France player ratings vs Wales | 2023 Guinness Six Nations
France player ratings: In order to maintain pressure on the undefeated tournament leaders and Grand Slam hopefuls Ireland, France required a bonus-point triumph over Wales. They were able to welcome back prop Uini Atonio following a suspension, while Romain Taofifenua replaced the injured lock, Paul Willemse.
They certainly didn’t get it their own way, a sleepy start in Paris giving way to a more considered performance in the French capitol.
We rate the French players:
15. Thomas Ramos – 8.5
His kicking from boot has been a real weapon for France this tournament and it was on show again here. Some of huge Garryowens proved a real issue for Wales’ backfield. What might have been heartening to see for Fabien Galthie was that his defensive commitment matched his mastery with the boot.
14. Damian Penaud – 5
Took his two tries well but his attempt to milk a yellow when accidentally clipped off the ball by a Wales’ player sticks in the craw.
13. Gael Fickou – 7
Maybe lucky to get away with a penalty for a lifting tackle on Alun Wyn Jones, even if the Welsh icon was clearly making the most of it. A couple of uncharacteristic errors pockmarked his first half but he made up for that with a sublime line and finish in the 49th minute.
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12. Jonathan Danty – 7.5
Rio Dyer might as well have clapped Danty to the try line, such was the Welshman’s chance of stopping the La Rochelle tank for his 34th-minute 5-pointer.
11. Ethan Dumortier – 7
Did well under pressure when fielding a George North hack ahead. Has grown into the tournament, even if you’d like to see him get on the ball a bit more often.
10. Romain Ntamack – 8
A searing break from Ntamack seemed to shake France from their early slumber in Paris. This game was a real return to form in an individual performance which was more art than sport at times.
9. Antoine Dupont – 7.5
Showed fantastic decision-making under pressure for France’s first try, floating a pass out to Penaud when many would put their head down and bulled towards to the try-line. How do you rate a player as good as Dupont, when a bad game for him is an eight out of ten for anybody else?
1. Cyril Baille – 7.5
Continues to be one of France’s best ball carriers, which is no mean feat.
2. Julian Marchand – 7.5
Some real breakdown nous and from Marchand and a couple of decent carries.
3. Uini Atonio – 8
His strength at the set piece came to the fore here and who would bemoan the giant tighthead a try on his 50th cap.
4. Thibaud Flament – 5
A pretty anonymous game from Flament even if he did get through a respectable defensive shift while on the pitch. A mediocre game in what has been an otherwise superb Six Nations for the Toulouse man.
5. Romain Taofifenua – 8
There was a sense that the Toulon second row was pushing the injured Paul Willemse for his spot and his strong display here won’t dampen that argument. Got through a lot of heavy-duty body moving and scored a turnover here.
6. François Cros – 8
An unkind commentator might suggest Cros is keeping the seat warm for Anthony Jelonch. An immense defensive performance, making 12 tackles in the first 25 minutes. The unsung workhouse of this French pack.
7. Charles Ollivon – 6
Maybe didn’t have a starring role but had plenty of effective cameos. Missed a few tackles but otherwise a decent afternoon’s work.
8. Gregory Alldritt – 5
It might be said that his tournament wasn’t Alldritt’s best but that’s not to say he’s had a bad Six Nations. Caught napping for Tomas Williams’ try which lost him a point here.
Replacements – 7: Peato Mauvaka didn’t let the standard set by Marchand drop when he came on and rookie lock Bastien Chalureau looked decent.
Comments on RugbyPass
Crusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
1 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
2 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
13 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
13 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
13 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
13 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to comments