I must confess my disappointment with Wales not clinching the Grand Slam is still there even after sleeping on it. I cannot be critical of a Welsh team who gave everything and played their best rugby of the season in a pulsating encounter in Paris. It was a definite case of so near and yet so far as Wales lost out to a last gasp French try 32-30.
How did we get to that agonising finale?
The first half was very much a tit-for-tat affair with
some scintillating rugby from both sides. They had scored two converted tries
apiece in the first twenty minutes with Wales pegging France back twice despite
having a try disallowed by the TMO. Taofifenua and Dupont crossed for France
while Biggar and Navidi scored the tries for Wales. A penalty goal apiece left
the score at 17-17 at half time with Wales, if anything, looking a shade stronger.
Wales were playing with an attacking verve a couple of
levels up from their previous matches with their ball carriers thundering
forward. Adams and Rees Zammit were coming in field and looking dangerous and
Biggar was controlling the game expertly. The Grand Slam still looked well
within their grasp.
The third quarter really belonged to Wales as they
continued their good work. In the first ten minutes they built a ten point lead
through a penalty and a try from Adams who capitalised on excellent work from Tipuric
who put in an expertly judged kick ahead and substitute scrum half Williams who
gathered the loose ball (17-27).
The French hit back with a penalty from Ntamack to
close the gap to seven (20-27).
Then came the turning point in the match just as the third
quarter ended. Wales won a lineout near the French twenty two and what looked to
be an unstoppable forward drive powered right up to the French line but was
stopped illegally by Haouas. With referee, Pearce, playing the advantage, Rees Zammit
seemed to have squeezed in acrobatically for a try in the right corner. This
was chalked off by the TMO as the very edge of the ball had touched the touch
line. We waited expectantly for what looked for all the world to be a penalty
try to be awarded. What we got was a penalty and a yellow card for Haouas.
Wales kicked the penalty when they might have considered going for a try and
regained their ten point lead at 20-30. It felt as if Wales had been awarded
the penalty try they could have had a winning lead as well as gaining the all
important bonus point. Still they had a decent lead going into the final
quarter with France a man short.
In the final quarter things began to change. The
substitutions were made and the France seemed stung into action. Wales found it
increasingly difficult to get out of their own half and started to concede
penalties. France hammered away at the Welsh line and looked to have scored
their third try. The TMO had spotted Willemse giving Wyn Jones a facial,
however, and the try was chalked off. Not only that, but Willemse was given a
red card and Wales had been given a “get out of jail” card with fifteen minutes
to go.
Wales were still under pressure and were still giving
away penalties as they tried to keep the French out. Referee, Pearce, lost his
patience with Wales and Faletau and Liam Williams were given a yellow card in
the space of two minutes. It was the fourteen men of France against thirteen
men of Wales for the last five minutes or so. Could Wales hold out as France
continued to press? It was almost unbearable to watch.
With three minutes to go, Ollivan crashed over for a
try for France that was converted by Ntamack. It had been coming for a while
and the French were now within a score at 27-30.
This was pure agony. Wales kicked off and did manage
to get their hands on the ball after a French mistake. They started a series of
forward drives to wind the clock down – surely, they could hold out. ‘Please
don’t concede a penalty’, I shouted at the telly. Eagle eyed Pearce spotted
some illegal sealing off and disaster France were awarded the penalty and a last
chance to pinch the game.
The French kicked the ball into touch and from the
ensuing lineout before we knew it Dulin was gleefully crossing for the all-important
winning try. The conversion failed but France were home at 32-30.
Writing this has been cathartic as I realise just how
strong the French were in the last quarter despite having that red card. It was
really hard luck on Wales but the French effort must be commended. Wales can be
justifiably proud of their efforts which so nearly gave them the Grand Slam to go
with the Triple Crown. Well done Wales, it wasn’t to be, but you did us proud!
Where does that leave the Championship? Wales now have
twenty points courtesy of a losing bonus point and France now have fifteen with
the win and four try bonus point. Wales’ campaign is over but France have yet
to play Scotland in Paris on Friday. The French now know they need to win by a
twenty one point margin and score four tries to pip Wales at the post and claim
the Six Nations Championship. The Scots, in the meantime, had a comfortable 52-10
victory over Italy and will certainly not be a push-over and they have the
added incentive of claiming second place with a decent win.
For England, this has been a hugely disappointing campaign
with yesterday’s heavy loss in Dublin against Ireland the final part of their “Triple
Down”. With all the players and resources at their disposal, their failure is
all the more stark. As Sergeant Williams would have said in It Ain’t Half
Hot Mum, ‘Oh dear what a pity, never mind’.
That brings down the curtain on an excellent campaign
for Wales where they have made huge strides forward admittedly from a low
starting point. Well done to the coaching team for sticking to their guns
despite all the negative publicity. The old and the new have blended together
well and we can move forward with a degree of optimism. It is a great shame
that we weren’t able to be there in person to cheer the lads on.
We will have an anxious eye on events in Paris on
Friday as to win the Six Nations Championship to add to the Triple Crown would
be a real bonus.
Well done Wales you have cheered up the nation in
these trying times.
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