France 44 Wales 0 (Six Nations)
France opened the Six Nations with a resounding victory over Wales.
The only negative in an impressive performance was the upgraded red card given to Romain Ntamack which might put the fly half – only recently returned from a long injury lay-off – out for a sizeable part of the rest of the tournament.
Otherwise les Bleus easily disposed of a poor Welsh team who could not even score a single point.
ITV had the rights and, with Dan Biggar (now of Toulon) and Jamie Roberts on the panel with main presenter Jill Douglas, there was a distinct weighting towards Wales. Benjamin Kayser spoke for France but I was interested to know why Biggar’s teammates at Toulon – Ollivion and Gabin Billière – were not even in the squad. I still do not know.
I appreciate that match analysts can constitute personal preference and prejudice but I cannot abide David Flatman.
“Flat”s’ stance is that of the cynical, hard, forward who explains the Dark Arts of scrummaging to the viewer. Myles Harrison is an experienced main commentator but I like him best alongside Stuart Barnes.
France’s first try was a thing of beauty with Antoine Dupont’s sideways kick finding winger Theo Attisoghe on the wing. He and his fellow winger Bielle Biarry were on devastating form but their pack did not really assert themselves till the second half when Cyrille Bailly came on.
France are now favourites to win the tournament and Thomas Ramos is more than capable of replacing Ntamack as fly half.
In the first Eddie Jones era France were not really contenders but they have come back under Fabian Galthie and the inspirational Dupont.
Ireland are their obvious rivals but now do not have Andy Farrell as coach and their team is getting older. France’s defensive coach Shaun Edwards is peerless.
And what of England?
Steve Borthwick’s selection only has one recognised line-out jumper – Maro Itoje.
Caden Murley has pace and power and maybe the rationale is that Marcus Smith can find his Quins team mate and close pal with a cross kick. Marcus Smith was preferred to his name-same Fin, but will he be the jinking fly half or will he be smothered by the airside midfield.
I predict a narrow Irish win.