France for a starter

[Graigwen]

I felt very comfortable when Dan B came on.

[Sourdust]

I’m really struggling to find too many positives out of that.

Without wishing to sound facetious, the positive is the scoreline.

I genuinely doubt we will play that badly again all year, and we still won. Yes, France threw it away but how often have we "thrown away" games against better sides? When a better side puts you under pressure, you make mistakes. Wales knew that the French momentum was built on psychological sand and they pressed that advantage because they couldn't find another. I've seen that done to us countless times and it's great to be on the right end of it.

I heard someone say that we used up all our luck today. Again, I can see how it might seem that way. But we had two tries disallowed, and although I think both calls were fair, both could easily have gone the other way. So there's a little in Column B of the Fortune Ledger, too.

Ultimately we won't know for a few weeks yet if this was just a bad day at the office, or the vanguard of a crisis. That would have been a shattering defeat, but we dodged it, and we get to go again. That's enough to be positive about.

[Son of Mathonwy]

The result was never in doubt.

Well, I think we just about deserved the win in the end, but how did we turn that around (and without Martyn Williams too!)?

Positives... fantastic defence, great back row, two miracles from North and a really strong game from Adams.
Negatives... we started like we were unfamiliar with this egg-shaped ball... and that wet stuff that fell from the sky unexpectedly. And our set piece was a mess at the end - criminal to lose two scrums and a line out late in the game.

Luckily France were trying to lose even harder than we were. We just about got away with our standard slow start to the championships but won't be striking fear into anyone.

On a different note, I was annoyed with Barnes stopping the clock in the last few minutes, for a scrum reset and a penalty kick? That wouldn't happen in the middle of a match, so why different rules at the end?

[Sourdust]

I felt very comfortable when Dan B came on.

As a long-standing Biggar advocate I've largely kept my counsel about Anscombe, as his recent showings have been winning me over. I was quite comfortable with him starting with Biggar as backup. I think some of the criticism of Anscombe tonight was harsh, but he had a poor game. Were we facing big guns next up, I'd expect Biggar to start, but Italy is probably the best place to give Anscombe another chance, if you think he deserves it. I do - but only one more.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I’m really struggling to find too many positives out of that.

Without wishing to sound facetious, the positive is the scoreline.

I genuinely doubt we will play that badly again all year, and we still won. Yes, France threw it away but how often have we "thrown away" games against better sides? When a better side puts you under pressure, you make mistakes. Wales knew that the French momentum was built on psychological sand and they pressed that advantage because they couldn't find another. I've seen that done to us countless times and it's great to be on the right end of it.

I heard someone say that we used up all our luck today. Again, I can see how it might seem that way. But we had two tries disallowed, and although I think both calls were fair, both could easily have gone the other way. So there's a little in Column B of the Fortune Ledger, too.

Ultimately we won't know for a few weeks yet if this was just a bad day at the office, or the vanguard of a crisis. That would have been a shattering defeat, but we dodged it, and we get to go again. That's enough to be positive about.

True, with a little bit more luck we could have scored 20 points in the first half. Which makes up for our lucky tries in the second half. Much more exciting this way though

[Son of Mathonwy]

I felt very comfortable when Dan B came on.

As a long-standing Biggar advocate I've largely kept my counsel about Anscombe, as his recent showings have been winning me over. I was quite comfortable with him starting with Biggar as backup. I think some of the criticism of Anscombe tonight was harsh, but he had a poor game. Were we facing big guns next up, I'd expect Biggar to start, but Italy is probably the best place to give Anscombe another chance, if you think he deserves it. I do - but only one more.

Unusually for me I was happy to see Biggar come on. But this was only because we couldn't afford to miss another penalty.

[bruce]

I was impressed with the strength of Navidi for somebody who doesn't strike me as a huge back rower, Picamoles didn't make any ground against him with a head of steam. Liam looked dangerous before his replacement (any news on his head injury?).

[MrK]

Who are the other 8 players that travelled?

I saw Ball in the warm up..who else

Btw I think we really need Balls carrying aganst England and Ireland even though that weakens our lineout. Id also like to see D Lewis on the bench for that reason.

[Buggaluggs]

Watching it now (on NBC replay). France really good in the first half. Wales looked flustered and short of ideas. Liam a little unlucky not to get the try. Wales also a little lucky to not get a yellow.

2nd half coming up...

[normanski]

We knew it would be tough and against a monster pack in sheeting rain we came up short intitially but Gats and Edwards must have read the riot act at half time and then made the tactical substitutions which swung the game.

A win is a win!

Goodness knows how many times we have played poorly and lost by a margin in the past.

This squad can win ugly and I’ll take that every time.

[Buggaluggs]

Feeling good about this second half..

[Sandydragon]

It may only be half-time but this one's well gone.

Even if we magically dominate the next 40, France will get a couple of penalties and where are we going to find 23 points?

There's slow starts, and there's not starting at all. Well, let's just hope that come March we'll be saying, "If only it wasn't for that 1st half in Paris, eh?"

Tremble at my powers...

There's absolutely no way Rachel Riley will turn up at my gaff at midnight, with a cheque for £5m and wearing a string bikini. You heard it here first!

Well?

[Sandydragon]

The result was never in doubt.

Well, I think we just about deserved the win in the end, but how did we turn that around (and without Martyn Williams too!)?

Positives... fantastic defence, great back row, two miracles from North and a really strong game from Adams.
Negatives... we started like we were unfamiliar with this egg-shaped ball... and that wet stuff that fell from the sky unexpectedly. And our set piece was a mess at the end - criminal to lose two scrums and a line out late in the game.

Luckily France were trying to lose even harder than we were. We just about got away with our standard slow start to the championships but won't be striking fear into anyone.

On a different note, I was annoyed with Barnes stopping the clock in the last few minutes, for a scrum reset and a penalty kick? That wouldn't happen in the middle of a match, so why different rules at the end?

I was annoyed at the tactical ineptitude shown at times. The dying seconds of the first half when we kicked the hall away and list 3 more points to the drop goal. All we had to do was keep the ball for a couple of phases. And throwing long for the final line out.

Still we did win and with zero help from the officials. The second denied try was marginal particularly as they didn’t look at a potential block on Anscombe during the build up to the French first try.

[Sandydragon]

I felt very comfortable when Dan B came on.

As a long-standing Biggar advocate I've largely kept my counsel about Anscombe, as his recent showings have been winning me over. I was quite comfortable with him starting with Biggar as backup. I think some of the criticism of Anscombe tonight was harsh, but he had a poor game. Were we facing big guns next up, I'd expect Biggar to start, but Italy is probably the best place to give Anscombe another chance, if you think he deserves it. I do - but only one more.

He does get more out if our back line. But he was off colour last night - although not the only one. The missed penalties we’re painful.

[Sandydragon]

I was impressed with the strength of Navidi for somebody who doesn't strike me as a huge back rower, Picamoles didn't make any ground against him with a head of steam. Liam looked dangerous before his replacement (any news on his head injury?).

Totally agree. Navidi had a strong game, one dropped pass aside.

[bruce]

The result was never in doubt.

Well, I think we just about deserved the win in the end, but how did we turn that around (and without Martyn Williams too!)?

Positives... fantastic defence, great back row, two miracles from North and a really strong game from Adams.
Negatives... we started like we were unfamiliar with this egg-shaped ball... and that wet stuff that fell from the sky unexpectedly. And our set piece was a mess at the end - criminal to lose two scrums and a line out late in the game.

Luckily France were trying to lose even harder than we were. We just about got away with our standard slow start to the championships but won't be striking fear into anyone.

On a different note, I was annoyed with Barnes stopping the clock in the last few minutes, for a scrum reset and a penalty kick? That wouldn't happen in the middle of a match, so why different rules at the end?

I was annoyed at the tactical ineptitude shown at times. The dying seconds of the first half when we kicked the hall away and list 3 more points to the drop goal. All we had to do was keep the ball for a couple of phases. And throwing long for the final line out.

Still we did win and with zero help from the officials. The second denied try was marginal particularly as they didn’t look at a potential block on Anscombe during the build up to the French first try.

[francoisfou]

A well earned win for your boys.
All I can think is that sadly we thought the game was more or less won at half time. If that's so then Guirado should no longer be captain because I believe that the French were rudderless in the second half and there was no one to grab them by the scruff of the neck to raise their game.
The heavyweights Atonio and Willemse don't merit selection for the rest of the tournament. The decision by Brunel to play them backfired badly.
I wouldn't bet against you in your home matches, so avoid the potential banana skin in Edinburgh and the 6N title should be yours!

[Sandydragon]

A well earned win for your boys.
All I can think is that sadly we thought the game was more or less won at half time. If that's so then Guirado should no longer be captain because I believe that the French were rudderless in the second half and there was no one to grab them by the scruff of the neck to raise their game.
The heavyweights Atonio and Willemse don't merit selection for the rest of the tournament. The decision by Brunel to play them backfired badly.
I wouldn't bet against you in your home matches, so avoid the potential banana skin in Edinburgh and the 6N title should be yours!

Thanks mate, although we have a lot of work to do.

I completely agree that the heavyweight selection was a mistake. Too many players at half power in the second half.

[normanski]

This afternoon will put into perspective the Wales performance last night, especially in Dublin.

Both Ireland and England can have bad days at the office and this evening could be one of those for them in a brutal slugfest.

France have been criticised for gifting two tries to George North but equally poor defending by North and Anscombe gifted France theirs. George still had to make the touchdowns and with his first, the wet ball could just have easily squirted forward out of his hands for a knock on.

With his second it was a great piece of anticipation and juggling for a brilliant try - just like Stockdale’s interception try in Dublin last year. That was hailed as being smart rugby; so not gifted by France but smart.

What critics forget about last night is that the French pack were far more suited to the diabolical weather while they retained their vitality. After 30 minutes they started to lose their edge.

If Williams had had the guile to pass instead of going for the line himself, Wales might have gone in at half time 7 - 13 down and would have been gaining the ascendancy and momentum.

At the end of the day, Wales won and I don’t care if it was ugly. A win is a win.

[Sourdust]

A well earned win for your boys.
All I can think is that sadly we thought the game was more or less won at half time. If that's so then Guirado should no longer be captain because I believe that the French were rudderless in the second half and there was no one to grab them by the scruff of the neck to raise their game.
The heavyweights Atonio and Willemse don't merit selection for the rest of the tournament. The decision by Brunel to play them backfired badly.
I wouldn't bet against you in your home matches, so avoid the potential banana skin in Edinburgh and the 6N title should be yours!

I think you may be right about the half-time attitude. France showed such ruthlessness to work that drop-goal after Wales' ridiculous decision to kick infield. It really underlined their complete superiority in the first half, and being the last action it must have felt like a crucial moment - going three scores clear, at home, is a position no team should ever go on to lose from. Perhaps, paradoxically, that score came at exactly the wrong moment... for France?

[Sourdust]

France have been criticised for gifting two tries to George North but equally poor defending by North and Anscombe gifted France theirs. George still had to make the touchdowns and with his first, the wet ball could just have easily squirted forward out of his hands for a knock on.

With his second it was a great piece of anticipation and juggling for a brilliant try - just like Stockdale’s interception try in Dublin last year. That was hailed as being smart rugby; so not gifted by France but smart.

I watched the scores again overnight and you're right. They might have been bad mistakes by the French, but another player still might not have scored either of them.

Look at the work North puts it to get to the kick ahead. Then, when he realizes he's in a good position but won't get there first, he slows up to give himself time to react to what happens next. When the fumble happens, he's perfectly positioned and reacts as if he expected it. Although he won't want it, some credit must also go to Barnes for allowing the advantage to go on when Huget seemed so clearly in no danger.

The interception is equally good. It's natural to think they're just "own-tries" but to spot the chance and take it like North did is what he's paid the big bucks for. He came up at such speed that there was no chance of a clean catch so the juggling skill was brilliant.

I still think he could have done more in the rest of the game, but I understand the MOTM a little more on reflection.

[Numbers]

France have been criticised for gifting two tries to George North but equally poor defending by North and Anscombe gifted France theirs. George still had to make the touchdowns and with his first, the wet ball could just have easily squirted forward out of his hands for a knock on.

With his second it was a great piece of anticipation and juggling for a brilliant try - just like Stockdale’s interception try in Dublin last year. That was hailed as being smart rugby; so not gifted by France but smart.

I watched the scores again overnight and you're right. They might have been bad mistakes by the French, but another player still might not have scored either of them.

Look at the work North puts it to get to the kick ahead. Then, when he realizes he's in a good position but won't get there first, he slows up to give himself time to react to what happens next. When the fumble happens, he's perfectly positioned and reacts as if he expected it. Although he won't want it, some credit must also go to Barnes for allowing the advantage to go on when Huget seemed so clearly in no danger.

The interception is equally good. It's natural to think they're just "own-tries" but to spot the chance and take it like North did is what he's paid the big bucks for. He came up at such speed that there was no chance of a clean catch so the juggling skill was brilliant.

I still think he could have done more in the rest of the game, but I understand the MOTM a little more on reflection.

Aye, and from depth, it's not an easy skill to take the ball at that speed, up until that point I would have said Adams was better but he did basically win us the game with the interception so MOM deserved imo.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Agreed. It was a stupid, unnecessary pass from the French lock but North's work to intercept, juggle and gather that ball was incredible. Not a total gift from the French because most players would have been unable to come away with the ball the way North did.

[normanski]

Agreed. It was a stupid, unnecessary pass from the French lock but North's work to intercept, juggle and gather that ball was incredible. Not a total gift from the French because most players would have been unable to come away with the ball the way North did.

If North, out of the defensive line, had been a millisecond slower the pass could have gone to hand for the winger and it might have been good night Wales.

The pass would have been hailed as French flair and foresight!

[Sandydragon]

Agreed. It was a stupid, unnecessary pass from the French lock but North's work to intercept, juggle and gather that ball was incredible. Not a total gift from the French because most players would have been unable to come away with the ball the way North did.

If North, out of the defensive line, had been a millisecond slower the pass could have gone to hand for the winger and it might have been good night Wales.

The pass would have been hailed as French flair and foresight!

A massive yes to that. If North hadn’t caught it then he could have been in real trouble as he was leading with one hand (probably not but it was Barnes in charge so anything is possible). By fine margins games are won or lost.

But still an idiotic pass to give at that stage of the game.