Wales vs France: France run riot in Cardiff to deliver record Six Nations victory
France produced a ruthless display in Cardiff, cruising to a record Six Nations victory over Wales and keeping their Grand Slam ambitions very much alive. The visitors scored early and repeatedly at the Principality Stadium, leaving Wales searching for answers as the home crowd expressed their frustration and attendance figures hit a worrying low.
France dominate from the start
From the 10: 10 a. m. ET kick-off, France stamped their authority on the match. Three quick tries in the opening period established a dominant lead and forced Wales onto the back foot. Rhys Carre offered a brief rally for the hosts with a well-taken score that reduced the deficit, but France regained control with a bonus-point try from Matthieu Jalibert just before half-time.
That momentum carried into the second half, where Julien Marchand and Theo Attissogbe added further tries to extend the margin. Charles Ollivon completed an impressive team effort with what became the eighth French try of the afternoon, and though Mason Grady crossed late for Wales to claim a consolation try, the outcome was never in doubt after France’s early salvo.
Key performers and moments
Matthieu Jalibert was the standout player and took the Player of the Match award after his game-changing moments in attack. "I'm very pleased to be playing with such talented players, " he said after the match. "I also want to congratulate all the forwards that made a big effort who give us the opportunity to have some space. I'm happy playing with the whole team. " His try just before the break underlined France’s clinical edge.
French forwards laid the platform time and again, creating space for their backs to exploit. Julien Marchand and Theo Attissogbe’s second-half efforts demonstrated France’s depth and finishing power, while Charles Ollivon’s score capped an afternoon in which the visitors rarely relinquished control.
Former England scrum-half Danny Care praised the overall performance and work rate of the French side. "He has so much energy, you see how hard he's worked today, he's been everywhere, " Care said, highlighting individual work ethic and team cohesion as decisive factors.
Reaction, attendance and what it means for Wales
Inside the stadium and across the Welsh rugby community, the mood was flat. A prominent commentator asked whether this could signal a new, worrying norm for Welsh rugby: "No shock, no anger. Clear difference between the two sides, " he said, assessing the scale of the gap on the day.
Former coach Steve Tandy warned that the challenges extend beyond selection and tactics. "He has a huge job ahead of him but so does the entire Welsh community of Welsh rugby, " Tandy said, casting the defeat as symptomatic of broader structural issues that will need addressing if Wales is to recover their competitiveness.
Fans’ anger was palpable as many questioned the state of the game domestically. The fixture was marked by the smallest attendance for a Six Nations match in Cardiff, a statistic that will prompt concern among administrators and supporters alike. For France, the result is a statement of intent as they back up an earlier big win and move closer to a potential Grand Slam. For Wales, the imperative is clear: immediate introspection, urgent planning and a tough road back to restoring confidence among players and supporters.
As the championship progresses, France will carry belief and momentum, while Wales face a long, difficult Six Nations campaign if they are to turn around the troubling signs exposed in front of a home crowd.
