SIX NATIONS OPENING MATCH - France vs Wales Stade de France - 1st February 2019

France: Maxime Medard; Damian Penaud, Wesley Fofana, Romain Ntamack, Yohann Huget; Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra; Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado, Uini Atonio; Sébastien Vahaamahina, Paul Willemse, Wenceslas Lauret, Arthur Itturia, Louis Picamoles.

Reps: Julien Marchand, Dany Priso, Demba Bamba, Felix Lambey, Gregory Alldritt, Baptiste Serin, Gael Fickou, Geoffrey Doumayrou.



Wales: Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis; Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones; Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty.

Reps: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Samson Lee, Cory Hill, Aaron Wainwright, Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar, Owen Watkin.

Wales squad to be announced on the 14th of January and the squad to assemble on the 21st team to be announced on the 29th of january.

France away is never an easy game, but I'd probably have Wales as marginal favourites for this one. Even if you treat Fiji's historic win as a one-off, the Springboks beat France in Paris in a close game, and Wales should be aiming to match that accomplishment.

The best odds you can get for France are 24/23 and the best odds you can get for Wales are 21/20, showing there is very little in it, although the bookies just favouring France.

Wales to scrape this one. Can't see it being a particularly exciting or high quality game of rugby. Wales to be far better at controlling and dictating how and where the game is played. France to look slow and sluggish, but to burst into life one a few occasions.

Wales' kicking will dictate who wins this, both from in hand and off the tee. If they are able to pin France back, make them run up blind alleys, and chip away at lead with 3s, they win the game. France will score one or two good tries, or at least create the chances to. It's whether Wales have enough control to keep the excitement at bay.

Expect it to go down to the wire.

I agree it is going to be a tough fixture. Toulouse and Clermont are playing some great rugby and if France can translate that into the international team this season then we could all be in trouble.

Jacques Brunel is a smart coach, he has been coaching in the six nations a long time, I expect France to be well prepared this year

maestegmafia wrote:I agree it is going to be a tough fixture. Toulouse and Clermont are playing some great rugby and if France can translate that into the international team this season then we could all be in trouble.

Jacques Brunel is a smart coach, he has been coaching in the six nations a long time, I expect France to be well prepared this year

Are there any French players for Toulouse or Clermont though ?

munkian wrote:Are there any French players for Toulouse or Clermont though ?

Out of Toulouse and Clermont Auvergne alone you can make a very decent looking French team.

Falgoux
Kayser
Aldgheri
Iturra
Gallan
Placines
Cancoriet
Madule
Parra
Ramos
Penaud
Fofana
Mermoz
Bonneval
Medard

Plenty of very good French players in Toulon, Stade, Racing, Montpellier etc but I do see your point, it’s a lot of foreign talent like the premiership.

Like England were doing last year the French teams are often fitting a lock into the 6 shirt to dominate line out. Last weeks top of the table Toulouse vs Clermont Auvergne clash saw locks picked at blindside on both teams.

If the form of the regions are anything to go by, then we will get thrashed in this game. Have the regions won an away game against any of the Irish or Scottish in the Pro14 lately ?

France seem to be building to a strong enough squad and are a harder side to beat now in France. Apart from the last minute loss v Ireland they only lost one game at home last year which was against SA by virtue of an injury time try so I do think they have become hard to beat in France at the very least. They also got wins v England, Fiji, Italy and Argentina there so solid enough record at home.

I think it will be a tough test for Wales.

Collapse2005 wrote:France seem to be building to a strong enough squad and are a harder side to beat now in France. Apart from the last minute loss v Ireland they only lost one game at home last year which was against SA by virtue of an injury time try so I do think they have become hard to beat in France at the very least. They also got wins v England, Fiji, Italy and Argentina there so solid enough record at home.

I think it will be a tough test for Wales.

They famously lost to Fiji at hone. This is the result that seems to be their acilies heel

https://www.autumn-internationals.co.uk/news/fiji-beat-france-21-14-in-paris-319.html

LordDowlais wrote:If the form of the regions are anything to go by, then we will get thrashed in this game. Have the regions won an away game against any of the Irish or Scottish in the Pro14 lately ?

Ospreys have beaten scarlets and Zebre away

Blues have beaten Dragons Lyon and Scarlets Away

Scarlets only best the Southern Kings away

Dragons haven’t won an away game of any note yet.


By comparison Leinster away have beaten Blues, Connaught, Treviso, Kings, Dragons and Bath...!

Yep, the regions are an easy 5 pointer for the top teams in the Pro14. Which is why I worry for Wales playing away in the 6N.

LordDowlais wrote:Yep, the regions are an easy 5 pointer for the top teams in the Pro14. Which is why I worry for Wales playing away in the 6N.

Wrong plus club form has zero impact on the 6 Nations, absolute zero, you are talking out of your harris.

maestegmafia wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:France seem to be building to a strong enough squad and are a harder side to beat now in France. Apart from the last minute loss v Ireland they only lost one game at home last year which was against SA by virtue of an injury time try so I do think they have become hard to beat in France at the very least. They also got wins v England, Fiji, Italy and Argentina there so solid enough record at home.

I think it will be a tough test for Wales.

They famously lost to Fiji at hone. This is the result that seems to be their acilies heel

https://www.autumn-internationals.co.uk/news/fiji-beat-france-21-14-in-paris-319.html

Ah you are right I missed that one.

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Yep, the regions are an easy 5 pointer for the top teams in the Pro14. Which is why I worry for Wales playing away in the 6N.

Wrong plus club form has zero impact on the 6 Nations, absolute zero, you are talking out of your harris.

I think it does have an effect but maybe not as mich of a negative one as you might imagine.

Thing is despite results, and there have been some appalling ones too, there are many positives. Dragons beating the Ospreys last weekend is a massive improvement on their fifty point loss to Leinster B team. Likewise Ospreys results against Scarlets two weeks ago and fifty point win over Stade are good signs after the big scores Munster and Leinster put on them. They have also had a number of very tight losses this season too while not really playing well.

It’s a mixed bag, the Pro14 is a tougher competition year on year, Wales are definitely behind the Irish teams and Glasgow with regards to development and depth of home grown talent, but are improving.

This opener against France is a good challenge, come through this well and Wales will be in good stead for the championship

Collapse2005 wrote:Ah you are right I missed that one.

Many great nations have lost to Fiji

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Yep, the regions are an easy 5 pointer for the top teams in the Pro14. Which is why I worry for Wales playing away in the 6N.

Wrong plus club form has zero impact on the 6 Nations, absolute zero, you are talking out of your harris.

How am I wrong ? How many games have the Welsh regions won in the league in Ireland and Scotland this season ? How many games have they won away in Europe against decent opposition this season ?

LordDowlais wrote:

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Yep, the regions are an easy 5 pointer for the top teams in the Pro14. Which is why I worry for Wales playing away in the 6N.

Wrong plus club form has zero impact on the 6 Nations, absolute zero, you are talking out of your harris.

How am I wrong ? How many games have the Welsh regions won in the league in Ireland and Scotland this season ? How many games have they won away in Europe against decent opposition this season ?

Not many mate, listed them above. And I believe that the welsh regions will struggle more than than the Irish over the six nations too..!

maestegmafia wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Yep, the regions are an easy 5 pointer for the top teams in the Pro14. Which is why I worry for Wales playing away in the 6N.

Wrong plus club form has zero impact on the 6 Nations, absolute zero, you are talking out of your harris.

How am I wrong ? How many games have the Welsh regions won in the league in Ireland and Scotland this season ? How many games have they won away in Europe against decent opposition this season ?

Not many mate, listed them above. And I believe that the welsh regions will struggle more than than the Irish over the six nations too..!

Yep, I think that as well. It's sad times to be a Welsh rugby supporter.

It depresses me a bit, but then you have to tell yourself it's just a game, but I friggin love it, that's my problem. When I see the direction the professional game is going in Wales, my heart sinks.

LordDowlais wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Yep, the regions are an easy 5 pointer for the top teams in the Pro14. Which is why I worry for Wales playing away in the 6N.

Wrong plus club form has zero impact on the 6 Nations, absolute zero, you are talking out of your harris.

How am I wrong ? How many games have the Welsh regions won in the league in Ireland and Scotland this season ? How many games have they won away in Europe against decent opposition this season ?

Not many mate, listed them above. And I believe that the welsh regions will struggle more than than the Irish over the six nations too..!

Yep, I think that as well. It's sad times to be a Welsh rugby supporter.

It depresses me a bit, but then you have to tell yourself it's just a game, but I friggin love it, that's my problem. When I see the direction the professional game is going in Wales, my heart sinks.

Well I hope that we can extend our winning streak further this six nations. A good start in Paris followed by a trip to Rome where we should put Italy away well. Then England at home, not really sure where they are at the moment but it’s about time we put in a decent performance and took a win.

Murray field could well be tough, if they have managed to beat France in Paris they will be seriously tough to beat up there. Especially if they beat Ireland in Murray field too.

It’s one of the toughest championships I can remember.

I wonder why the Irish provinces might do better than the Welsh pro teams, during the Six Nations.

Their results don’t make a difference. If they do, what difference did they make when we beat Australia for the first time in years? This depth that was being praised just a month ago, has now disappeared, has it?

I think the Irish provinces have more home grown depth of a higher ability than the welsh regions and therefor won’t miss their internationals as much.

I hope I am wrong, I would love to see the regions take some wins off those teams higher up in the Pro14

Adam Beard and Kristan Dacey both injures in the first half Ospreys vs Blues match.

maestegmafia wrote:Adam Beard and Kristan Dacey both injures in the first half Ospreys vs Blues match.

Worried about Dacey? I honestly don’t know how he and Turnbull are rated.

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Yep, the regions are an easy 5 pointer for the top teams in the Pro14. Which is why I worry for Wales playing away in the 6N.

Wrong plus club form has zero impact on the 6 Nations, absolute zero, you are talking out of your harris.

That seems to be the case for us, but there has been times in the past where it has negatively affected team Wales. We have some depth now but the injuries are continuing to pile up big time, and this is the worst year for it to happen; if anything will be our undoing it’ll be this.

mikey_dragon wrote:

munkian wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Yep, the regions are an easy 5 pointer for the top teams in the Pro14. Which is why I worry for Wales playing away in the 6N.

Wrong plus club form has zero impact on the 6 Nations, absolute zero, you are talking out of your harris.

That seems to be the case for us, but there has been times in the past where it has negatively affected team Wales. We have some depth now but the injuries are continuing to pile up big time, and this is the worst year for it to happen; if anything will be our undoing it’ll be this.

Considering the amount of injuries we had in 2015 this is nothing new to the Wales camp. Let’s just hope that we can see the lads on the sick note list recover quickly and well.

Waiting on the news on Adam Beard, hopefully not too serious.

Big difference between 2015/any other time under Gatland and now is that the depth is genuinely competitive. Partly, that's because we don't have players like Warburton, Faletau, Halfpenny etc. coming through - players who very quickly added value to the team and established themselves as first choice. The competition in the second row, for instance, is intense, but no-one really stands out.

Which isn't a problem. I think that's a good thing - no more picking the likes of Roberts and Lydiate in the hope they'd rediscover form because the replacement is deemed insufficient. It also makes for an honest environment, and I can't help but think the lack of superstars in this current Wales team is why they're performing the way they are at the moment (at least for Wales, rather than the regions).

Adam Beard has no lasting neck damage. I would assume he might get a rest next two weeks in Europe and he will be fit for the CrossFit games with Team Wales easily.

RiscaGame wrote:Adam Beard has no lasting neck damage. I would assume he might get a rest next two weeks in Europe and he will be fit for the CrossFit games with Team Wales easily.

That’s good news, I was a bit worried for him.

Unfortunately not such great news for Rhodri Jones who dislocated his shoulder

Its shocking how many caps Dacey got when Dee was bossing things on a weekly basis.

My prediction is that Wales will lose - narrowly - but that no one will go unbeaten in the tournament, so it won't necessarily mean we're out of the running.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:My prediction is that Wales will lose - narrowly - but that no one will go unbeaten in the tournament, so it won't necessarily mean we're out of the running.

Certainly doesn’t look like a grand slam would be easy this year.

Halfpenny looks to be out for France at least so back three is up for grabs.

I'd question North being picked - he's a dirty niggly knobber at the moment and the French love a wind up.

Williams at fullback for me with North and Adams on the wings Holmes on the bench.

maestegmafia wrote:Williams at fullback for me with north and Addams on the wings Holmes on the bench.

No Amos ?

Id have Amos on the bench if fit; international experience for what is a crucial game. Id definitely start North, Williams and Adams if fit. If not I think Holmes has to figure assuming the Morgan experiment is over.

Can only see France winning.

1/2p is a big lose as it weakens the depth of the squad, Maybe a recall for Cuthbert lol.

Pie wrote:Id have Amos on the bench if fit; international experience for what is a crucial game. Id definitely start North, Williams and Adams if fit. If not I think Holmes has to figure assuming the Morgan experiment is over.

Christ I hope so.

It will be a tight game but I'd be surprised if we lose.

TightHEAD wrote:1/2p is a big lose as it weakens the depth of the squad, Maybe a recall for Cuthbert lol.

Or Aled Brew.

munkian wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Williams at fullback for me with north and Addams on the wings Holmes on the bench.

No Amos ?

Such a tough call. On current form I think Holmes is looking better than Amos. Even though Amos is playing very very well at the Dragons, Holmes is consistently scoring, is more often injury free and in absolutely superb form at the moment.

French squad looks pretty good this year, no odd selections like beauxis. Brunel seems to like picking on form as there is plenty of Toulouse players involved.

Some quality half backs there.

Good squad. Their top teams are playing good rugby too..

Romain Ntemack has been in superb form, it will be interesting to see if they give him any game time...!

Dupont, Serin and Parra at scrum half. I'd take whichever one they leave out of the matchday squad!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Dupont, Serin and Parra at scrum half. I'd take whichever one of those they leave out of the matchday squad!

Its fine, we have...Gareth Davies

Tomos Williams is tidy mind

Scrum half's a bit of a worry now. I wouldn't be confident in Aled Davies starting. I love Tomos Williams but he's a bit too gung ho sometimes, and it won't be an easy ride for anyone over there.