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AGONY. Absolute agony for Wales.
Their Grand Slam was ripped from their arms in the 82rd minute last night as Brice Dulin’s dramatic final try – when France were down to 14 and Wales 13 – saw them win in an extraordinary match.
Wales had it all sealed, Paul Willemse sent off for making contact with Wyn Jones’ eye with 13 minutes left. But then they capitulated. Taulupe Faletau and Liam Williams were sin-binned and at the last Dulin scored France’s fourth which means they now could win the title against Scotland next week.
France broke Wales’ hearts with a last-gasp try to win and deny the visitors a Grand Slam
France full-back Brice Dulin scored a dramatic 82nd minute try when his side were down to 14
The drama means France now could win the Six Nations title against Scotland next week
Two tries from Josh Adams and one from Dan Biggar, the rest coming from the fly-half’s boot, took Wales to 30 points.
But the French showed unbelievable resistance – Romain Taofifenua and Antoine Dupont scoring with Romain Ntamack kicking goals – their full-back taking the game in the final play.
Wales’ crown slipped seconds short of their coronation.
Pivac looked relaxed before kick-off – his copper’s eye twinkling in the pre-match interview. Even though he had never been here before himself 14 of his starting side had, winning at least one Grand Slam.
Paul Willemse was sent off for making contact with Alun Wyn Jones’ eye with 13 minutes left
Romain Taofifenua opened the scoring for France as the hosts raced into an early 7-0 lead
Pumped dry-ice billowed round the feet of the teams as they strode through the tunnel, as if this one needed any more dramatic signalling.
The stage was set for a belter, and how the first half delivered. Forget the caginess and brutality of a Cup Final – the sides got their paints out and started on a masterpiece.
Just 18 minutes in we had four tries. It was glorious, and all credit to both teams for producing it in the flattest of Stade de France atmospheres with nobody in.
Romain Taofifenua started it off. Having had one held up moments before the big lock came bashing through, just about touching down before Ken Owens and Taulupe Faletau could reach the ball in his paw.
But Wales fought back and Dan Biggar caught out the French defence to score a try
Matthieu Jalibert converted and Welsh roared straight back. They almost replied after just a minute, Louis Rees-Zammit cutting a savagely good line through the French off the back of a scrum, popping to Gareth Davies who was just held up by an extraordinary tackle from Charles Ollivon.
But Wales came again. With a penalty advantage and after carries from Faletau and Jon Davies, Dan Biggar cut in on a devastating angle to catch Gareth Davies’ pass and score.
Before you could breathe again France had their second. Pure poetry this one. Brice Dulin chipped, Jalibert caught, Antoine Dupont took his pop and ran it in. Magnifique.
They call the scrum-half ‘The Bull from Toulouse’ and faced with a line a red before him he went about snorting and kicking his way through them right from the start.
Slippery as an eel and twice as electric he caused such early concern.
France’s scrum half Antoine Dupont showed his class with an excellent score over the line
Alun Wyn Jones – vein popping out of his temple – was not for turning mind. He roared with each positive piece of news for Wales. Try telling the lock he is fading out; at 35 he is better than almost ever before.
‘Greatness’ was the word painted in English across the French turf, straddling the half-way line, something he and this Welsh team were chasing last night.
Their next try came soon – an incredible multi-phase drive involving every player, ending with Josh Navidi piling over with the help of Owens on the latch. With Biggar’s conversion we were level again.
But the hosts were once again hauled back by Wales, who levelled through Josh Navidi
A penalty for him and replacement Romain Ntamack saw the half end at 17-all. Breathless, wonderful stuff that surely could not be sustained.
‘As a country we’re only small, but we’re mighty,’ an emotional North said talking before the game on television.
Wales would need to show all that might in the second half – that nous that seems writ large on each of their souls in the Six Nations.
Biggar kicked them in front with a simple penalty before Pivac switched his scrum-halves; Tomos Williams his preferred No 9, looking like Freddie Mercury with his moustache, on for Davies.
Tipuric at this point was taking the mickey. So dripping with talent, the openside flanker grubbered through in attack, Josh Adams dribbled it inside, Tomos Williams went for it, it hit him before Adams regathered and powered for the line.
Josh Adams then plunged over the line and there was no TMO evidence to reverse the decision
Wayne Barnes in the TMO’s box had a long look at it – the decision from Luke Pearce on-field was that Adams had grounded it – and Barnes could find no evidence he had not, so it was given.
It was an enormous decision to make, with little to show Adams had it down conclusively, but with Biggar’s conversion the Welsh were 10 points up with half an hour left.
Their 20th try of the Championship – three clear of their previous record – felt the most important of the lot. An Ntamack penalty, after Tipuric used no arms in a tackle, took the French within a converted score as the hour-mark approached.
Everyone in red was having a day of days. Then Rees-Zammit almost scored the try of his life, leaping into the corner and touching down one-handed, but the ball was grounded on the post-protector. It was millimetres.
Alun Wyn Jones was ultimately denied the chance to win a fourth Grand Slam for his side
Nevertheless, Mohamed Haouas was sin-binned for bringing down a maul before, Pearce came back for the penalty and Biggar kicked it to put Wales in command, 10 points up.
There was still time for nerves. Plenty of them. Dulin scored on the left, but wait – on review Willemse ripped Wyn Jones out of a ruck just before, his fingers delving into the prop’s eye as he cleared him out. A red.
Another red in Wales’ favour to follow Peter O’Mahony and Zander Fagerson before. But Wales’ discipline crumbled. Faletau and Liam Williams were sin-binned late on, Ollivion scored to take it within three and then an incredible passage to finish a special game.With so many numbers over on the outside Dulin danced in as Welsh tears fell.
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