[2025 Six Nations] France vs Wales - 31/01/25

[TRF_Olyy]

 

[ShropshireAllBlack]

I genuinely fear that this match will be so one sided it will look like baby seals getting clubbed….

 

[ElRoach]

Everyone is expecting a France win, the question is, how many points can they score? If France turn it on, and Wales lose hope early, could be a record loss. Wales apparently lost to SA 96-13 in 1998, so there is the target!

 

[Saintjay]

I genuinely fear that this match will be so one sided it will look like baby seals getting clubbed….

I'm getting too old for clubbing.

France by 40.

 

[Toulousain ex French fan]

Gros Mauvaka Atonio
Roumat Meafou
Boudehent Alldritt Cros
Dupont N'Tamack
Barassi Moefana
LBB Ramos Attissogbe

Bench : Marchand, Baille, Colombe, Guillard, Jegou, Jalibert, Le Garrec, Gailleton/Villière

A big win on the Welsh, or I'll go back to watching Toulouse highlights…

 

[OldSchoolRugga]

I'm back on this forum, having last posted during the RWC 2023. Really looking forward to some good games.
It's too early to call, but I don't think Gatland will survive after this Six Nations. Expecting France to slaughter Wales.

 

[Half Pint]

Unusual that I cheer for the Welsh, but I'm hoping for an early Wales try, and some basic errors by the home side, and the late night Paris crowd starting to turn on their own players.
Otherwise.. it's going to be a motorway.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

I'm back on this forum, having last posted during the RWC 2023. Really looking forward to some good games.
It's too early to call, but I don't think Gatland will survive after this Six Nations. Expecting France to slaughter Wales.

Welcome back

 

[Flankers' paradise]

My predicted teams, expecting a cricket score:

Baille Mauvaka Atonio Marchand
Flament Meafou Gros/Colombe
Boudehent Alldritt Cros Taofifenua
Dupont Ntamack Jelonch
Mofana Gailleton Abadie
B-B Ramos Attissogbe Lucu/Barre

Thomas Dee Assiratti Lloyd
Jenkins Rowlands Smith/Thomas
Wainwright Morgan Faletau Tshiunza
Williams Thomas Botham
Watkin Roberts Bevan/Edwards
Murray Williams Adams Hathaway

 

[Becca]

Poor Wales

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Assiratti

I believe it is "Derrièreiratti" when playing in France.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Everyone is expecting a France win, the question is, how many points can they score? If France turn it on, and Wales lose hope early, could be a record loss. Wales apparently lost to SA 96-13 in 1998, so there is the target!

No apparently about it. One of the happiest days to be English. And the Boks only converted 9 of their 15 tries. With the benefit of 20-20 hindsight the Boks kicking a penalty looks a tad unnecessary.

Yep, if this goes wrong it could get very very messy for Wales. And you can also see cards when, not if, their front row gets crumpled. Won't even be able to look to the roof for inspiration.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Thanks for the reminder @TRF_Olyy you prick.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Thanks for the reminder @TRF_Olyy you prick.

Just close your eyes and think of 30-3

 

[Welsh Exile]

Just close your eyes and think of 30-3

Time to dig out the old 2005/2008 Grand Slam DVDs and a bit of heroin.

 

[OldSchoolRugga]

Welcome back

Many thanks. Good to be back.

 

[dirty harry]

Ok OK OK... so this year's 6N I'm going to revert to when I was living in Scotland, and the perpetual optimism reared it's head pre tournament, before the inevitable happened...

Firstly, I've watched a LOT of club rugby this year, and there are 2.5 very common themes when Welsh clubs play non clubs.

1. Lack of physicality. Cardiff and Dragons were absolutely demolished up front last weekend, and all 4 regions have been on the end of batterings in the contact area, sadly regularly.

2. The inability to make decisions under pressure. Welsh clubs constantly butcher chances, and crumble in either 22 of the pitch. They bite in and track the wrong players in defence, and they fail to execute 2 on 1s, get try line fever, and worst of all fail to use advantages.

2.5 every Welsh club this season, when not playing another Welsh team has lost the kicking battle. Costelow, Lloyd, Edward's, Sheedy, Angus o Brien have all proved a problem kicking out of hand, at goal, restarting, and defensively. ESPECIALLY DEFENCIVELY!!! Bevan, Hardy, RMW, Rhodri, and Co are box kicking more than other 9s, because their 10s don't have distance.

So, with no beef up front, no ability to play under pressure, and no kicking game, how do Wales beat France first up?

The easy answer is they don't, I don't think they can win, however, Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets all have found ways to win games recently, with all these problems...

Cardiff and Scarlets have powder puff packs, beaten at scrum time, and no lineout. Worrying, but they've both managed these issues this season, and surprisingly scored tries off these non set peices lol, and scored tries regularly!!! Even the Ospreys under Jones are now scoring tries, and varied tries, not just catch and drives, but first phase, and broken play.

Take Ospreys B playing a good Benneton team recently, out muscled but Ospreys played in the right areas and piled pressure on to canter to victory.

So Wales need to mitigate the French packs massive power advantage, don't give away cheap field position, or cheap penalties. If Wales can manage this they are in the game.

Most importantly, if Wales manage this they also take out this ridiculous backline. Superior athletes, with more experience, regularly winning, will absolutely destroy Wales if given a platform, even a half platform.

Wales have to come out hard, play on the wider shoulders, while avoiding mistakes, show no fear and make the French question their dominance, or better still questioning each other. Wales also need to stay in the fight, remain ahead or within 7 until the latter stages, the French, or more specifically the French replacements will tense up, and when that happens, the miracle in Paris is on!

 

[ShropshireAllBlack]

Ok OK OK... so this year's 6N I'm going to revert to when I was living in Scotland, and the perpetual optimism reared it's head pre tournament, before the inevitable happened...

Firstly, I've watched a LOT of club rugby this year, and there are 2.5 very common themes when Welsh clubs play non clubs.

1. Lack of physicality. Cardiff and Dragons were absolutely demolished up front last weekend, and all 4 regions have been on the end of batterings in the contact area, sadly regularly.

2. The inability to make decisions under pressure. Welsh clubs constantly butcher chances, and crumble in either 22 of the pitch. They bite in and track the wrong players in defence, and they fail to execute 2 on 1s, get try line fever, and worst of all fail to use advantages.

2.5 every Welsh club this season, when not playing another Welsh team has lost the kicking battle. Costelow, Lloyd, Edward's, Sheedy, Angus o Brien have all proved a problem kicking out of hand, at goal, restarting, and defensively. ESPECIALLY DEFENCIVELY!!! Bevan, Hardy, RMW, Rhodri, and Co are box kicking more than other 9s, because their 10s don't have distance.

So, with no beef up front, no ability to play under pressure, and no kicking game, how do Wales beat France first up?

The easy answer is they don't, I don't think they can win, however, Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets all have found ways to win games recently, with all these problems...

Cardiff and Scarlets have powder puff packs, beaten at scrum time, and no lineout. Worrying, but they've both managed these issues this season, and surprisingly scored tries off these non set peices lol, and scored tries regularly!!! Even the Ospreys under Jones are now scoring tries, and varied tries, not just catch and drives, but first phase, and broken play.

Take Ospreys B playing a good Benneton team recently, out muscled but Ospreys played in the right areas and piled pressure on to canter to victory.

So Wales need to mitigate the French packs massive power advantage, don't give away cheap field position, or cheap penalties. If Wales can manage this they are in the game.

Most importantly, if Wales manage this they also take out this ridiculous backline. Superior athletes, with more experience, regularly winning, will absolutely destroy Wales if given a platform, even a half platform.

Wales have to come out hard, play on the wider shoulders, while avoiding mistakes, show no fear and make the French question their dominance, or better still questioning each other. Wales also need to stay in the fight, remain ahead or within 7 until the latter stages, the French, or more specifically the French replacements will tense up, and when that happens, the miracle in Paris is on!

Does your dealer travel as far East as Shropshire? Because you're on some excellent gear….

 

[The Seeker]

France in a cake walk.

 

[OllyM97]

France by 65 points - they'll score at least 5 tries in each half.