France v Wales preview: Even the Welsh’s ‘best and bravest performance’ will be not be enough in a Six Nations ‘hammering’
We preview the opening Six Nations match of 2025 as France host Wales at the Stade de France.
The 2025 Six Nations kicks off at the Stade de France as one of the tournament favourites, France, host a battered Wales outfit in the Championship opener.
Wales are enduring a 12-match losing streak in international rugby after going winless in 2024 and face the almighty task of fronting up against a French side that will be frothing at the mouth not to just win the opening game but the entire tournament.
After watching his dynasty burn to ash in 2024, Warren Gatland is hoping that subtle and not-so-subtle changes will make a world of difference, explaining that he has made alterations to the training schedule while there has been a shake-up in the personnel with late additions and one departure in his backroom staff.
As one of the most successful coaches in the Six Nations‘ history, Gatland knows exactly what is required to be victorious but first, he will need to turn around the proverbial collapse of what was one of the most feared rugby nations.
That will need to start against one of the current top dogs of world rugby, Fabien Galthie‘s France, who head into the tournament off the back of a stunning Autumn Nations Series where they went unbeaten sweeping Japan, New Zealand and Argentina aside.
Strengthened by the return of inspirational and the outright blockbuster talent of Antoine Dupont and his partner in crime, Romain Ntamack, France are well positioned to get their hands on some silverware but will need to avoid the hiccups that have blighted their title runs in recent years.
Where the game will be won
The battle lines will well and truly be drawn in the packs as they usually are. For all of France’s attacking beauty and flair, it’s the pack that lays the foundation and not only at the set-pieces.
Having huge battering rams like Emmanuel Meafou and Uini Atonio certainly helps win the gain-line battle, but they are much more delicate than that with most of the pack possessing a well-rounded passing and rucking game too.
In fact, Francois Cros is one of the best examples of that as there are few, if any, players better than the Frenchman at the breakdown whether he is clearing opposition bodies to give Dupont the quick ball that he thrives on or pilfering over to slow the opposition’s ruck speed.
Wales certainly have threats of their own particularly in the form of Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell and if they are to have any chance, they will need to be on top of their game and get some help from their backs.
The recruitment of ex-Lions prop Adam Jones to take charge of Wales’ scrum is rather telling as the set-piece was a real area of concern for the side and his arrival could not have come any later as not only will France fight in every scrum battle to get an edge but if they do, Thomas Ramos will be lining up a shot goal that he seldom misses.
France v Wales preview: Even the Welsh’s ‘best and bravest performance’ will be not be enough in a Six Nations ‘hammering’
France captain Antoine Dupont and an insert of Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
We preview the opening Six Nations match of 2025 as France host Wales at the Stade de France.
The 2025 Six Nations kicks off at the Stade de France as one of the tournament favourites, France, host a battered Wales outfit in the Championship opener.
Wales are enduring a 12-match losing streak in international rugby after going winless in 2024 and face the almighty task of fronting up against a French side that will be frothing at the mouth not to just win the opening game but the entire tournament.
After watching his dynasty burn to ash in 2024, Warren Gatland is hoping that subtle and not-so-subtle changes will make a world of difference, explaining that he has made alterations to the training schedule while there has been a shake-up in the personnel with late additions and one departure in his backroom staff.
As one of the most successful coaches in the Six Nations‘ history, Gatland knows exactly what is required to be victorious but first, he will need to turn around the proverbial collapse of what was one of the most feared rugby nations.
That will need to start against one of the current top dogs of world rugby, Fabien Galthie‘s France, who head into the tournament off the back of a stunning Autumn Nations Series where they went unbeaten sweeping Japan, New Zealand and Argentina aside.
Strengthened by the return of inspirational and the outright blockbuster talent of Antoine Dupont and his partner in crime, Romain Ntamack, France are well positioned to get their hands on some silverware but will need to avoid the hiccups that have blighted their title runs in recent years.
Where the game will be won
The battle lines will well and truly be drawn in the packs as they usually are. For all of France’s attacking beauty and flair, it’s the pack that lays the foundation and not only at the set-pieces. Having huge battering rams like Emmanuel Meafou and Uini Atonio certainly helps win the gain-line battle, but they are much more delicate than that with most of the pack possessing a well-rounded passing and rucking game too.
In fact, Francois Cros is one of the best examples of that as there are few, if any, players better than the Frenchman at the breakdown whether he is clearing opposition bodies to give Dupont the quick ball that he thrives on or pilfering over to slow the opposition’s ruck speed.
Wales certainly have threats of their own particularly in the form of Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell and if they are to have any chance, they will need to be on top of their game and get some help from their backs.
The recruitment of ex-Lions prop Adam Jones to take charge of Wales’ scrum is rather telling as the set-piece was a real area of concern for the side and his arrival could not have come any later as not only will France fight in every scrum battle to get an edge but if they do, Thomas Ramos will be lining up a shot goal that he seldom misses.
Players to watch
France have still named a star-studded matchday 23 despite the plethora of injuries that they are contending with which has resulted in a positional switch for Alexandre Roumat. Usually, a back-rower the son of France legend Olivier, Roumat is very much in his father’s mould being a big back-five forward with a huge work-rate and a fantastic lineout operator. He slips into the second-row with Meafou in the absence of Thibaud Flament and will look to continue his fine form from last year that saw him cement a place in the matchday 23.
Moving into the backs and Galthie will be over the moon that Louis Bielle-Biarrey recovered in time to feature in the starting XV. The Bordeaux flyer has been in sensational form, scoring 16 tries in 16 appearances, which includes four for France in the autumn. With Damian Penaud missing this clash, Bielle-Biarrey will be crucial in providing the game-breaking moments for Les Bleus.
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Ben Thomas, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan (c), 6 James Botham, 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Evan Lloyd, 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Dan Edwards, 23 Blair Murray
Date: Friday, January 31
Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Kick-off: 21:15 local (20:15 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: Chris Busby (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (RA)
Previous results
2023: France won 45-25 in Cardiff
2023: France won 41-28 in Paris
2022: France won 13-9 in Cardiff
2021: France won 32-30 in Paris
2020: France won 38-21 in Paris
2020: France won 27-23 in Cardiff
2019: Wales won 20-19 in Oita (RWC quarter-final)
2019: Wales won 24-19 in Paris
The teams
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Théo Attissogbe, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Grégory Alldritt, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Alexandre Roumat, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Mickaël Guillard, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Émilien Gailleton
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Ben Thomas, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan (c), 6 James Botham, 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Evan Lloyd, 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Dan Edwards, 23 Blair Murray
Date: Friday, January 31
Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Kick-off: 21:15 local (20:15 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: Chris Busby (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (RA)
