ANALYSIS: France's defence under Shaun Edwards and how Wales' attack could fare against it

February 22, 2020
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Ultimate Rugby

Shaun Edwards has been praised for the immediate impact that he has had on France so far in the Six Nations with the side winning their opening two games with their defence having a big influence on the results of the game. Edwards was lured across the English Channel to join a new-look Les Bleus coaching set-up under Fabien Galthie after 12 years as Wales defensive guru.

The hugely respected, no-nonsense 53-year-old has already stamped his authority early in his new role with the manner in which France defended for their lives in a victory over England in their Six Nations opener. Edwards returns to Cardiff on Saturday for France's showdown with his former employers at the Principality Stadium on what promises to be a pivotal weekend in the battle for the title.

With that in mind, we have our own defence guru, Omar Mouneimne breakdown exactly what Edwards has done well with France in his latest exclusive for Ultimate Rugby. He takes a look at how France have dominated collisions and competed at the breakdown to set up a mouth-watering clash against Wales.

Edward's demands a lot from his players and despite leaving Wales after the World Cup, there is still evidence of his work in Wales' defence which you can see in Omar's earlier analysis on Wales' defence and breakdown here.

Watch the full analysis below of how Wales' attack could fare against France's defence.

Continue reading below...

In this first clip, you see France defending against England. Look at how well organized they are.

They release well from the line out, which means they get up well. They read the first punch up by England super well. A very good first up tackle, very good first up fold.

From here, every single time Ben Youngs touches the ball, they're up on flight they are quickly in your face. The read the threats well in real time and making big shots and eventually on the next phase. They get up in the passing lanes and they forced the error from England.

So how does this shape against the Welsh attack?

From this lineout, they punch it Tipuric, they've got some nice edge attack where they've got some decoys runners and they end up taking the coast before coming back in field.

Then once they've come back in field, they've got what's called a full-field threat, which means they can go back to the blind side or back to the open side, which keeps the line speed down because the defence has to be kept guessing.

And that is when they break the line and Alun-Wyn Jones makes the offload inside and they score a try.

So I think they've got a very fluid attack. They got one of the quickest breakdowns at three point eight seconds on attack compared to French in the French breakdown, which is 4.53 seconds. And we know the French don't attack too much but let their defence do most of the work.

I think the Welsh attack will be fluid at the line with multiple options and full-field threats and I think the French won't be able to maintain defending against them for the whole eighty.