France 39-14 Wales: Spirited fightback for Wales after disappointing first half against sensational France
It was a tale of two halves for Wales in their 39-14 Women's Six Nations defeat to France, blown away by the sensational hosts in the opening 40 before staging an impressive fightback after the break.
Unlike their performance against England eight days earlier, Wales got off to a nightmare start and conceded the first of six tries after just a minute of play. It gave title-chasing France the platform to cruise to a deserved 29-0 lead in the first half, cheered on by almost 19,000 home fans in Grenoble who loved watching the home side continuously spread the ball wide and execute their strong offload game to seriously trouble Wales.
As the rain swirled in after half-time, the women in red galvanised and scored two strong tries of their own through second-row Georgia Evans and replacement prop Gwenllian Pyrs. Both were converted by fly-half Elinor Snowsill, who earned her 75th Wales cap.
But despite a momentum switch and surge in energy for Wales in the latter half, aided by the unloading of the bench, they ultimately left themselves with too much to overcome after a shaky start.
France - ranked third in the world behind the Red Roses and World Cup winners New Zealand, compared to Wales' eighth - have now won 14 of their last 15 Women's Six Nations matches against Wales, including each of their last seven by margins of 20 or more points. However, despite a second consecutive defeat, Wales will take heart from their grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck, as well as an improved scoreline compared with last year's 33-5 French win in Cardiff.
France will now face defending champions England in a Grand Slam showdown at Twickenham next Saturday (April 29) in front of what is set to be a new world record crowd for a women's rugby international, with more than 50,000 tickets already sold.
Wales will close out their 2023 Women's Six Nations away to Italy in Parma, needing a single point to secure a second consecutive third-place table finish. That would symbolise being crowned the "best of the rest", with England and France streets ahead of their Six Nations rivals.
For the first time, Wales will not travel home between their penultimate and final Six Nations fixtures, instead spending the week preparing in Italy.
The ball was knocked on from first kick-off by Wales flanker Kate Williams, with the resulting scrum allowing France fly-half Jessy Tremouliere, in her final home game before retirement, to make a break down the blindside before Romane Menager finished off the try.
Tremouliere converted, and added three more points to the scoreboard when Wales were pinged in front of the posts.
France's second crossing came when flanker Gaelle Hermet successfully side-stepped Wales and RAF winger Carys Williams-Morris. Tremouliere, again, added the extras to make it 17-0.
When wing Lisa Neumann showed her physicality to bring down Cyrielle Banet and prevent a try just short of the line, veteran No. 8 Sioned Harries got in the way as supporting Frenchwomen looked to pounce - earning a yellow card in the process.
Down to 14 players, Wales did well to fend off another score but there was to be no stopping wing Melissande Llorens when she darted through a midfield gap for Les Bleuses' third. France secured a bonus point on the stroke of half-time, when Llorens crossed for her second from close range.
With weather conditions worsening after the break, Charlotte Escudero finished off a wonderful team try minutes into the second half.
Rather than imploding, though, Wales sprung into life and competed in a thrilling second-half contest.
They deservedly got on the scoreboard thanks to their driving lineout, with Evans ultimately claiming the try after the forwards edged their way to the line. Snowsill added the extras, before the Welsh bench turned the tide even further.
Gwenllian Pyrs - part of the integral front-row which has grabbed headlines this Six Nations - powered over under the posts, with Snowsill once again on target with the conversion.
Wales had enough quality and composure to challenge for a third try, even for a bonus point-earning fourth, but it wasn't to be.
France turned over the ball on their own try line, with Harries under the spotlight for a swinging arm which - fortunately for Wales - was deemed to be a penalty only following a review with the TMO.
Inevitably, France had the final say when prop Rose Bernadou crashed over after Gabrielle Vernier made a break. Tremouliere missed the conversion, but will look ahead to their biggest party next weekend.
France: 15. Emilie Boulard, 14. Cyrielle Banet, 13. Marine Menager, 12. Gabrielle Vernier, 11. Melissande Llorens, 10. Jessy Tremouliere, 9. Alexandra Chambon, 1. Yllana Brosseau, 2. Agathe Sochat, 3. Assia Khalfaoui, 4. Maelle Picut, 5. Audrey Forlani (capt), 6. Charlotte Escudero, 7. Gaelle Hermet, 8. Romane Menager.
Replacements: 16. Elisa Riffonneau, 17. Ambre Mwayembe, 18. Rose Bernadou, 19. Manae Feleu, 20. Emeline Gros, 21. Margaux Duces, 22. Carla Arbez, 23. Maelle Filopon.
Wales: 15. Courtney Keight, 14. Lisa Neumann, 13. Hannah Jones (capt), 12. Lleucu George, 11. Carys Williams- Morris, 10. Elinor Snowsill, 9. Ffion Lewis, 1. Abbey Constable, 2. Carys Phillips, 3. Cerys Hale, 4. Abbie Fleming, 5. Georgia Evans, 6. Bethan Lewis, 7. Kate Williams, 8. Sioned Harries.
Replacements: 16. Kelsey Jones, 17. Gwenllian Pyrs, 18. Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19. Bryonie King, 20. Alex Callender, 21. Keira Bevan, 22. Robyn Wilkins, 23. Niamh Terry.
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR); Assistants: Katherine Ritchie (RFU), Mary Pringle (SRU); TMO: Matteo Liperini.
How the action unfolded:
80MINS
Full-time
The final whistle goes and it's France 39-14 Wales. A tale of two halves for the Welsh, while Les Bleuses set up a Grand Slam decider against England next weekend.
77MINS
Try for France
France earn a penalty, and they go for the corner to have a lineout on the five-metre line. France go over the line but don't get a chance to try and ground the ball, there are that many players latched on.
Repeat. Another French lineout from the same position.
France are within a metre of scoring. Les Bleuses score.
Conversion unsuccessful.
France 39-14 Wales.
75MINS
Let-off for Wales
Bit of a momentum shift, that penalty against Wales. It seems to have brought France back to life.
Another French try looks inevitable but thankfully for Wales there's too much boot on a French cross-field kick and it eludes the four players who had been queuing up to connect with it.
Let-off for Wales.
France 34-14 Wales.
72MINS
TMO review
A swinging arm from Wales No. 8 Sioned Harries on Emeline Gros is being examined by the TMO.
The home crowd is furious.
Harries can be heard telling the ref: "It's the momentum of my arm, I'm not punching."
The fact there is no contact saves her.
It's a penalty only.
Phew.
France 34-14 Wales.
71MINS
France relieve pressure
Wales earn a penalty at the breakdown and Keira Bevan takes it quickly to belt it up-field with no French full-back covering. Bevan has brought some energy to her team this second half.
Another penalty for Wales, and Lleucu George boots it to the corner for a Welsh lineout. It's not straight, and France opt for a scrum. It's Wales who win a penalty here.
Welsh lineout. It's untidy, initialling landing in red hands before France turn it over.
France are defending just shy of the five-metre line.
Alex Callender is ferocious at the breakdown.
After plenty of pressure inches from the French try line, France clear it to relieve some pressure.
France 34-14 Wales.
64MINS
Wales pressure
Welsh lineout on the 22-metre line. It's loose but Sioned Harries gathers.
Wales go through the phases as they edge closer to France's try line.
The ball is loose and escapes during a pass. France dribble it upfield but Snowsill regathers.
Another wild pass sets Wales back, but they keep going. Knock-on,
France 34-14 Wales.
56MINS
Wales score second try
Replacement prop Gwenllian Pyrs gets over to score Wales' second try.
Snowsill converts.
France 34-14 Wales.
52MINS
Wales' first try
Finally - Wales score their first try of the game after some solid persistence.
Sioned Harries looked to have crossed but Georgia Evans followed up to touch down, although the French aren't happy with the try being awarded.
Fly-half Elinor Snowsill converts. The wind is now behind Wales, by the way.
France 34-7 Wales.
Wales make five changes: bringing on Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu in the front row, while flanker Alex Callender is on and scrum-half Keira Bevan replaces Ffion Lewis.
44MINS
Fifth France try
Wales have an attacking lineout five metres out but Carys Phillips' throw drifts in the breeze.
France answer with a team try from close to their own line, finished off by Charlotte Escudero
France 34-0 Wales.
Shaky start for Wales
France aren't third in the world for nothing. For context, Wales are eighth.
It's been a shaky start for Wales, who conceded their first of four first-half tries after just a minute.
Wales need to get into this game after the break.
40MINS+1
France get bonus point
It's a Welsh scrum in front of their own try line, and they send the ball wide to winger Carys Williams-Morris, who does well to make some ground.
But it's not long before France regain possession and Wales' defence is under stress.
Melissande Llorens darts over for her second try and France's fourth.
Lisa Neumann and then Georgia Evans did well to initially prevent her from grounding the ball, but it was inevitable.
Tremouliere's conversion is unsuccessful.
France 29-0 Wales.
38MINS
France forward pass
Wales concede another penalty after a high tackle from Sioned Harries.
Tremouliere goes for the corner for a lineout.
Before it's taken, Cerys Hale comes back on after passing a head injury assessment and Sisilia Tuipulotu returns to the bench for now. It's a shame, as she brought a real impact.
Wales do well to hold the intiial drive, and France threaten metres from Wales' line but they get in each other's way and a forward pass creeps in.
France 24-0 Wales.
35MINS
Brief Wales respite
Lleucu George is picked up for a deliberate knock-on, and is lucky not to be yellow carded, and France have a penalty and opt for the corner.
France sniff for a fourth try, and Wales are pinged for hands in the ruck.
Tremouliere once again kicks to the corner and opts for a lineout. It's not straight, though.
Welsh scrum metres from their own try line. Sioned Harries gets the ball up and to Ffion Lewis, who clears to offer brief respite.
France 24-0 Wales.
29MINS
Wales' best chance goes missing
Wales go through a few phases and Sisilia Tuipulotu makes an instant impact, barging through the French defence to make some ground.
Wales have a penalty, and Lleucu George opts for the corner.
The Welsh lineout is loose and is thrown too far, so France gather to counter-attack. They play hot potato with the ball as they race up the field, but thankfully Wales are let off.
France 24-0 Wales.
25MINS
Third France try
It's a third French try.
France winger Melissande Llorens dances through Welsh defenders to dot down.
Tremouliere converts.
Wales return to 15 players moments later as Sioned Harries' yellow card is served.
France 24-0 Wales.
23MINS
Tuipulotu on
We have a break in play as Wales players Bethan Lewis and Georgia Evans receive some medical attention.
Prop Cerys Hale, who took a bump early on and hasn't looked 100% since, comes off. Sisilia Tuipulotu comes off the bench.
France 17-0 Wales.
21MINS
Wales attack
Wales get to the French 22, and it's a Welsh scrum and Ffion Lewis the put-in.
Wales do well to keep hold of the ball and go through the phases as they edge closer to France's try line, but Lleucu George spills the ball.
That was Wales' best attack so far.
France 17-0 Wales.
17MINS
Wales yellow card
France winger Cyrielle Banet races up the flank and Lisa Neumann does well to bring her down short of the try line.
But Sioned Harries takes one for the team and is yellow carded for deliberately getting in the way as support players threatened to score.
Wales are down to 14.
France 17-0 Wales.
10MINS
France score second try
Wales go through six or seven phases but cough up ball.
A classy cross-field kick sees the ball land in flanker Gaelle Hermet's hands, and she powers up the wing - stepping Welsh wing Carys Williams-Morris in the process - to cross for France's second try on nine minutes.
Tremouliere, who delivered the kick, converts.
France 17-0 Wales.
6MINS
France penalty
France earn a penalty and go for the posts. Jessy Tremouliere slots it through with no trouble.
France 10-0 Wales.
1MIN
France score after one minute
France fly-half Jessy Tremouliere kicks us off and Wales flanker Kate Williams has her first touch, but it's a knock-on.
Scrum-time, France with the put-in. It's a well-worked try and No. 8 Romane Menager completes the job by opening the scores with a try.
Converted.
France 7-0 Wales.
Anthem time
Another rousing rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, with more heart and soul from Wales scrum-half Ffion Lewis.
Now, time for La Marseillaise.
The coaches' views
France coach David Ortiz: "We can feel that the players are looking forward to playing again in a full stadium which we know well and in which we have an excellent record. Wales are going to give us a tough fight up front and we're going to have to be there for the full 80 minutes. It will be important to continue to play well and to keep our balance, in order to continue the evolution we have seen in these first three games."
Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham: "France will be a major test for us, they are one of the best teams in the world and we always knew playing England and then playing France away was going to be a major challenge. But these are the tests we want, we are an ambitious team and we need to know where we are and we have made no secret that we have to build our strength in depth ahead of the next World Cup.
"We have reviewed the performance against England and we proved we can compete and proved we can cause the best in the world problems, we just have to do it for longer. The players selected have proven themselves in training and deserve the opportunity to wear the shirt and as coaches we are looking forward to seeing them perform."
France team news
France have made three changes to the side which breezed past Scotland 55-0 in round three, with a back row reshuffle and two changes among the backs.
A fit-again Romane Menager starts at No. 8, with Charlotte Escudero moving to flanker in place of Axelle Berthoumieu.
Alexandra Chambon will play in front of her home crowd, having been given the nod at scrum-half, while her replacement Margaux Duces is set for a debut from the bench.
Cyrielle Banet replaces Caroline Boujard on the wing.
In France's last home game of the Six Nations, fans will also bid a fond farewell to fly-half Jessy Tremouliere before her international retirement.
France: 15. Emilie Boulard, 14. Cyrielle Banet, 13. Marine Menager, 12. Gabrielle Vernier, 11. Melissande Llorens, 10. Jessy Tremouliere, 9. Alexandra Chambon, 1. Yllana Brosseau, 2. Agathe Sochat, 3. Assia Khalfaoui, 4. Maelle Picut, 5. Audrey Forlani (capt), 6. Charlotte Escudero, 7. Gaelle Hermet, 8. Romane Menager.
Replacements: 16. Elisa Riffonneau, 17. Ambre Mwayembe, 18. Rose Bernadou, 19. Manae Feleu, 20. Emeline Gros, 21. Margaux Duces, 22. Carla Arbez, 23. Maelle Filopon.
Wales team news in full
Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham has opted for seven changes to the starting side to face France, including drafting in a new front row.
Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu stole headlines for their dominant displays in the first three Six Nations clashes but are all on the bench in France, with former Wales captain Carys Phillips taking over at hooker while tighthead Cerys Hale combines with Wales debutant Abbey Constable at loosehead.
Kate Williams makes her first Wales start, at flanker, to combine with Bethan Lewis and Sioned Harries in the back row. The second row partnership of Abbie Fleming and Georgia Evans is unchanged.
As for the backs, Lleucu George has recovered from a niggle to start at centre alongside captain Hannah Jones, with Carys Williams-Morris returning to the wing after representing the RAF last weekend, lining up opposite Lisa Neumann.
Ffion Lewis gets the nod at scrum-half over Keira Bevan for the first time this year, while fly-half Elinor Snowsill will earn her 75th Wales cap.
Wales: 15. Courtney Keight, 14. Lisa Neumann, 13. Hannah Jones (capt), 12. Lleucu George, 11. Carys Williams- Morris, 10. Elinor Snowsill, 9. Ffion Lewis, 1. Abbey Constable, 2. Carys Phillips, 3. Cerys Hale, 4. Abbie Fleming, 5. Georgia Evans, 6. Bethan Lewis, 7. Kate Williams, 8. Sioned Harries.
Replacements: 16. Kelsey Jones, 17. Gwenllian Pyrs, 18. Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19. Bryonie King, 20. Alex Callender, 21. Keira Bevan, 22. Robyn Wilkins, 23. Niamh Terry.
