France cruise past Wales with second-half power show
Wales were eyeing a first victory in the tournament for two years and a first over France in a decade with the scores level at half-time. They had matched Les Bleues, taking the lead through their driving lineout after France prop Yllana Brosseau was shown a yellow card. Gwenllian Pyrs spearheaded an impressive maul and France scrum-half Bourdon Sansus was lured into conceding a penalty try and a second card for the visitors in two minutes.
But France not only had the nous but the power up front to emerge from the nine-minute spell with 13 players on level terms, as lock Fall Raclot finished a series of drives to score their first try. France slipped to second in the Six Nations table despite victory in Cardiff Wales, who lost Carys Cox to injury before kick-off, made some headway with fellow centre Courtney Keight and full-back Kayleigh Powell. But there was an over-reliance on the lone kicking of fly-half Lleucu George who had an off-day with the boot.
In contrast, France boasted so many options, pinning Wales back time and again through Carla Arbez, Bourdon Sansus and Pauline Barrat. Wales were committed in defence against such overwhelming power as Powell and Seren Singleton - making her first Test start - provided big hits, and Kelsey Jones held up Assia Khalfaoul over the tryline to remain 7-7 at half-time. The defensive effort would take its toll as the French response in the second half was inevitable and immediate.
Captain Feleu and scrum-half Bourdon Sansus pulled the strings to ensure France swiftly took control. Each scored a try, as well as creating another for wing Murie in the space of 13 devastating minutes. Wales, to their immense credit, refused to buckle as Singleton and Jenna De Vera, just moments after taking the field for her Test debut, pulled off try-saving tackles.
But Grando crossed twice late on to inflict a scoreline that did not reflect Welsh effort. Wales: Powell; Singleton, Dallavalle, Keight, Joyce; George, Lockwood; Pyrs, Jones, Tuipulotu, Aiono, Crabb, Lewis, Williams (capt), King. Replacements: Reardon, Davies, Rose, John, Metcalfe, Evans, Bevan, De Vera.