Merci France

Wow that is three agonising rugby matches in as many weeks. First it was Pontypool scraping home at Narberth, then last week we had the narrow win for Pooler in the mudbath of Pandy Park and last night it was the turn of Wales in Paris. My hair has turned from grey to white and I have consumed my nails and have started on my fingers – sacre bleu!

I watched the France v. Wales game on a big screen in Cardiff accompanied by many of a like persuasion. There was plenty of rain but the pitch did not turn into the paddy field that Pooler had experienced the previous week. It did make handling difficult however and Wales had a horrendous first half with virtually every attempted attack halted by a knock-on. France did not seem to suffer from the same malaise and went to work with a purpose. They had soon bagged two tries to go with a penalty and a dropped goal to accumulate a 16-0 lead. For Wales it was frustration heaped on frustration as they couldn’t build any momentum. True Liam Williams seemed to have crossed for a try that was rightly disallowed as he had lost the ball as he was crossing the try line. There were also a couple of penalty attempts but all in all they were not at the races. It had to be better in the second half didn’t it?

The second half was better as France seemed to seize Wales’ mantle and made some very costly errors. Wales finally got on the scoresheet when a break by Adams was ably supported by Tomas Williams and the scrum half gleefully touched down. The conversion went over and Wales were back in contention. Knowing the French temperament, there is just a chance, I thought. Huget then made a horlicks of a grubber kick near his own line. George North was on hand to pounce on the loose ball. Another conversion and it was 16-14 with the momentum swinging towards Wales. Moriarty looked to have scored another try for Wales but it was disallowed for obstruction but it was all Wales and only a matter of time surely. Soon after Wales actually took the lead through an excellent penalty from Biggar. It was 16-17 and Wales had come back from nowhere. Could they hold on?

Wales had actually held the monster French scrum quite well but they chose the wrong time and the wrong place to get marmalised by a huge French shove. They conceded a penalty in front of the posts that the French converted and retook the lead at 19-17. Was all that effort from Wales for nought?

Then came the coup de grace with the French on the attack. A horrible ballooned pass caught the attention of North and he needed no second invitation. He grabbed the ball and sprinted seventy metres to score. Biggar converted and Wales were five points clear at 19-24. Time was running out and France had to score a try. They laid siege but the redoubtable Welsh defence held firm. Wales won a penalty with a minute or so to go. We were safe surely. Biggar kicked to touch – all we needed to do was to win the lineout and the game was ours. Agonisingly Wales lost the lineout and gave the French one last chance. They got as far as the Welsh twenty two before Wales won a turnover and Davies kicked the ball into touch. Cue celebration!

This was a classic cliché of a match – a game of two halves. Wales looked sunk after a dismal first half but France rather gifted them the match with the two errors that let George North in. Wales know that they have to improve significantly for the stern tests to come. I do think that we need to include a top class goal kicker in the side somehow – these games are decided by fine margins.

The cold weather has put paid to Pontypool’s home fixture against Bedlinog so it is the couch for me today. I am expecting two home wins for Scotland and Ireland but England may have other ideas in a heavyweight clash in Dublin.

Next week it is Rome for Wales and a match against Italy. The Italian club form has improved that is for sure but will it be reflected in the national team. We will see when they take on Scotland in Murrayfield today whether they have made progress or whether it is more about the foreign imports that play for their clubs. There is another blank Saturday for Pontypool with the next scheduled match against Newcastle Emlyn at home on February 16th.

Come on Wales! Come on Pooler!