Six Nations Super Saturday continued in Paris this afternoon as Les Bleus kept their title hopes alive. The defending champions picked up an entertaining bonus-point win at the Stade de France and now must hope for a huge favour from aged rivals England in Dublin to raze Ireland’s Grand Slam dreams and pip the world’s top-ranked team at the last. Unlikely yes, but stranger things acquire happened.
France held up their finish of the bargain as they returned to home soil, fresh from a seven-try, 43-point rout at Twickenham last weekend that was England’s heaviest-ever home defeat. Confidence is now back to soaring levels in Fabien Galthie’s camp after six more tries today, just what they needed with the small matter of a home Rugby World Cup looming in the autumn.
Warren Gatland’s Welsh side acquire endured a dismal tournament for the most section against a backdrop of an ongoing domestic crisis in the sport, though were spirited in Paris and acquire at least avoided picking up the dreaded wooden spoon for the first time since 2003 after that much-needed bonus-point win in Rome last weekend. Follow France vs Wales reaction in the Six Nations live below!
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France 41-28 Wales
Fireworks at the Stade de France greet the conclusion of another terrifically entertaining Six Nations game in Paris.
France acquire done their section, wrapping up the bonus-point win.
They now sit one point ahead of Ireland at the top of the table ahead of that huge Grand Slam decider in Dublin that kicks off in less than 30 minutes time.
Can aged rivals England finish them a massive favour?
TRY! France 41-28 Wales | Rio Dyer 80′
80 mins: With the last play of the game, Dragons wing Dyer busts through two would-be tacklers and turns on the jets to score a bonus-point try for Wales, who to their credit, acquire never given up here.
With Biggar off, Halfpenny takes on the kick. It goes through and the final whistle sounds.
Shaun Edwards will be furious with that.
TRY! France 41-21 Wales | Damian Penaud 77′
77 mins: It’s another brace for Penaud!
He was in acres of space for quite some time out on that correct flank as France hammered away at the Welsh line on the opposing side.
That succeeds in narrowing the defence and Les Bleus then finally inspect to exploit the space, with Ramos playing in Penaud for their sixth try of the day.
Ramos adds one final, wonderful kick from the tee.
76 mins: Biggar’s day is over for Wales. He’s replaced by Owen Williams. Leigh Halfpenny is also on for Rees-Zammit.
France battering down the door for try number six as we tick towards the full-time whistle…
74 mins: Lock Bastien Chalureau is on for his first Six Nations minutes for France. Taofifenua off.
Sekou Macalou, Maxime Lucu and Yoram Moefana are also entering the fray now.
Dupont and Dumortier off, along with Ollivon.
73 mins: France are now looking to finish with a flourish as Ramos produces a tidy dinky chip to try and turnaround that Welsh defence.
But the visitors hold firm on that occasion and drop out from behind their own line.
70 mins: There was a wonderful crash from Penaud a few moments ago, thundering downfield but halted in his tracks by an monstrous collision.
The French crowd demand action, but replays note that was pretty innocuous actually.
70 mins: We should mention that Tommy Reffell came on for Wales a few minutes ago, in space of centurion Faletau.