SIX NATIONS WEEK 1 REVIEW: FRANCE V WALES

At half time, France were 16-0 ahead at home and cruising. Wales were dreadful for the first 40 minutes, missing tackles, knocking on under no pressure and even blowing an easy try scoring opportunity when Liam Williams blew a simple 3 on 1. To give France credit, their massive pack dominated and they played some lovely stuff in terrible conditions, scoring a couple of tries through Huget and Picamoles. However, if Parra had not missed a number of kicks, then France would have been 20+ points ahead, and it would have been game over.

Picamoles opens France's account in this year's Six Nations

Wales must have got a right roasting from Gatland and Edwards at half time, as six minutes after the restart, Josh Adams made an incisive break in midfield and Tomos Williams scored near the posts to narrow the gap. Less than five minutes later, the French lead was cut to two points, courtesy of a Huget error. George North chased an average speculative kick by Parkes, but managed to touch the ball down, after Huget lost control over his line.

Ooh la la ... George North enter stage left

With Biggar and Lopez exchanging penalties, the French still had a narrow lead going into the final ten minutes, and looked as if they were going to sneak only their second win in 8 games. However, their players had other ideas, and under no pressure in the Welsh half, French lock Sebastien Vahaamahina, decided to throw a high-risk miss-pass out wide, which George North easily picked off and ran half the length of the pitch to score the winning try. 

North intercepts that pass to win the game, and that Frenchman is involved again

It was clearly a leaving gift for Warren Gatland, on his last trip to the Stade de France with Wales, whom, despite their good Autumn record, had lost three out of five recent visits. Gats said before the game that if Wales won in Paris, a Grand Slam was a possibility, and with Ireland and England still to come in Cardiff, it could happen. I think they will lose one of these matches, plus Scotland away in Murrayfield, but what do I know? I thought Ireland would beat England.