Wales Can Take Plenty Of Positives From Their Defeat Against France
Wales scored four tries in Paris, but still fell to a 41-28 loss against a clinical French side.
Despite heading into the game as huge outsiders against an exceptionally good French side, Wales got off to an excellent start.
After turning down several penalty opportunities early on, Rhys Webb was able to find George North, who scored Wales’ first try.
In doing so, North became Wales’ all-time leading try scorer in the Six Nations, whilst also moving into the top ten international rugby union try scorers, with his 46th try for Wales and the British and Irish Lions.
It was a particularly positive opening 20 minutes for Warren Gatland’s side, but France’s quality soon came to the fore as Wales were punished for their lack of a clinical edge in the first half.
Tries from Damian Penaud, Jonathan Danty, Uini Antonio, and Gael Fickou helped the home side into a healthy 34-7 lead midway through the second half.
The French side had ripped apart Wales’ defence during that period, but Gatland will have been impressed with his sides’ fight, as they started to make a late comeback.
Replacement hooker Bradley Roberts pushed his way over for Wales’ second try, before Tomos Williams spotted a gap, to score a third.
A brilliant finish in the corner from Penaud quickly dashed any hopes of a Welsh comeback, but Rio Dyer was on hand to grab Wales’ try bonus point, with an excellent finish of his own in the corner.
