Wales player ratings vs France | 2023 Guinness Six Nations
Wales player ratings: It’s been a strange Six Nations for Wales, but Warren Gatland’s side went to Paris off the back of a positive win over Italy. How would they fare against a world-beating French side, off the back of a 50-point win at Twickenham?
It was a difficult game to quantify for Wales. They seemingly had a good first half, yet France chipped away at them and racked up the points. Wales completely forgot to bring an attacking game with them, which certainly didn’t help. Given both sides’ form in this campaign, Wales probably punched above their weight to come away with a try bonus point.
15. Louis Rees-Zammit – 5
Rees-Zammit had an okay first half – he can use the masses of space to his advantage and make half-breaks. From a Wales perspective, you can’t help but wish they had a fullback who kicked more.
14. Josh Adams – 6.5
Adams is always technically fantastic, and runs well when given space. Made the best of some difficult situations.
13. George North – 6
Picked a fantastic line for the opening try and had a great first half. It didn’t last, however, as Fickou schooled him for an early second half try.
12. Nick Tompkins – 6
Carried well early on but made a horrible defensive read to let Ntamack through for France’s opening try. Put in a nice little kick for North to chase in the second half.
11. Rio Dyer – 6.5
Chased kicks brilliantly and made lots of crucial tackles. Marking Damian Penaud is a tough gig, but Dyer couldn’t have done much more. Took his try at the end superbly, which notches him an extra half point!
10. Dan Biggar – 4.5
Put in a few great kicks, but you can’t help but wonder why he didn’t do it more? Wales had no attack whatsoever, so why wouldn’t you use your 10’s massive boot?
9. Rhys Webb – 6
Webb’s pass for the opening North try was superb. The Osprey was okay, but was substituted at the right time.
1. Wyn Jones – 3
Atonio got the better of Jones at scrum time, which ultimately let France into the game when Wales were playing well.
2. Ken Owens – 5.5
Solid – hit his targets at the lineout and had a handful of carries.
3. Tom Francis – 4
Had a few good trundles but ultimately was second best to Baille in the scrum.
4. Adam Beard – 6
Wales were keen to get Beard up in the air early at lineouts, and it paid off.
5. Alun-Wyn Jones – 6.5
The lock is 68 years old and still throwing offloads he has no right to throw. But let’s just pretend he’s “too old” and “finished” to suit the narrative.
6. Aaron Wainwright – 4.5
Not overly noticeable but made a handful of good carries.
7. Justin Tipuric – 6
Slowed the ball down a few times, but sadly not enough to stop a rampant French pack.
8. Taulupe Faletau – 6.5
Even when Faletau isn’t making flashy breaks, he did a ridiculous amount to rescue Wales when they’re going backwards – just as he has been doing for 100 games now.
REPLACEMENTS
16. Bradley Roberts – 6.5
Overthrew his first dart but atoned by scoring a try.
17/18 Gareth Thomas/Dillon Lewis – 7
Wales’ replacement props sent Wales forward at scrum time, which is positive.
19. Dafydd Jenkins – 4.5
Again, not a massive impact.
20. Tommy Reffell – 6
Clearly set out to be a nuisance at the breakdown and made one great turnover.
21. Tomos Williams – 8.5
Came on and immediately put in an attacking kick, which was exactly what Wales needed. Scored a try and came as close to turning the game as humanly possible.
22. Owen Williams – N/A
No significant impact.
23. Leigh Halfpenny – N/A
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments