should have windbag, squandering so me try

1:26:03 > 1:26:06scoring opportunities was a look like Tommy Allen had given them the

1:26:06 > 1:26:10match with four minutes to go, but then Mr reliable for Scotland, Greig

1:26:10 > 1:26:15Laidlaw with that kick, 90 seconds on the clock, winning the match for

1:26:15 > 1:26:19Scotland. As for the game at Twickenham, so much at stake, but

1:26:19 > 1:26:22what a game.

1:26:24 > 1:26:31COMMENTATOR: Coming down with the snowflakes, Anthony Watson waiting.

1:26:31 > 1:26:36The ball is loose. Ireland celebrate. Opportunity again for

1:26:36 > 1:26:42Ireland. Peter O Marni was taken in the air so Ireland have the

1:26:42 > 1:26:54advantage. Ireland up to the line. Touching down, that will be a try.

1:26:54 > 1:27:01England still hammering at the door. Once more, it's the forwards.

1:27:01 > 1:27:06Advantage to England.

1:27:06 > 1:27:13Dylan Hartley crying for it from Wrigglesworth. A little stab and

1:27:13 > 1:27:20Elliot Daly gets it down. Try for England.

1:27:21 > 1:27:27England. Carbery onto Ringrose. Ireland making good ground.

1:27:27 > 1:27:33Stockdale chasing down his own chip. Can't quite gather, but now he can!

1:27:33 > 1:27:40He thinks he has it down before the line. It's a huge blow for England.

1:27:40 > 1:27:47You may award the try.A third try for Ireland. Advantage to England,

1:27:47 > 1:27:54the penalty coming. England have to score now. Mike Brown, has Elliot

1:27:54 > 1:27:59Daly outside. And Elliot Daly will score now for England. Is there

1:27:59 > 1:28:06still a chance for England to come back?

1:28:06 > 1:28:11A chance out wide for Jonny May, who scores for England. Again, the

1:28:11 > 1:28:17celebrations are all for Ireland. STUDIO: Owen Farrell did not have

1:28:17 > 1:28:22his kicking boots on, England did not even get a losing bonus point.

1:28:22 > 1:28:26Italy finishing with the Wooden Spoon yet again. England finish

1:28:26 > 1:28:30fifth, their worst ever finishing position since the Six Nations were

1:28:30 > 1:28:35introduced in the year 2000. As things stand, if the match remains

1:28:35 > 1:28:42this way, it will mean Wales will finish second. But well behind

1:28:42 > 1:28:46Ireland, who got three extra points for winning a Grand Slam. The trophy

1:28:46 > 1:28:50lift and moment of triumph at Twickenham today. After what

1:28:50 > 1:28:54happened at Cheltenham this week, what a week for Irish sport. I can

1:28:54 > 1:28:57only imagine what it's like in Richmond and Twickenham and the

1:28:57 > 1:29:02surrounding areas. We can hear from coach Joe Schmidt. Is proud of

1:29:02 > 1:29:08emotion?Absolutely.

1:29:08 > 1:29:13emotion?Absolutely. Players like Chris and Robbie Henshaw, who

1:29:13 > 1:29:15weren't playing today but contributed immensely to the

1:29:15 > 1:29:23championship. That's the whole squad. They have really earned it.

1:29:23 > 1:29:31Congratulations, and joy it.Cheers. Whoa Eddie Jones has been speaking

1:29:31 > 1:29:34on radio five live saying the Six Nations has gone but the World Cup

1:29:34 > 1:29:37remains the optimum goal for England.He said several players

1:29:37 > 1:29:41playing for England to date have played their last game for England.

1:29:41 > 1:29:44You decide who that might be.

1:30:09 > 1:30:13Tom Ellis stretches away!

1:30:18 > 1:30:26One hand off-load to Gareth Thomas.

1:30:36 > 1:30:41The challenge is silver skydivers for sport relief. It's about getting

1:30:41 > 1:30:46people over the age of 60 doing a tandem skydive purely to show that

1:30:46 > 1:30:53at the age of 60 you don't have to retire to your chair. Denise is my

1:30:53 > 1:30:58ruck.I am 85 years old, I'm the Guinness book of records holder as

1:30:58 > 1:31:02the oldest woman skydiver in the world. I am here to tell them you're

1:31:02 > 1:31:08the fear and do it anyway.This is me facing one of the biggest fears

1:31:08 > 1:31:17I've ever had. I need to overcome it and I will be a very proud man. To

1:31:17 > 1:31:21support me and my amazing silver skydivers go to BBC .co .uk/ sport

1:31:21 > 1:31:29relief.

1:31:29 > 1:31:33It's a much more difficult gig being in a hospitality box here at the

1:31:33 > 1:31:37Principality Stadium, we are discussing which one of them would

1:31:37 > 1:31:42most like to piggyback on the back of Gareth Thomas and jump out of a

1:31:42 > 1:31:49plane and I think it was you?I felt wobbly on my

1:31:49 > 1:31:54wobbly on my chair. Ihe looked like a World War I pilot. There are 40

1:31:54 > 1:32:00minutes left of the Six Nations and it is poised, that is Gareth

1:32:00 > 1:32:04Edwards, I don't think he wants, maybe he is just ringing Gareth

1:32:04 > 1:32:09Thomas seeing any chance of me jumping out of a plane with you?

1:32:09 > 1:32:13Anyway, 40 minutes left of the Six Nations and it's been an

1:32:13 > 1:32:17extraordinary final Saturday, let's hope the next 40 minutes round

1:32:17 > 1:32:25things off in some style.

1:32:30 > 1:32:40COMMENTATOR: Just a slight pause, Dan Biggar go and find all.

1:32:51 > 1:32:56Jacques Brunel takes his seat to watch his France, what can they do,

1:32:56 > 1:33:02can they overcome the four point deficit? What can Wales do? Hang on

1:33:02 > 1:33:09to this lead? Fickou tackled inside his own 22. The last half of the Six

1:33:09 > 1:33:19Nations 2018. The two scrum cap wearing backroads, Justin Tipuric

1:33:19 > 1:33:23and Lauret meet on the 22.

1:33:25 > 1:33:33It's a very slow exit. Leigh Halfpenny under the ball. Inside ten

1:33:33 > 1:33:46Dan Biggar. Not the highest but he has the chance.

1:33:46 > 1:33:52There is a bit of space there. Liam Williams, Dan Biggar and Leigh

1:33:52 > 1:33:57Halfpenny are back.

1:33:57 > 1:34:12Spiral kick.I say pre-match, thought there would be a lot of

1:34:12 > 1:34:18high-kicking going on.

1:34:18 > 1:34:23high-kicking going on. I think this guy has played pretty well. The

1:34:23 > 1:34:27captain has been a standout player for France this season.Finds his

1:34:27 > 1:34:37target again. Scott Williams has to go on a little shopping expedition.

1:34:37 > 1:34:49Charged down. By Hadleigh Parkes. Fickou back for France.

1:34:49 > 1:34:51Fickou back for France.Fickou has done well there and so the French to

1:34:51 > 1:34:57get background and recover that ball.Vahaamahina takes on Josh

1:34:57 > 1:35:06Navidi. Back for Machenaud. Very sedate pace at the beginning of this

1:35:06 > 1:35:12second half. Leigh Halfpenny. Dan Biggar. Wales suddenly give it some

1:35:12 > 1:35:23width. Toby Faletau. Surging. Gareth Williams cannot take it. It's all

1:35:23 > 1:35:34gone a bit loose. Liam Williams goes down. Evans. What a chance.I said

1:35:34 > 1:35:37in the first half when clean breaks are made they are not always

1:35:37 > 1:35:43finished as they should be.It's a brilliant break, he spots the

1:35:43 > 1:35:47player, hasn't got the legs on the kid, I will have a go and that is

1:35:47 > 1:35:52what is the mismatch. Goes inside and goes out, ball on the right

1:35:52 > 1:35:57hand. Lovely pass. Just a bit too high. What a player. That's what

1:35:57 > 1:36:01you've got to do, if you can spot someone who you think you're quicker

1:36:01 > 1:36:06than, you line him up and take him on the outside.But he will and

1:36:06 > 1:36:10should be disappointed that the past was there and he did not put it in

1:36:10 > 1:36:18front.Gareth Davies has got great hands.And he runs great supporting

1:36:18 > 1:36:30runs.Stays in the 22. Outside 22. Ball still on the park. Leigh

1:36:30 > 1:36:34Halfpenny, he's looking for the mismatch.

1:36:40 > 1:36:44It's just gone forward off a French hand. France have competed well at

1:36:44 > 1:36:50the break again, Brian.Yes that has been one of the things they've done

1:36:50 > 1:36:56well for the whole tournament. The improvements have come elsewhere.

1:36:56 > 1:37:06Trying to get out of the way. Unlucky. Knock-on. Machenaud.You

1:37:06 > 1:37:13don't expect the scrum-half to be necessarily, but Machenaud has won

1:37:13 > 1:37:18four turnovers, not today but he's compiled that personal tally.We

1:37:18 > 1:37:22have three back row players in the studio, you have to be brave to put

1:37:22 > 1:37:24your head in there.

1:37:33 > 1:37:38Faletau risks a look up, Leeds at four Gareth Davies. There is a

1:37:38 > 1:37:46chance, Hadleigh Parkes. Again, just overrunning.

1:37:46 > 1:37:52overrunning.Similar to the first half. Don't know if it's

1:37:52 > 1:37:58miscommunication or if Liam Williams mistiming his run.Four onsideon

1:37:58 > 1:38:06two. Hold your depth.You have do step back a little bit. The little

1:38:06 > 1:38:09things you have to work on.If the scrum is not going well you had to

1:38:09 > 1:38:20hold your depth.Babillot wins the line-out ball. But the puzzle going

1:38:20 > 1:38:29on, Machenaud spots a little gap. Fickou.

1:38:35 > 1:38:43Cleverly keeping the ball alive, France. Great pass by Bastareaud and

1:38:43 > 1:38:48another one to Fall from Doumayrou. France starting to flow a little bit

1:38:48 > 1:38:54here.Good job for Wales that he was not able to gather that in his

1:38:54 > 1:39:04stride.The tackle from Navidi slows things up a bit. Babillot. The

1:39:04 > 1:39:11French support starts to ring out around the Principality Stadium.

1:39:11 > 1:39:18Babillot again. Gets back to his feet.

1:39:18 > 1:39:30feet. Trinh-Duc, Fall cuts angle. Fall, the prop.

1:39:45 > 1:39:53Goes hard and straight. Gareth Davies stepped out of the line.

1:39:53 > 1:39:54Lauret.

1:39:59 > 1:40:00Lauret. Jones and Tipuric dude pincer movement but cannot quite

1:40:00 > 1:40:10hold them up. Pelissie.

1:40:10 > 1:40:16hold them up. Pelissie. Trinh-Duc, tries to straighten.

1:40:17 > 1:40:24tries to straighten.Penalty here for France. Free play.

1:40:24 > 1:40:30for France. Free play.Vahaamahina drops it. Here is the penalty.You

1:40:30 > 1:40:38will take this, take the three points and get within one.Rolling

1:40:38 > 1:40:48into the nine. Not rolling away. This is one of the reasons why I

1:40:48 > 1:40:55think France are starting to improve. I've been very hard on

1:40:55 > 1:41:00Bastareaud in the past because in French club rugby he's taken the

1:41:00 > 1:41:04ball as far as he can, ploughed as many people out of his way as he can

1:41:04 > 1:41:08and now he's added the aspect of off-loading the ball which is more

1:41:08 > 1:41:12in Portland. Now they can use them to attract players get the ball away

1:41:12 > 1:41:16from that focal point. It makes everything much better, much

1:41:16 > 1:41:26improved player.

1:42:04 > 1:42:20Dan Biggar gives the call. High towards the 22. Jumps for it.

1:42:20 > 1:42:22towards the 22. Jumps for it. Scott Williams wholesome towards touch. It

1:42:22 > 1:42:34is there for Machenaud outside the 22.

1:42:39 > 1:42:47Gareth Davies. Play on seems to be the order of the day. The moment,

1:42:47 > 1:42:53the ball bouncing and bubbling. Josh Navidi stops all that. Send it wide,

1:42:53 > 1:42:58it's gone loose. Nobody on the Welsh side can touch it, away comes

1:42:58 > 1:43:06Bastareaud. Pelissie in support. The game sparks to life. Cory Hill

1:43:06 > 1:43:15smashes into Machenaud.Hadleigh Parkes rushed up there cancelled,

1:43:15 > 1:43:17forced the French runner back inside when there were three players

1:43:17 > 1:43:24outside. Vital contribution.It's gone backwards, it's gone loose. The

1:43:24 > 1:43:31ball eludes all hands. Goodness me. For a moment France had five on

1:43:31 > 1:43:39three, Hadleigh Parkes came out of the line.It's a dummy kick first of

1:43:39 > 1:43:44all and then I thought it was a knock-on but it was play on. His leg

1:43:44 > 1:43:49somehow. They turn it over again, is this a knock or not? He got his hip

1:43:49 > 1:43:59in the way play on. The bouncing ball. They are all of side so France

1:43:59 > 1:44:15fall on it and rot it, played wide. I would call that loose play.

1:44:16 > 1:44:30France change the front row. On comes over Kingston and Chat. --

1:44:30 > 1:44:35Slimani and Chat.That will not change much as these players are

1:44:35 > 1:44:48pretty much first choice anyway. It's a slightly shorter stunt for

1:44:48 > 1:44:59two of the French front row.

1:45:13 > 1:45:28Progress made by France. Penalty earned by those French forwards.

1:45:28 > 1:45:30earned by those French forwards.I did say they were borderline first

1:45:30 > 1:45:35choice and that shows the power. The penalty count, France have not

1:45:35 > 1:45:42conceded one this half.Huge difference as well. Psychologically.

1:45:42 > 1:45:52Ben O'Keeffe of New Zealand, he's missed that!

1:45:52 > 1:45:55missed that!Wanted to make the forwards feel even better by going

1:45:55 > 1:46:01into the corner instead Trinh-Duc... All the forwards are furious,

1:46:01 > 1:46:04they've done all the hard work to winger the penalty, expect to run

1:46:04 > 1:46:07down and at least have a line-out within a reasonable range and then

1:46:07 > 1:46:12that happens.That could be a huge moment in the match.He has brought

1:46:12 > 1:46:19them all the way back to the point where he took the kick.That's an

1:46:19 > 1:46:23occasion where ambition has to be lessened. Absolutely crucial at this

1:46:23 > 1:46:28stage in the game with that score line, with that penalty that you

1:46:28 > 1:46:29make touch.

1:46:38 > 1:46:51Reset. Down. Reset.Poirot looks on ruefully. The only survivor of the

1:46:51 > 1:46:56original front row. Wales will be conscious of what happened last

1:46:56 > 1:47:00scrum, this time they have the boot in which exposes them to even more

1:47:00 > 1:47:11pressure as Ken Owens is to strike for the ball.

1:47:15 > 1:47:22Before the change in the French front row pressure in the scrum.

1:47:22 > 1:47:26Wales lucky to get away with it. Taken down with the tight head on

1:47:26 > 1:47:31his knees.George North into midfield. Gareth Davies to Justin

1:47:31 > 1:47:40Tipuric. Quickly recycled. Dan Biggar, tackled by Lauret. Faletau.

1:47:40 > 1:47:48Gets the past Gareth Davies. Switch of play. Scott Williams.

1:47:48 > 1:47:50of play. Scott Williams. Tipuric to Ken Owens but it's gone loose.

1:47:50 > 1:48:04France advantage. This is Chat, the hooker. Fresh

1:48:10 > 1:48:15legs on wheels need to settle down a little bit.They've not had momentum

1:48:15 > 1:48:17in this second half and the temptation is to do something when

1:48:17 > 1:48:22you got the ball, better to keep the ball through if you grazes and keep

1:48:22 > 1:48:32ranch under pressure.This is a hit. Get themselves back into the game.

1:48:33 > 1:48:42I'm not sure who come off the best to be honest.Who has the boot in on

1:48:42 > 1:48:51this scrummage? We will find out. Look at that stat. 77% possession in

1:48:51 > 1:49:00the second half, that is why Wales...This is the reverse theory,

1:49:00 > 1:49:07well sobbing France will run themselves of their feet now.

1:49:07 > 1:49:10themselves of their feet now.That's also a reference to the point I made

1:49:10 > 1:49:17and Sam Warburton made at half-time if you are not giving penalties away

1:49:17 > 1:49:20things go your way, possession, territory goes your way because you

1:49:20 > 1:49:31not sabotaging the good things that you do.

1:49:31 > 1:49:37you do.He is showing no signs of having a bad ankle, Bastareaud.

1:49:37 > 1:49:44French put in at the scrummage. Wales have had not much in the

1:49:44 > 1:49:52second half. One break by Faletau. A lot of pressure here.

1:49:53 > 1:49:58lot of pressure here. France get the penalty. The squeeze is on Wales at

1:49:58 > 1:50:05the set piece.The scrum could be crucial, going in the last 25

1:50:05 > 1:50:12minutes. If you are a French stand-off you want to play the

1:50:12 > 1:50:17game...

1:50:17 > 1:50:25He's being very cautious.Don't fully want to make 15 yards either

1:50:25 > 1:50:30but of the two at least it's preferable.He was never going to

1:50:30 > 1:50:38make a five metres, no point going for it.France getting the shop on.

1:50:38 > 1:50:47Tomas Francis is a slightly high. France and possession game with the

1:50:47 > 1:50:58territorial advantage. On comes the French forwards, lining up another

1:50:58 > 1:51:06one. Dan Biggar leads the charge. Anything to slow the ball down.

1:51:06 > 1:51:11Hadleigh Parkes up quickly.

1:51:13 > 1:51:19Hadleigh Parkes up quickly. Wales have kept it as the maul.

1:51:19 > 1:51:26have kept it as the maul. Despite the mighty power of Bastareaud and

1:51:26 > 1:51:29Lauret, Wales with Alan Schindler on as replacement to the defence of

1:51:29 > 1:51:34jobs.I think they were lucky to get that decision. Great hit from

1:51:34 > 1:51:41Hadleigh Parkes. They have

1:51:45 > 1:51:48Hadleigh Parkes. They have gotten there, bogey there. Definitely been

1:51:48 > 1:51:53a change in tactics, in the first half the centres were not blitzing

1:51:53 > 1:51:57as early.The last three possessions France apart they have tried to stop

1:51:57 > 1:52:03at source. Stop them moving wide. The centre coming up. It is up to

1:52:03 > 1:52:12France to recognise...

1:52:12 > 1:52:14France to recognise...Test for the French front five. They need some

1:52:14 > 1:52:18possession, need to get this ball away quickly. Just about manage it

1:52:18 > 1:52:27but they are forced into a kicking game. Benjamin Fall. Is that she's

1:52:27 > 1:52:33good? Not bad at all, France still in their own half. But in

1:52:33 > 1:52:37possession.

1:52:38 > 1:52:41possession. Slimani, one of the replacement props. Straight down the

1:52:41 > 1:52:52middle from Trinh-Duc. Hasn't done it again has he?No.Perfectly

1:52:52 > 1:53:01judged. I bet you thought or no.

1:53:16 > 1:53:22Fickou tackle by Liam Williams.

1:53:22 > 1:53:30Lauret.Big roar from the other side but I don't know what that was

1:53:30 > 1:53:39about.Bastareaud quickly out, thumped into touch badly. Mistake by

1:53:39 > 1:53:48Doumayrou.Nothing kick really. You can see the intent, France have no

1:53:48 > 1:53:51intentions of playing anything in their own half. They have seen the

1:53:51 > 1:53:57scrum as dominant, they will try to play a line-out scrum, get a

1:53:57 > 1:54:07penalty. Maybe get a five metre scrum, try to grind out a result.

1:54:08 > 1:54:19Ben O'Keeffe wants a word with the French captain that Bastareaud.

1:54:19 > 1:54:24Blue penalty over on the 15. We have got a penalty for a high tackle,

1:54:24 > 1:54:29penalty is for France?I thought something was untoward because there

1:54:29 > 1:54:33was a reaction from the crowd, it wasn't apparent from the angle we

1:54:33 > 1:54:42were at.High tackle, one of your players against the blue player.

1:54:42 > 1:54:50Just the number please. 13 red.High tackle against Scott Williams.It

1:54:50 > 1:54:58was caught by the TMO, George Ayoub of Australia.It is borderline. But

1:54:58 > 1:55:10you cannot go up there.That's a tough one but there you are.

1:55:10 > 1:55:12tough one but there you are.Time is back on. I tackle.

1:55:17 > 1:55:21The Welsh crowd don't like it but the referee in these championships

1:55:21 > 1:55:27have been very hot on this and very consistent. It is simply this, world

1:55:27 > 1:55:33rugby try to stop any contact, rightly so, above the neckline. And

1:55:33 > 1:55:37if players choose to go at or near the neckline then they risk having a

1:55:37 > 1:55:42decision against them, rightly or wrongly.Simple as that.

1:55:48 > 1:55:53This is the high tackle.Personally I don't think it's dangerous, he's

1:55:53 > 1:56:04not heart, but everyone should know no how that's being officiated.

1:56:04 > 1:56:09no how that's being officiated.The surge from the French comes.

1:56:14 > 1:56:22France are just going to use the sledgehammer, Machenaud comes away

1:56:22 > 1:56:26with it, Fickou has already scored one try. Three metres short of a

1:56:26 > 1:56:32second. Machenaud.

1:56:32 > 1:56:45second. Machenaud. Chat. Squeeze out to the other prop Mark Priso.

1:56:49 > 1:56:53Slimani. Held by Navidi.

1:57:03 > 1:57:05Bastareaud, always the danger man when the others close to the line.

1:57:05 > 1:57:11Held up.

1:57:11 > 1:57:20Held up. Wales had earned themselves a put in at the scrummage. Mighty

1:57:20 > 1:57:27work holding a Bastareaud of the ground.Tremendous, tremendous

1:57:27 > 1:57:30teamwork from Wales but you have to quench with France taking the ball

1:57:30 > 1:57:41in at the angle, tremendously well done.I think they have done their

1:57:41 > 1:57:46homework on this guy Bastareaud because when there is home contacted

1:57:46 > 1:57:51tries to go an extra couple of yards with his power and that is when the

1:57:51 > 1:57:55that come in late keep him his feet. He's had a great afternoon

1:57:55 > 1:58:00defensively against Bastareaud as well.I had to give you my feed

1:58:00 > 1:58:06work...

1:58:13 > 1:58:17That is an interesting modern development, Alun Wyn Jones telling

1:58:17 > 1:58:21the referee he has to give them feedback. I'm not sure that's in the

1:58:21 > 1:58:23laws.

1:58:31 > 1:58:37Right in front of the posts.Bit reminiscent of last year when Wales

1:58:37 > 1:58:42were defending a narrow lead, that was the game which went on for 100

1:58:42 > 1:58:53minutes. Scrum after scrum.The thing is, this half has been so

1:58:53 > 1:58:58one-sided in terms of momentum that it will change at some point,

1:58:58 > 1:59:03however temporary, Wales will have a period of five, ten, 15 minutes,

1:59:03 > 1:59:06whatever, when they have opportunities and France don't make

1:59:06 > 1:59:13the of this Wales will get a big psychological boost.They've had a

1:59:13 > 1:59:16lot of possession but the majority of the game has been played near the

1:59:16 > 1:59:20halfway line between the ten metre lines so there has been no try

1:59:20 > 1:59:29scoring opportunities or penalties apart from

1:59:29 > 1:59:32apart from one from Machenaud. So it's been a great battle but

1:59:32 > 1:59:37nonthreatening as yet.

1:59:37 > 1:59:39nonthreatening as yet.Wales get themselves a penalty, the counter

1:59:39 > 1:59:45surge by the forwards.

1:59:45 > 1:59:48surge by the forwards.That is nonsense. Absolute nonsense.

1:59:54 > 1:59:56Explain yourself?France are going forward, no reason to drop that

1:59:56 > 2:00:01whatsoever.You don't think they deliberately drove across perhaps,

2:00:01 > 2:00:06looking for a penalty? Yum I know I don't.

2:00:12 > 2:00:20I am now Francophile, I will tell you that.Really?I have no idea

2:00:20 > 2:00:25what's going on.You have seen the end of it but you've not seen when

2:00:25 > 2:00:29France started the momentum from Slimani which is where the drive

2:00:29 > 2:00:36came from.Does anybody really know what is going on?Wales in

2:00:36 > 2:00:43possession to Cory Hill.

2:00:46 > 2:00:52Gareth Davies, lets the forwards carry on. A little off the ball as

2:00:52 > 2:00:58three of the four second rows have business of their own. Gareth Davies

2:00:58 > 2:01:04into the French half. Gael Fickou waits and catches safely. Wales are

2:01:04 > 2:01:09protecting their 1-point lead. They will Juanfran 's here in their own

2:01:09 > 2:01:16half. Grasso nearly gets into the Welsh half.

2:01:28 > 2:01:38The Wales line speed is still very good.

2:01:45 > 2:01:47Faletau covers back, watches and leaves the kicking to Leigh

2:01:47 > 2:02:00Halfpenny. Keeps it on the pitch. That's dreadful pass! What was he

2:02:00 > 2:02:04thinking! If he chucks it right-handed, he might get away with

2:02:04 > 2:02:08it. But he chucks it from the left-handed spin. What is he

2:02:08 > 2:02:17thinking? He catches it...LAUGHTER To be fair, Benjamin Fall didn't

2:02:17 > 2:02:23help him by standing in front of him.If anybody's in front, you

2:02:23 > 2:02:31don't pass it!There enough.A bit of Tom Brady in him there.If you

2:02:31 > 2:02:38are Jacques Brunel... You are thinking, oh my word, what has he

2:02:38 > 2:02:42just done? It's why Francois Trinh-Duc has never been a

2:02:42 > 2:02:52commanding holder of the number ten shirt.If you want somebody to hold

2:02:52 > 2:02:58it in the wide areas, I think Beauxis is the better option. I

2:02:58 > 2:03:06would take him off and bring Beauxis on.

2:03:07 > 2:03:18France are off quickly. Navidi hast to make the tackle.

2:03:18 > 2:03:27to make the tackle. Brought down by Cory Hill. Tackle by

2:03:27 > 2:03:35Cory Hill. Tackle by Faletau, the new scrum-half. The 20-year-old is

2:03:35 > 2:03:47on the field, Baptiste Couilloud. The number eight has broken clean

2:03:47 > 2:03:56through, Marco Tauleigne. Liam Williams was offside.

2:04:02 > 2:04:08We talk about causation. France make on a mistake, and unforced error. It

2:04:08 > 2:04:11was the Wales opportunity, the first time in this half to settle the game

2:04:11 > 2:04:18down and play in the right areas. Didn't get the scrum right. A

2:04:18 > 2:04:27brilliant run there, by the French number eight. And the game has

2:04:27 > 2:04:32swung.The hooker, Machenaud, playing at scrum-half, he's gone

2:04:32 > 2:04:38off.Gets away, fends off a couple of players, sticks away from the

2:04:38 > 2:04:43tackle. Liam Williams makes the tackle, doesn't go back through the

2:04:43 > 2:04:53gate.I wonder what Trinh-Duc's nerves are like after that. He's

2:04:53 > 2:04:59inherited kicking duties from the departed Maxime Machenaud.He could

2:04:59 > 2:05:07redeem himself.

2:05:08 > 2:05:21He's missed it. They can't believe it. He can't believe it.Beauxis has

2:05:21 > 2:05:25to come on now.

2:05:34 > 2:05:40That support miss, at this standard of kicking in the professional game

2:05:40 > 2:05:46now, that support miss.Changes for Wales with Elliot Dee and Bradley

2:05:46 > 2:05:54Williams coming on. Wales have had so little of the ball in this second

2:05:54 > 2:06:04half. Keep France in their own half. Trinh-Duc, hi. Halfpenny waits for

2:06:04 > 2:06:10it.

2:06:10 > 2:06:19it.Good timing in the tackle. Or it Halfpenny delivers. Possession for

2:06:19 > 2:06:30Wales. Shingler has dropped it. France grab possession back.

2:06:30 > 2:06:35France grab possession back.It takes three to bring Lauret down.

2:06:35 > 2:06:43Wales can't hang on to the ball at the moment.

2:06:43 > 2:06:48the moment. The knock-on by Shingler.Just needed to hold onto

2:06:48 > 2:06:54possession.Getting dragged into the arm wrestle, they can't get the ball

2:06:54 > 2:07:03wide.Definitely.

2:07:03 > 2:07:07Trying to work that out, what does that mean?It means there's been one

2:07:07 > 2:07:11penalty by France in the second half. A distinct improvement. You

2:07:11 > 2:07:15see all the Welsh penalties for stub fracas, if you are French, you

2:07:15 > 2:07:23should be very unhappy that they haven't made Wales play.

2:07:23 > 2:07:31They have been the dominant side. In the second half. Without actually

2:07:31 > 2:07:39registering it where it counts on the scoreboard.

2:07:39 > 2:07:45the scoreboard. Also pay credit to the Welsh defence.Like I said,

2:07:45 > 2:07:51there hasn't been the natural threat at ten. Can't remember one attack.

2:07:51 > 2:08:03It's all been in the middle.

2:08:04 > 2:08:10Leigh Halfpenny with a great tackle, into touch as well. Not so clever

2:08:10 > 2:08:18from Grasso.He had to come inside. Lined up the defender. A brilliant

2:08:18 > 2:08:22defensive full-back. Just watch him coming across. He's the last man,

2:08:22 > 2:08:26doesn't give him the option to go inside. Lines up and drags him over

2:08:26 > 2:08:32the touchline.I think the ball should have come back inside from

2:08:32 > 2:08:39the French.He knows he's going to make it. This guy had his angles

2:08:39 > 2:08:45correct.

2:08:45 > 2:08:48correct.France make changes. Leigh Halfpenny will not be going

2:08:48 > 2:08:56anywhere. Elliot Dee is a replacement. It's loose for Wales.

2:08:59 > 2:09:06George North, did well to buy some time.

2:09:13 > 2:09:19Williams will take the kick himself and keep it on the field. Grasso.

2:09:28 > 2:09:37Alun Wyn Jones makes another tackle and throws the French hooker back.

2:09:49 > 2:09:55Beauxis is on the field. Grow so heading to the touchline, has the

2:09:55 > 2:10:06strength to stay on the field. A new half-back pairing for France. Wales

2:10:06 > 2:10:11trying to hold up the big prop. They can't.

2:10:16 > 2:10:22The referee says no. Another penalty for a high tackle.

2:10:29 > 2:10:38Liam Williams, a rare possession for Wales. Gareth Davies.

2:10:38 > 2:10:40Wales. Gareth Davies. It's there, for the scrum-half. The little dummy

2:10:40 > 2:10:46and dart.

2:10:49 > 2:10:55Elliot Dee makes a couple of yards. Taken on by Nicky Smith, the

2:10:55 > 2:11:01replacement prop. Samson Lee drives on. Now Wales are coming through the

2:11:01 > 2:11:05forwards.

2:11:20 > 2:11:25It all comes to zero. Another penalty the breakdown.Just needed

2:11:25 > 2:11:30to keep possession now.

2:11:33 > 2:11:41Holding on. Just needed to go through the phases there. They

2:11:41 > 2:11:45haven't the ball nor the territory. Sam Warburton said if you're into

2:11:45 > 2:11:51double figures with penalties that you are in trouble.He goes and he's

2:11:51 > 2:12:04isolated. Sharp over the top of him.

2:12:15 > 2:12:23Bernard Le Roux. Tackle line-out. A very good bit of driving by Wales

2:12:23 > 2:12:33against possession. And with a 1-point game, all these count.The

2:12:33 > 2:12:37crowd roared, not as if it was a try, but maybe a penalty, because

2:12:37 > 2:12:47they know the significance of that.

2:12:48 > 2:12:55I think it's a question of where you play the game now. Keep possession.

2:12:55 > 2:13:01The problem there, it's too narrow, the base isn't wide enough to start

2:13:01 > 2:13:06the drive. Wales managed to get around the edges. It elongates the

2:13:06 > 2:13:10French maul to the point where it has no momentum or power.You have

2:13:10 > 2:13:19to shift the ball back.The players in front were not sufficiently set.

2:13:21 > 2:13:27Another important scrum for Gareth Davies and his forwards. Elliot Dee.

2:13:27 > 2:13:34Out it comes. Hadleigh Parkes.

2:13:37 > 2:13:41A little bit of progress at last being made by Wales. Faletau with

2:13:41 > 2:13:50another yard.

2:13:52 > 2:14:06It goes back to Scott Williams. The captain again hurled back.

2:14:12 > 2:14:17A 1-point margin being protected. Bradley Davies takes it on. Looked

2:14:17 > 2:14:22suspiciously forward. Gareth Davies with a little dummy and go. Keeps

2:14:22 > 2:14:27going. Faletau to Elliot Dee.

2:14:31 > 2:14:39How important are these extra feet? George North, he sees the mismatch.

2:14:39 > 2:14:45Over the ball, and it winds France the penalty.It keeps them in a

2:14:45 > 2:14:49game.The great thing from the Welsh point of view, they are taking time

2:14:49 > 2:14:54off the clock and advancing at least their territory deep into the French

2:14:54 > 2:15:0122. They are not able to kick it into the corner.There he is,

2:15:01 > 2:15:05getting back, missing the first tackle and getting his strong base,

2:15:05 > 2:15:14over the top. You're not going to move him, are you?

2:15:15 > 2:15:19move him, are you?Dan Biggar pleads the cause, but he knows.I thought

2:15:19 > 2:15:23he had a point. Going beyond the ball, not supporting your own

2:15:23 > 2:15:26weighted. They could be a questionnaire, if he was on his

2:15:26 > 2:15:34elbows.

2:15:37 > 2:15:45There have been many tackles made in this game. France haven't had to do

2:15:45 > 2:15:51much tackling in the second half. You have to say they have dominated

2:15:51 > 2:15:55the game, momentum has been with them.Without scoring!Without

2:15:55 > 2:16:00scoring. They had one opportunity to go in front and haven't taken it.

2:16:00 > 2:16:04But that steel keeps them in the game, one point, they will clear

2:16:04 > 2:16:12their lines and have a chance. Lauret is going off. He has put in a

2:16:12 > 2:16:17shift, as they say. As have they.A couple of things you ought to

2:16:17 > 2:16:21recognise about the Welsh in this half. In the first half when France

2:16:21 > 2:16:24were looking more creative and finding space, they were slightly

2:16:24 > 2:16:31less aggressive in the press, and the line speed in the second half,

2:16:31 > 2:16:34definitely a conscious point to throw the centres out early, making

2:16:34 > 2:16:44France look far less dangerous.

2:16:45 > 2:16:49The game is not yet won, that you have to make a decision, Jonathan,

2:16:49 > 2:16:54your man of the match.My standout player today this afternoon, no

2:16:54 > 2:17:00matter who wins, is the Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones. He is my

2:17:00 > 2:17:06NatWest Six Nations man of the match, Alun Wyn Jones.France back

2:17:06 > 2:17:09in possession and going forward. Still in their own half. Less than

2:17:09 > 2:17:17three minutes to go.

2:17:17 > 2:17:24Doumayrou kicks the ball away.Why would you do that?!Wales have to

2:17:24 > 2:17:29play in the right areas now as well. Not quite the right area, Leigh

2:17:29 > 2:17:30Halfpenny.

2:17:37 > 2:17:43Again... Oh no! Bastareaud was there but it's a penalty to Wales.That

2:17:43 > 2:17:49was a big call. Will Halfpenny go for gold? He could use up the

2:17:49 > 2:17:55minute. Or will he go for the touchline? It's another interesting

2:17:55 > 2:18:03call.Shaking his head as if to say no.A point about accuracy, France

2:18:03 > 2:18:06didn't kick to the corner because it was too long. But they were in the

2:18:06 > 2:18:15Welsh half. The ball they won was so bad it set them back 50 metres. It

2:18:15 > 2:18:18put Doumayrou in the position when he thought, I'm nowhere near where I

2:18:18 > 2:18:22want to be. He kicked the ball and turned it over. These are the little

2:18:22 > 2:18:27areas you have to get right.One and a half minutes to go. Elliot Dee

2:18:27 > 2:18:31with the line-out. Wales couldn't come to this line-out any slower!

2:18:31 > 2:18:36LAUGHTER They are still not there. Elliot Dee

2:18:36 > 2:18:44is saying, where are you, come on! They have won it though, crucially.

2:18:49 > 2:18:54Somehow need to work this ball back. It's therefore Shingler. The

2:18:54 > 2:18:58replacement back row forward with a surge. Gareth Davies to the captain,

2:18:58 > 2:19:05to the man of the match. Penalty to France. It's been a curse for Wales

2:19:05 > 2:19:14today. The breakdown.

2:19:16 > 2:19:2030 seconds left. They could kick to touch. They will have the line-out.

2:19:20 > 2:19:24There has been an inconsistency on that. Not supporting his own body

2:19:24 > 2:19:29weight on a couple of occasions. That could apply to both sides.

2:19:29 > 2:19:36France will have to start from their own half. That's fair enough, isn't

2:19:36 > 2:19:45it Brian?That's fair enough, year. Shaun Edwards isn't happy.France in

2:19:45 > 2:19:49no rush because they know this is their last chance.They have to be

2:19:49 > 2:19:54patient and go through the phases and get beyond the halfway line.

2:19:54 > 2:20:02Beauxis is a big goalkicker. Try to get him in range.Oh! Aaron Shingler

2:20:02 > 2:20:08has stolen the ball. Into injury and overtime. Into overtime, into second

2:20:08 > 2:20:15place in the table. Wales with no ball in the second half, have

2:20:15 > 2:20:19managed to hold out against France, winning by a single point, but that

2:20:19 > 2:20:27victory makes them runners-up in the Six Nations of 2018.It was a real

2:20:27 > 2:20:33dogfight. Any result against France is a good result.Take your hat off

2:20:33 > 2:20:37to Wales in the second half. Defensive performance in France

2:20:37 > 2:20:42should be disappointed for not creating the points that their

2:20:42 > 2:20:48pressure deserved. But that is their own fault.The final game of the Six

2:20:48 > 2:20:53Nations, Wales 14-13 France. STUDIO: Not a single point in the last half

2:20:53 > 2:20:58an hour of the match. A really baffling game. France with all the

2:20:58 > 2:21:03possession and Wales win. Sam Warburton?What a complete opposite

2:21:03 > 2:21:09second half to the first half we had. France had more dominance from

2:21:09 > 2:21:12the territorial perspective and Wales couldn't get into the game. I

2:21:12 > 2:21:17thought three points might win the game, but Wales held out, and it's a

2:21:17 > 2:21:24very good second place finish. Really disappointed with France.

2:21:24 > 2:21:29They had so much possession to win the game. We were really poor with

2:21:29 > 2:21:34taking, kicking penalties. We missed some penalties to go out on the

2:21:34 > 2:21:42pitch. This is a frustrating moment for France, but overall I have to

2:21:42 > 2:21:46say I'm really proud of rounds because of the attitude, the

2:21:46 > 2:21:51delivery of what they did for this Six Nations.Alun Wyn Jones, as we

2:21:51 > 2:21:56see the French captain Mathieu Bastareaud, an immense game in the

2:21:56 > 2:21:59centre, but Welsh captain Alun Wyn Jones has led his side to victory

2:21:59 > 2:22:03and is also the man of the match and he is with Sonia.

2:22:03 > 2:22:05and is also the man of the match and he is with Sonia.It was very

2:22:05 > 2:22:09nervous in the closing stages. What were you saying to your team as

2:22:09 > 2:22:14Captain?Trying to limit the errors and keep hold of the ball, which we

2:22:14 > 2:22:18probably didn't do it the first art and didn't do as much as we liked in

2:22:18 > 2:22:22the second half. We wanted to finish the campaign as we started, with a

2:22:22 > 2:22:25win, and we have done that.How significant is it in the development

2:22:25 > 2:22:29of this team to finish runners-up in 2018?It's not something we wanted

2:22:29 > 2:22:36to be honest. With the way our games have gone, we could have been

2:22:36 > 2:22:39playing for a lot more. The competition as a whole has been

2:22:39 > 2:22:42positive. We would have liked to have done one better, but a lot of

2:22:42 > 2:22:45guys have had an opportunity and in this last game we have displayed

2:22:45 > 2:22:47character that we will need going forward.Looking at the players on

2:22:47 > 2:22:52the pitch tonight, do you finish this championship with greater

2:22:52 > 2:22:55strength in depth than at any previous time in Warren Gatland?I

2:22:55 > 2:22:59would like to think so. And there is more depth in the regions as well

2:22:59 > 2:23:03with guys but in the hands to get in the squad. It's important with a big

2:23:03 > 2:23:0718 months coming up.Congratulations to you and Wales and for being

2:23:07 > 2:23:15NatWest man of the match.Thank you. If we were to be cruel, the man with

2:23:15 > 2:23:18the biggest influence on the match would be Francois Trinh-Duc, who had

2:23:18 > 2:23:22one of those days he will not want to remember.If Alun Wyn Jones was

2:23:22 > 2:23:29the best player, Trinh-Duc was Wales' second-best player! He had

2:23:29 > 2:23:33one of those days. Does he have his studs stuck in the ground here? It

2:23:33 > 2:23:41lately -- it's let Liam Williams in for a try. These matches are all

2:23:41 > 2:23:45about key momentum swings and this was huge. There is no need to be

2:23:45 > 2:23:51that greedy. Again, a forward pass, and it's simple errors. This one

2:23:51 > 2:23:55compounds it. This was to win the match. I'm the last person in the

2:23:55 > 2:23:59world to talk about missing kicks in front of goal, but as an

2:23:59 > 2:24:03international centre half, he has cost France the game. It's ironic,

2:24:03 > 2:24:06Wales have lost two games in the Championship, and that was probably

2:24:06 > 2:24:12their worst performance and they got their guts out to get the win.It

2:24:12 > 2:24:14was a great defensive effort.

2:24:14 > 2:24:15their guts out to get the win.It was a great defensive effort.Wales

2:24:15 > 2:24:18missed 26 tackles, but they did not seem that bad in defence. I thought

2:24:18 > 2:24:24they defended very well. Tipuric had a brilliant first half, he got a

2:24:24 > 2:24:28couple. Alun Wyn Jones definitely deserved man of the match. The game

2:24:28 > 2:24:34was always going to be a battle and he was immense, creating turnovers.

2:24:34 > 2:24:39Bastareaud went for the short ball and Dan Biggar and Alun Wyn Jones

2:24:39 > 2:24:44combined. I think there were five malt turnovers. Really effective.

2:24:44 > 2:24:50This was the key one for me. And this is why Dan Biggar was selected,

2:24:50 > 2:24:55up against Bastareaud. Your number ten is stepping in and making it

2:24:55 > 2:25:00physical like that, it's a huge momentum swing.With the law changes

2:25:00 > 2:25:06now, I think you'll get more success from turnovers on them all. -- on

2:25:06 > 2:25:15the ball. -- on the

2:25:15 > 2:25:18the ball. -- on the more.We get frustrated about scrums that they

2:25:18 > 2:25:22have an undue influence on the game. Sometimes impenetrable but this was

2:25:22 > 2:25:26a key moment.It was because France had the advantage in the previous

2:25:26 > 2:25:32few scrums before this one. This was a result of the Jones turnover. If I

2:25:32 > 2:25:38was French, I think Serge wasn't happy with that. It looked like an

2:25:38 > 2:25:42obvious French penalty.As we can see, the referee was at the side

2:25:42 > 2:25:49where the Welsh scrum was going forward. Naturally he had the

2:25:49 > 2:25:55positive action for Wales. Obviously we were frustrated in that

2:25:55 > 2:25:55situation.

2:25:55 > 2:25:56we were frustrated in that situation.The Six Nations has been

2:25:56 > 2:26:00and gone for another year. This is how things have panned out over the

2:26:00 > 2:26:05course of the last six weeks with a Grand Slam for Ireland at the top.

2:26:05 > 2:26:09Wales finishing second after the narrowest of victories here.

2:26:09 > 2:26:13Scotland in third, France in fourth and England fifth. We ought to have

2:26:13 > 2:26:19a quick word about the pretournament favourites probably going for a

2:26:19 > 2:26:22third consecutive championship. What do you make, Eddie Jones being

2:26:22 > 2:26:25magnanimous in defeat at Twickenham today, but also critical of some of

2:26:25 > 2:26:29his players. What do you make of where England are?They look tired

2:26:29 > 2:26:35to me. On the back of a Lions tour England traditionally struggle. A

2:26:35 > 2:26:39lot of those world-class players like Maro Itoje and Vunipola, they

2:26:39 > 2:26:44look short of energy. They had two tough games away at Murrayfield and

2:26:44 > 2:26:47Paris and they look short of confidence at the moment.If you

2:26:47 > 2:26:52look out the Irish players managed in comparison, they have a lot more

2:26:52 > 2:26:56time off, a lot less gametime. When you are six or seven months deep

2:26:56 > 2:27:02into your season, it takes its toll. I say it a lot, but when players are

2:27:02 > 2:27:07approaching 30 games per year, they are entering serious fatigue,

2:27:07 > 2:27:12mentally and physically.We saw it with the Lions tour, English players

2:27:12 > 2:27:17like Elliot Daly, Maro Itoje, really important for the Lions. And today

2:27:17 > 2:27:22we saw them really tired. They need recovery and time to rest. So far

2:27:22 > 2:27:27they haven't had that, and it's caused problems for England.Where

2:27:27 > 2:27:32are Wales at the moment on the path to the World Cup next year?

2:27:32 > 2:27:35Definitely on the right track. They will experiment over the next 12

2:27:35 > 2:27:40months to find out what the squad of 33 will be. The key lesson from this

2:27:40 > 2:27:44Six Nations campaign has been the way wins. All teams are really

2:27:44 > 2:27:47strong at home, but Ireland have shown away wins are vital in the Six

2:27:47 > 2:27:53Nations.Over the last few weeks we have been able to tell your

2:27:53 > 2:27:55enthusiasm for the sport has remained undimmed and you

2:27:55 > 2:27:59desperately wanted to be out there today in this fantastic atmosphere.

2:27:59 > 2:28:04When will you play again?Watching this now, I'm desperate to be out

2:28:04 > 2:28:08there playing. I love those physical encounters in particular. I'm back

2:28:08 > 2:28:12running now which is great, I can see the light at the end of the

2:28:12 > 2:28:15tunnel. Training is going well and I will be back fully fit for June.

2:28:15 > 2:28:22Can't wait until the next season. Best luck. Thank you to you guys for

2:28:22 > 2:28:26being here and thank you four watching the Six Nations over the

2:28:26 > 2:28:31last few weeks. It's 46 weeks' time before these two teams will meet in

2:28:31 > 2:28:37the opening match of next year's Six Nations. The 20th incarnation.

2:28:37 > 2:28:41Friday night in Paris, Wales against France. Johnny Sexton dropped the

2:28:41 > 2:28:46goal in Paris on opening weekend, and at the final whistle at

2:28:46 > 2:28:51Twickenham today, it has been just grand for the Irish.

2:28:51 > 2:28:55COMMENTARY MONTAGE:The waiting is over now and the Six Nations is with

2:28:55 > 2:29:00us once again.

2:29:03 > 2:29:09us once again.Ireland have stolen the game.

2:29:14 > 2:29:28No try.Interception. Stockdale!

2:29:29 > 2:29:38Scotland will bring home the Calcutta Cup.

2:29:40 > 2:29:49The Stade de France erupts.Scotland have won 36 Nations games.This is,

2:29:49 > 2:29:53in Cardiff, is for second place.