Wales 24-45 France: Warren Gatland’s side still winless in Six Nations as visitors put on second-half clinic

A blistering second-half display from France was enough to see off a spirited Welsh side and secure a bonus-point 45-24 victory in Cardiff.

A free-flowing first half saw both sides trade early penalties before Rio Dyer stormed through a lacklustre French defence for the first try after just eight minutes. Thomas Ramos's second penalty reduced the hosts' lead before Gael Fickou stormed over in the corner for France's first try.

The hosts hit back immediately as Tomas Williams took advantage of Owen Watkin's great break to score just two minutes later but France restored their lead when scrum half Nolann Le Garrec darted over the line from close range before the break.

Nursing a narrow three-point lead, France found themselves trailing once again shortly after the break when Joe Roberts touched down in the corner. But France, looking to bounce back from their disappointing draw with Italy last week, eventually proved too much for the home side as their physicality and pace showed from the bench.

Captain Gregory Alldritt had a try disallowed for a knock on but his French side were soon back ahead when replacement forward Georges-Henri Colombe powered over from close range.

Romain Taofifenua extended the lead and secured the bonus point when he charged down an attempted Welsh clearance before Maxime Lucu finished off a well-worked routine to score in injury time.

Warren Gatland's young and exciting squad proved every bit capable of hanging with this France side throughout the first forty minutes in Cardiff but this was a game of two halves in every sense of the word. While gaps were exploited, gains were made and tries were scored to the delight of the home fans in the first half, such attacking luxuries were few and far between after the break.

The depth and power of this French squad, even with so many key players unavailable, is envious and was on full show here. While Wales even went ahead early in the second half, the hosts could not live with the power and pace of this French side as the game wore on. Sometimes sheer size just matters, and France have that in abundance all over the pitch. Wales have much to be excited about with this latest crop of talent but they must learn to hang with stronger and more physical sides if they are to garner the results they so dearly crave.

Making his first Test start the French scrum half looked every bit accustomed to the rigours of Six Nations rugby. Marshalling the defensive line when Ramos struggled, he kicked superbly and scored a well-taken try at the end of the first half.

As France began to establish themselves when the second half wore on, Le Garrec remained instrumental, providing quick ball to his side’s marauding and powerful replacements and helping his side pull clear for a deserved victory.

Wales: Thomas 5, Dee 6, Assiratti 6, Rowlands 6, Beard 7, Jenkins 6, Reffell 6, Wainwright 5, Williams 7, Costelow 6, Dyer 6, Watkin 7, Roberts 7, Adams 6, Winnett 5.

Replacements: Lloyd 6, Domachowski 6, Lewis 6, Martin 5, Mann 5, Davies 6, Lloyd 6, Grady 5.

France: Baille 7, Marchand 6, Atonio 8, Flament 6, Meafou 7, Cros 7, Ollivon, Alldritt 7, Le Garrec 9, Ramos 7, Bielle-Biarrey 7, Depoortere 6, Fickou 7, Penaud 8, Barre 6.

Replacements: Mauvaka 6, Sebastien Taofifenua 6, Colombe 8, Romain Taofifenua 7, Rouma 6t, Boudehent 6, Lucu 6, Moefana 5.

2' PENALTY! WALES 3-0 FRANCE (COSTELOW) - The perfect start for Wales as Costelow slots over a routine penalty.

7' PENALTY! WALES 3-3 FRANCE (RAMOS) - No problem for the stand-in French fly half who converts the penalty and it's honours even in Cardiff.

9' TRY! WALES 10-3 FRANCE (DYER) - Wales draw first blood as Dyer canters over under the posts. It's patient attacking play from the hosts and the Welsh winger, off his wing, gathers the loose ball before squirming through an inexplicable gap around the French breakdown. That was far to easy for Wales as Costelow knocks over the extra two points.

15' PENALTY! WALES 10-6 FRANCE (RAMOS) - The French fly half knocks over the three points with no bother and the visitors are back within four points.

23' TRY! WALES 10-13 FRANCE (FICKOU) - France lead as Fickou finishes superbly in the corner. From the scrum, Costelow can't find touch and France come forward straight again. The visitors are patient, once again, hammering the blind side with powerful carries before switching it wide with great pace. Fickou receives it out on the right and he powers through a poor tackle from Costelow to touch down in the corner. A superb Ramos conversion adds the extra two.

43' TRY! WALES 24-20 FRANCE (ROBERTS) - The perfect start to the second half from Wales as Roberts touches down in the corner to put the hosts back ahead. They've run this French defence ragged at times this game but finished with real quality having swung the ball wide. Costelow converts a great kick from out wide to extend their lead to four points.

61' PENALTY! WALES 24-23 FRANCE (RAMOS) - Ramos kicks the penalty to get his side within one point but Wales will surely be delighted that they have only given up three points from that onslaught of French pressure.

66' TRY! WALES 24-30 FRANCE (COLOMBE) - And a try it is! Wales' superb defence is breached at last and there is not much they can do to deny someone of the strength of Colombe from close range. The replacement forward powers over, with Ramos adding the extras to push France six points ahead.

69' TRY! WALES 24-37 FRANCE (ROMAIN TAOFIFENUA) - France have daylight as Williams' attempted clearance kick is charged down by the towering replacement. Romain Taofifenua does superbly to react after making the block and wins the foot race to touch down the loose ball in the end zone. Ramos adds the extras with another great kick and that's some much-needed breathing space for the visitors now.

74' PENALTY! WALES 24-40 FRANCE (RAMOS) - Wales have just run out steam in front of their home fans here as they give away a penalty in a defensive position. Ramos has been superb from the tee and knocks over another kick to extend the visitors' lead.

81' TRY! WALES 24-45 FRANCE (LUCU) - The icing on the cake for France as Lucu combines with Penaud and storms over from a late scrum on the five-yard line as the clock ticks into the red. Ramos' perfect kicking record vanishes at the end as his conversion attempt drifts wide but France won't mind as they cap off a superb second-half display to see off Wales.

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