France 6 - 16 Wales

As we stood in St Denis drinking a soap tainted pint served from a ram shackle marquee, waiting for the Metro cue to subside, still giddy with excitement from an historic win, one of the boys looked up. 15 big white birds were soaring high above Stade De France, their stark under bellies illuminated by the floodlights.

"Those are the ghosts that have been laid to rest tonight..."

Usually he'd have been answered with a derisory comment. This time we contemplated for a moment in silence. It was true.

This correspondent had egg on his face. An interview with Dot Davies on S4C had contained a prediction of a hammering for Wales in the warm Paris sun. In truth I couldn't have been happier to have been proven wrong. Even Gareth Edwards had agreed at the time.

But as we took our seats the sun went down and the temperature plummeted. Snow was widely forecast for France.

Initially both teams thwarted the others heavy artillery in every attack. Indeed in the first half there was one try scoring opportunity. It came to France. Fofana looping around his full back had only Faletau to beat from 5 yards out. The pass never came.

In the second half it was more hard running and hard tackling for both teams.

Until a kick Biggar put through came off. The bounce sat up nicely for North. He had no space. Trinh-Duc was there. One of Wales' battering rams had finally breached the French wall. The Welsh capitalised with two killer blows from Halfpenny's boot and at 74 minutes Wales went 10 points clear and the battle was over.

French resistance thereafter was ragged, panic stricken and ultimately futile. If they needed a message to be plainly spelt out to them, the chorus of booing at the end of the match from the French fans (those of whom hadn't gone home 5 minutes earlier) should have left them in no doubt of what they thought.

The Welsh fans stayed; roared to their team on a lap of honour, hugged, laughed and cried. They couldn't care less about the game's value as a spectacle, it's value to the Wales set up is beyond reckoning.

Teams:

France:
15-Huget,
14-Fofana,
13-Bastareaud,
12-Mermoz,
11-Fall,
10-Michalak,
9-Machenaud;
1-Forestier,
2-Szarzewski,
3-Mas,
4-Suta,
5-Maestri,
6-Ouedraogo,
7-Dusautoir,
8-Picamoles.

Wales:
15-Halfpenny,
14-Cuthbert,
13-Davies,
12-Roberts,
11-North,
10-Biggar,
9-Phillips;
1-Jenkins,
2-Hibbard,
3-A Jones,
4-Coombs,
5-I Evans,
6-R Jones (captain),
7-Tipuric,
8-Faletau.

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

It's like JBG Thomas has been brought back from the dead

Is the writing that stiff?

Pour yourself another one.

I'm just glad a scab has formed on the open wound. That took ages!

The win; not your post.

Hey, I'm a craftsman. These things can't be rushed

Loved the "15 big white birds" observation.

Were they heading west perchance?

I think so, but reliability of directional sense is an issue...

You'd better open the roof in a fortnight then.

Linebreaker wrote:You'd better open the roof in a fortnight then.

Didn't realise Italy had a roof on their stadium.

Haven't you heard, that's why Pope Benny's had to go...

bedfordwelsh wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:You'd better open the roof in a fortnight then.

Didn't realise Italy had a roof on their stadium.

They don't.

Sorry... I meant week 5. I keep getting too excited and ahead of myself following this competition. Just wish we could fast-forward things and get to the crunch match.

Linebreaker wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:You'd better open the roof in a fortnight then.

Didn't realise Italy had a roof on their stadium.

They don't.

Sorry... I meant week 5. I keep getting too excited and ahead of myself following this competition. Just wish we could fast-forward things and get to the crunch match.

LB,

Now where would the fun in that be, no nerves in tatters no nails bitten to the quick etc etc.

I guess so.

You really are gluttons for punishment aren't you!

By the way - Wales will win that match. I can just feel it already.

Glas a du wrote:Is the writing that stiff?

Eloquent, Glas, not stiff

Yeah good read Glas, well done mate.

Thank you both.

I can't wait for the next installment. Always a great read Glas.

Glas,very good piece.I like your style.Predictive/random texting!!!