Six Nations: French joy after thrilling victory crushes Welsh hopes of another Grand Slam

27 February 2009

France 21 (13) Wales 16 (13)

France threw the Six Nations Championship wide open with a thrilling 21-16 victory over Wales in Paris, deservedly dashing their visitors' quest for back-to-back Grand Slams in the process.

The win was a personal triumph for under-pressure coach Marc Lièvremont - who took fearful stick from the media for his team selection - and a collective victory for his youth-tinged side.

But it was gnarled veteran number eight Imanol Harinordoquy who epitomised the French spirit, rampaging through a helter-skelter match that left spectators as breathless as the remarkable combatants.

The French defied not only the pre-match odds, but also logic as they seemingly became stronger and fitter the more game progressed.

Nothing separated the two teams after a break-neck first-half closed with Thierry Dusautoir's equalising try to leave the score 13-13, but it was France who then emerged to take control of the next crucial 20 minutes - despite the fact many of Lièvremont's team had been playing Top 14 matches on the previous weekend while Wales rested their stars.

It was during that monumental period that Les Bleus laid the foundations for victory, with Cedric Heymans scoring their second try and the impressive Morgan Parra adding a penalty to his earlier eight-point haul in the first half.

Wales, inevitably, threw the proverbial kitchen sink at their hosts in the dying minutes but the French defence held firm - as it had most of the evening - to ensure they pulled off an exceptional win.

There were heroes all over the park after a bruising and brutal encounter, but the most satisfied man at the Stade de France must have been Lièvremont after the most testing week of his coaching tenure to date.

Most had expected a Wales win - and feared a Welsh rout - but Lionel Nallet led his team to dizzying heights as they overcame the defending champions and pre-match favourites.

The match began, as it finished, with Wales in the ascendancy and Stephen Jones kicking the visitors into a third-minute lead after a stunning opening passage of play.

But just as fears of a troubled evening began to crystallize France battled back with their own fluid rugby that culminated in Parra kicking a sixth-minute response. It was punch and counter-punch as two rugby heavyweights danced around with the speed and fleet footedness of world-class middle-weights.

The sheer pace and vivacity of the opening period was something to behold and Jones added a second penalty after nine minutes to push Wales back ahead.

This was rugby of the highest quality, and not for the feint-hearted either. One hit by debutant Mathieu Bastareaud on Jamie Roberts brought audible gasps, while a later demolition job on Sebastien Chabal left the French icon unsure which week he was in, let alone what day it was.

All it needed now was a try, and the Welsh were happy to oblige after 24 minutes when full-back Lee Byrne chose the perfect line to break the defence and race over after a textbook back move from the visitors' ever-solid lineout.

When Jones added the conversion Wales had opened up a 13-3 lead, but the score was harsh on France after an even opening.

Parra, who had an excellent game at scrum-half, pulled back three points when he kicked a 35th-minute penalty, and then France grabbed their own try just seconds before the interval thanks to Dusautoir's strength from close in.

Parra, 20, was again on target with his kick to level the scores on the stroke of half-time as players and spectators alike were granted welcome reprieve on order to catch their breath.

Fears that France would fade away after such a high-tempo opening proved illusory, and it was the home side which went on to dominate for most of the second period.

Full-back Maxime Medard, 22, became more influential as the game progressed and man-mountain Bastareaud, 20, confirmed his huge potential with a match-winning break that led directly to Heymans' 53rd-minute try.

Lièvremont's selection gambles were paying off handsomely and the Welsh appeared to panic as Warren Gatland sent on Dwayne Peel, Gavin Henson and James Hook in response.

By now 22-year-old Francois Trinh-Duc was also on for France, having replaced the injured Benoit Baby just before half-time. The latter had a mixed game - kicking with aplomb but struggling to lead the line like a natural fly-half might - but Trinh-Duc offered assurance and a cool head that belied his experience.

By now France were rampant, and they should have put the game beyond doubt but for Parra twice hitting the post and Trinh-Duc also going wide with an attempted drop-goal. Those missed kicks allowed Wales to pile on the late pressure, especially once Hook had narrowed the gap to just five points after his 72nd-minute penalty.

But try as they might the Welsh just couldn't force that final score - and it would have been a travesty if they had. This was France's night, when Lièvremont's team finally came good.

The significance of both the result and the performance is huge not only for the Six Nations, but also for the future of this youthful looking team.

Medard looked so assured at full-back that it's hard to see a way back now for his club colleague Clement Poitrenaud, while Bastareaud made such an impression at 13 that he too will be difficult to dislodge. Parra, another of Lièvremont's Under-21 World Cup winning side, also shone with boot and hand, while old guns Nallet and Harinordoquy were marvels of industry and determination.

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