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Fly-half Romain Ntamack guided France to a thrilling 27-23 victory over Wales on Saturday to keep their hopes of Six Nations Grand Slam alive.<\/p>\n
Ntamack scored a smart intercept try and chipped in with 12 points with the boot for a first French victory in Cardiff since 2010 that also went some way to avenging Les Bleus’ World Cup quarter-final exit at Welsh hands.<\/p>\n
“It’s amazing, we worked all the week for a big game like that it was a tough game,” said Ntamack.<\/p>\n
“We have no experience but we play with a smile but it was good experience to win here.”<\/p>\n
Tellingly, France have never won their first three Six Nations games without going on to win the Grand Slam. They next travel to Scotland before ending at home against Ireland.<\/p>\n
The match at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium had been pitched as one of youth versus experience.<\/p>\n
Wales coach Wayne Pivac had selected a starting XV holding a Six Nations record of 859 caps compared to France’s 234. Welsh skipper Alun Wyn Jones won his 137th cap with the entire French pack boasting just 109 between them.<\/p>\n
But the French arrived in the Welsh capital girded by a new attacking verve and, importantly, a reconstructed defensive rigour thanks to former long-time Wales coach Shaun Edwards, and on the back of opening wins over England (24-17) and Italy (35-22).<\/p>\n
Wales fly-half Dan Biggar opened the scoring with a third-minute penalty, but the French showed all their attacking intent from the restart, Gael Fickou sent flying down the wing.<\/p>\n
Ntamack fired a towering up-and-under into the air shortly after, Leigh Halfpenny knocking on under pressure from the impressive Virimi Vakatawa and Teddy Thomas and into the path of Anthony Bouthier, the full-back scooting in under the posts for the game’s opening try.<\/p>\n
– France stand firm –<\/p>\n
Ntamack, son of iconic former France back Emile, converted and then added a 19th minute penalty.<\/p>\n
Biggar reduced the deficit with his second penalty as Fickou was denied what would have been a fantastic try by the television match official for a forward pass in the build-up.<\/p>\n
France were not done, however, a double Vakatawa tackle setting up another potent attacking opportunity deep in Welsh territory.<\/p>\n
Wales looked to have nullified the lineout maul, but France’s South African-born lock Paul Willemse peeled away to crash over for his maiden Test try, Ntamack converting.<\/p>\n
Biggar hit his third penalty as Wales upped the ante. France No 8 Gregory Alldritt was yellow carded on the stroke of half-time for repeated offsides, Wales opting to go for a scrum from the ensuing penalty.<\/p>\n
Six tense minutes later and a Nick Tompkins knock-on after a thrilling sequence of offloading attack saw France’s defence stand firm to escape any punishment, going into the break 17-9 up.<\/p>\n
Wales had the start they desperately needed in the second period, prop Dillon Lewis driving over from close range from a phase of play set up initially by Tompkins’ kick into the corner.<\/p>\n
Biggar’s conversion drew the home side to withing a point of Les Bleus, but the helter-skelter continued unabated as Ntamack rushed his defence against a Welsh overlap to cleverly pick off Tompkins’ pass at full rattle and sprint in from nearly 50 metres for a five-pointer he also converted.<\/p>\n
France then withstood wave after wave of Welsh attack, notably with tighthead prop Mohamed Haouas in the sin bin.<\/p>\n
Eventually, the stout defensive wall gave way, Biggar crashing over for a try he converted to make it 27-23 with five minutes to play.<\/p>\n
Tompkins broke clear with seconds left on the clock, the crowd baying, but replacement French hooker Camille Chat turned the ball over to keep a rejuvenated Les Bleus team in the running for the Grand Slam.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n