France player ratings vs Wales | 2024 Guinness Six Nations
France player ratings: With eight changes from the draw with Italy, the French needed a big performance and a record score in Cardiff against Wales will have steadied the nerves at home. There is still more to come from this French side but they will need another massive 80 minutes from their six front-row forwards to have the same kind of impact against England.
In Nolann Le Garrec they have yet another live wire scrum half who can change a game and the scary thing is that he will only get better. The wonderful pair of Damian Penaud and Gael Fickou made up for some backline weaknesses from youngsters will are going to improve rapidly.
15. Léo Barré – 6
Found himself out of position for the first Welsh try but bounced back to show he could handle the high ball. Has a big boot that makes him a useful option but not the attacking force he would have wanted to be from deep.
14. Damian Penaud – 8
Wonderful running rewarded with the inevitable try-making interventions. He seems to get better every game which is difficult as he is already world-class. Gave the pass that put Fikou clear for his try and busy as always in attack and battled well for the box kicks ahead of the Welsh catchers.
13. Gaël Fickou – 8
The Rolls Royce of the French back line and his try showed his footwork and power as he left Costelow in his wake. A constant threat in the mid-field and one of the few consistent performers for France this season.
12. Nicolas Depoortère – 6
Had a nightmare for the second Welsh try as Ramos put him in a weak position. Put in a clever chip through which almost brought a first-half try and will get better with more exposure at this level.
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey – 7
Always a threat and has real pace and wonderful footwork. He is a class performer and allied to a better and more confident outside half who gets the ball wide early then we will see even more chances for him to show his abilities with ball in hand.
10. Thomas Ramos – 7
‘World-class kicker and a defensive problem’ sums up this player who played out of position to help the team and Wales tried to isolate him as often as possible. However, there is enough in his game to help him bounce back from his mistakes.
9. Nolann Le Garrec – 9
Great scrum half try and he grew into the game after a terrible early pass. Threw one of the reverse passes of the year in the first half which showed his skill set and his kicking was also important for the team. Antoine Dupont will be looking over his shoulder.
Risk factor very high 😳
Coolness factor, even higher 😎#WALvFRA | #sixnations pic.twitter.com/staSoIJ566— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 10, 2024
1. Cyril Baille – 7
Strong game in the set piece from a man who has become so reliable for his team. Didn’t make as many metres as he would have liked with ball in hand but a key man.
2. Julien Marchand – 6
Not perfect with his line-out work but his scrum power was at the centre of the French pack’s domination of this area. He got the start this time but may miss out against England.
3. Uini Atonio – 8
Had a great first half in which he carried strongly while also giving his opposite number a real headache in the scrums and it was one of the more complete performances from the big man.
4. Thibaud Flament – 6
Not a game that saw him stand out but he competed at the line out and added his power to the scrum effort but he will have wanted to make a bigger impact after getting the jersey back.
5. Emmanuel Meafou – 7
Big and brutal and the kind of player you want to keep quiet but Wales kept kicking the restarts to him and he loved running them back. Was a real physical problem for Wales and his scrummaging was also important.
6. François Cros – 7
Is a useful line-out option and can be relied on to do the donkey work that helps the backs look good. Won a crucial turnover but missed a vital tackle on Dyer that led to the wing scoring.
7. Charles Ollivon – 6
Got more into the contest as the match wore on and it was another of those hard-nosed, clever performances from the flanker who made way in the second half as he tired.
8. Grégory Alldritt (capt) – 7
The glue that ensures the back row operates well and led by example, carrying hard and looking to offload at all times. Was still putting in the hard yards in attack and defence at the final whistle.
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Peato Mauvaka – 6
There is a slim difference between the hookers in the squad but he shaded it adding to the scrum power
17. Sébastien Taofifénua – 6
Came and on kept up the scrum pressure and was active in the loose.
18. Georges-Henri Colombe – 8
A try, a turnover and also a big shift in the scrum what a talent.
19. Romain Taofifénua – 7
A charge-down try from the big man and his power from lock was also important.
20. Alexandre Roumat – 6
Line out option that was used and is like his father a mobile big man.
21. Paul Boudehent – 5
Not able to make a significant impact but added to the breakdown mess.
22. Maxime Lucu – 6
Physical option at scrum half and was able to use his boot to clear the lines.
23. Yoram Moefana – 5
Joined the late defensive action and also put pressure on the Welsh ball carriers.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments