As Wales scored zero points for the first time in the Six Nations, Sportin Wales takes a closer look at what we learnt from Friday night’s defeat.

No shortage of effort

Wales were always the underdogs going into Friday night’s contest, with DragonBet giving the visitors odds of just 30/1 to win.

Warren Gatland’s men made so many tackles in the first half an hour of the game that that tiredness showed in the second period. Captain Jac Morgan was on inspired form, making 17 tackles in the first half, while Dafydd Jenkins, on his return to international rugby after missing the autumn, made 24 in the whole match.

With an eight-day turnaround for Wales’s next match with Italy in Rome, Morgan, Jenkins and the rest will be prioritising recovery ahead of a big match.

Biggest match for Wales in 20 years?

On ITV, following the conclusion of the match, former Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar said that his country’s next match against Italy represents their biggest match in ’15 or 20 years’.

Considering Biggar himself played in Grand Slam matches and World Cup semi finals in the red of Wales, he seems well placed to make that assessment.

With Italy vs Wales suddenly looking like a Wooden Spoon decider, Warren Gatland’s job hangs in the balance as back-to-back bottom place finishes will not be tolerated by the WRU.

Adam Jones’s Coaching Is Paying Off Already

One area of Wales’s game against France that was an unqualified success was the scrum. While seemingly all else crumbled, the Welsh scrum held firm.

At loosehead, Gareth Thomas and Nicky Thomas had excellent games up against the behemoths Uini Antonio and Georges-Henri Colombe, while the decision to hand Evan Lloyd his first international start was a good one.

Lloyd, known more for his loose game than his set piece acumen, was excellent in both facets. His carrying was a really plus considering Wales are without Dewi Lake this spring.

The worry is perhaps that, with Tomas Francis, Wales lack a truly excellent tighthead. Henry Thomas is serviceable, and Archie Griffin looks a prospect, but is injured for this tournament.

Dan the Man

With Owen Watkin suffering a knee injury in the first 25 minutes of the match, uncapped Dan Edwards was called from the bench thrust into the limelight for his first taste of international rugby.

Overall, his debut was a solid one. His kicking improved Wales and helped them gain some much-needed territory.

He will be proud of his efforts.

Attacking woes

It is no secret that Wales broke their own Six Nations record when they failed to score a point against France on Friday night.

Perhaps the more worrying aspect of their first match of the campaign was how toothless they looked in attack. Much was made by disgruntled fans of Gatland’s decision to select Nick Tompkins and Owen Watkin in their ‘opposite’ positions of outside and inside centre respectively, and the selection simply did not work.

Wales’s attack was too predictable and often too deep, allowing France’s defence to swallow up any carriers through the middle.

When the visitors did go wide with a bit of pace, as was seen through Josh Adams’s second half break, they found joy.

A look ahead: selection decisions

With Owen Watkin and Aaron Wainwright both injury doubts, Gatland has called Taine Plumtree into the squad ahead of Saturday’s match with Italy.

The Wales head coach has a decision to make about the number eight position, with Taulupe Faletau also not fit enough to make the 23 against France. Whether Faletau will be fit for Italy remains to be seen, but Morgan and Botham will likely keep their places after hardworking displays.

The centre offers a different conundrum. With Watkin injured, Scarlets centre Eddie James may well earn a start.

Wales missed a midfield carrier against France and James is the best option in the squad. If James is selected, it may also be tempting to also pick his Scarlets partner Joe Roberts.

A left footed kicking option and excellent in the wide channels, Roberts is a much more natural outside centre than Nick Tompkins.

Whichever combination Gatland selects this week, Wales must win. Win pretty or win ugly, it does not matter. Just win.

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Sportin Wales’s coverage of the men’s and U20’s Six Nations is proudly sponsored by S4C. You can watch all of Wales’s matches this spring for free on S4C and S4C Clic.

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