02/15/26 11:28:00
Printable Page
02/15 11:26 CST France tear apart Wales with eight tries and is only unbeaten
Six Nations team
France tear apart Wales with eight tries and is only unbeaten Six Nations team
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) --- France inevitably racked up a record win against
struggling Wales on Sunday and was the only unbeaten team in the Six Nations
after two rounds.
Favored to win back-to-back titles, France scored eight tries, the first after
just 88 seconds. The 54-12 scoreline eclipsed its previous high against Wales
of 51-0 in 1998 at Wembley Stadium.
France didn't overpower Wales as it could easily have. Instead, France played
sevens style, keeping the ball alive, offloading and stepping and slicing the
Welsh apart. The loose and slippery nature of France's game didn't allow Wales
time to reset its defense and it was constantly forced to have to react.
The speed suited France's new centers, Pau clubmates Fabien Brau-Boirie, 20,
and milien Gailleton, 22. They both touched down and Gailleton was replaced
late by another debutant Noah Nn, 21. Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert was the man
of the match after scoring one try and assisting on three more.
Wales' Six Nations losing streak since 2022 was extended to 13 matches. The
game attracted only about 60,000 spectators, the smallest Wales home crowd
since the tournament expanded in 2000.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
|
