Rugby / 6 Nations Tournament: the XV of France defeats Wales and keeps hope
Brice Dulin scored the decisive try against Wales.
REUTERS - GONZALO FUENTES
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
The French rugby team inflicted their first defeat on Wales (32-30) in the 2021 Six Nations Tournament on Saturday at the Stade de France, a success that allows them to keep a chance to win the title.
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The Blues will play a final match, late, next Friday (20h GMT) against Scotland at the Stade de France to try to win the trophy.
The French will have to win with the offensive bonus point and a gap of at least 21 points to be crowned.
Wales miss the Grand Slam.
The French are chasing their first trophy since 2010 and still have a chance to do so after having managed an incredible turnaround after a crazy match.
On the verge of cashing a crippling fourth try twenty minutes from the end, Fabien Galthié's men recovered by putting insane pressure on the Welsh who until then seemed to master their subject.
A try refused at the back Brice Dulin for a dangerous clearing which led to the exclusion of the second row Willemse, could have ruined the French chances.
🇫🇷🏴 𝐈𝐋𝐒 𝐋'𝐎𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓!
𝐈𝐋𝐒 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐔𝐗!
The Blues take the victory tonight!
😍😍😍😍 # FRAGAL #XVdeFrance #NeFaisonsXV pic.twitter.com/xWUiV0rXMj
- France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 20, 2021
But instead, Fabien Galthié's men finished with a bang by scoring two tries in the last three minutes by their captain Charles Ollivon and Dulin, elected man of the match.
With four tries in total, after those of Romain Taofifenua and Antoine Dupont in first, the offensive bonus is acquired.
Return of Ntamack
The Welsh finished with the point of the defensive bonus but no longer have their destiny in their hands.
The mission was difficult: it was imperative to win if possible by scoring four tries against the XV du Leek, in search of a thirteenth Grand Slam.
The Blues rose to the challenge by finding the path to success with panache a week after their defeat in London to England (23-20).
Galthié's men remained on two victories against the "Red Dragons", in Cardiff (27-23) as part of the 2020 Tournament and (38-21) at the opening of the autumn tour at the Stade de France.
But the Welsh, in full resurrection after a failed 2020 campaign, had nothing to do with the pale team submerged by the blue wave at the end of October.
They responded to the assaults of the French who flattened twice in the first quarter of an hour, by Romain Taofifenua and Antoine Dupont.
Dan Biggar and Josh Navidi were responsible for putting the "Dragons" back on a level playing field, taking advantage of a lack of aggressiveness in defense of the French.
In the first period, the Welsh had possession of the ball and the partners of Charles Ollivon wiped two tiles with the injuries of the second row Taofifenua (knee) and the opener Matthieu Jalibert (concussion protocol).
Romain Ntamack, relayed from N.10 Bordeaux-Bègles, allowed the Blues to pick up the score (17-17) before the break with a penalty kick in the axis.
Achievement against Scotland
With a draw, the Welsh were virtually titled but everything was still possible for the Blues provided they gained the upper hand in the second half.
The Welsh quickly curbed French hopes in the second half.
Winger Josh Adams resisted Dylan Cretin's rescue attempt to give his team a third try.
The Welsh were not far from being knocked out when their gifted winger Louis Rees-Zammit played a balancing act in the right corner.
But the try was refused because the ball hit the base of the post.
At the edge of the precipice, the Blues reacted by resuming the assault with the following that we know.
They will have to achieve a great feat on Friday to be crowned.
But the hope is still there.
(
With AFP
)
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