02/15/26 12:00:00
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02/15 11:59 CST France tear apart Wales with eight tries and is only unbeaten
Six Nations team
France tear apart Wales with eight tries and is only unbeaten Six Nations team
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) --- France inevitably racked up a record win against
struggling Wales on Sunday and was the only unbeaten team in the Six Nations
after two rounds.
Favored to win back-to-back titles, France scored eight tries, the first after
just 88 seconds. The 54-12 scoreline eclipsed its previous high against Wales
of 51-0 in 1998 at Wembley Stadium.
France didn't overpower Wales as it could easily have. Instead, France played
sevens style, keeping the ball alive, offloading and stepping and slicing the
Welsh apart. The loose and slippery nature of France's game didn't allow Wales
time to reset its defense.
The speed suited France's new centers, Pau clubmates Fabien Brau-Boirie, 20,
and milien Gailleton, 22. They both touched down and Gailleton was replaced
late by another debutant Noah Nn, 21. Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert was the man
of the match after scoring one try and assisting on three more.
Wales' Six Nations losing streak since 2022 was extended to 13 matches. The
game attracted only 57,744 spectators, the smallest Wales home crowd since the
tournament expanded in 2000.
Wales supporters wanting their side to work hard and fight to the end were
rewarded, even though their team was outgunned everywhere. Wales kept France
scoreless for more than 20 minutes in the first half and for the last 19
minutes of the match.
But the end result was familiar. Wales, yet to hire a full-time defense coach,
has conceded 50-plus scores in five of its last six home matches, to England
(68-14), Argentina (52-28), New Zealand (52-26) and South Africa (73-0).
France was on the board after 88 seconds and had the bonus-point fourth try by
halftime.
Gailleton crossed first, set up by Antoine Dupont, Theo Atissogbe and Charles
Ollivon.
Left wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey then took a kick-pass from Jalibert and notched
his 12th Six Nations try in 11 matches.
Bielle-Biarrey's initial break led to Jalibert sending Brau-Boirie flying in
and France was 19-0 up after 15 minutes.
Wales won the restart and prop Rhys Carre eventually crashed over but Wales
couldn't hold France out before halftime when right wing Atissogbe put in
Jalibert for 26-7.
The second half was a procession for France with four more tries in 17 minutes.
Hooker Julien Marchand scored from a lineout drive, Attisogbe bagged a pair
thanks to Bielle-Biarrey and Jalibert, and Ollivon grabbed the last. Thomas
Ramos had target practice and converted seven of the eight tries.
Wales had the last say through replacement back Mason Grady and stays at home
to face Scotland next weekend.
France will welcome Italy in Lille.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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