The contract is once again more than fulfilled for the XV of France with this great victory over Wales (39-14). Opposed to the Welsh this Sunday, and before finding England, the French expected to find the most important adversity of their tournament until then. With a forward committed from the reception of the kick-off and the test of Romane Ménager (2 ‘), the meeting was off to a bad start for the Welsh. The rest of the first period was not much better, before the alarm clock rang in the second period.
Overwhelmed by the speed and the many balls thrown wide by the French, Wales failed to find the solution to respond to the XV of France in the first period. Led by an inspired Jessy Tremoulière, the French 3/4 line undermined the Welsh defense. After a superb cross at the foot of number 10, it was first Gaëlle Hermet who with a devastating overflow frame went to score the second French try (10 ‘)
If the French superiority allowed Mélissandre Llorens to offer himself a double (26 ‘, 40’) at the end of two large-scale actions and Escudero to score a fifth try after returning from the locker room, the dynamics completely changed during 20 minutes. Relying on their power and their forwards, the Welsh managed to close the gap to the score.
By setting up a simple one-pass game, they managed to score two tries in quick succession through Evans (52′) and Pyrs (58′). Awakened by these two tries conceded, the French defense then reacted and proved to be solid to leave nothing to the Welsh.
With this improved victory, the XV of France continues to dream of the Grand Slam and offers itself a final against England. After entertaining the 18,511 spectators at the Stade des Alpes this Sunday, they have an appointment next Saturday in the hell of Twickenham where more than 55,000 English supporters are waiting for them for a “Crunch” more decisive than ever.
