Wales Women hit for six by powerful France

Wales Women lost their third game of this season’s Guinness Six nations as France proved too strong for Sean Lynn’s team by winning 42-12 at the sold out Stade Amedee-Domenech, Brive-La-Gaillarde.

Following their six-try effort today, Les Bleues have now won their opening three fixtures of their campaign – and a further two victories in Italy and England would secure them their first Championship since 2018.

Wales hadn’t beaten their French counterparts since their historic 10-8 victory at the Gnoll in 2016. Current captain Hannah Jones, vice-captain Keira Bevan and hooker Carys Phillips all played their part in that memorable victory in Neath seven years ago.

However Wales had previously lost every championship fixture on French soil by an average of 30 points and so it wasn’t surprising that the home side opened the scoring after four minutes of the match.

In their very first attack, fly half Carla Arbez’s perfect cross field kick allowed winger Emilie Boulard to score for the third consecutive time against Wales – and in doing so she laid the foundations for a 9th successive victory for Les Bleues against their Welsh counterparts.

Full back Morgane Bourgeois added the extra two points.

Wales had failed to register any first half points in their previous five encounters against France, but after almost 10 minutes of play, Kate Williams took full advantage of Wales’s effective maul to claim her second try of this season’s Championship.

Only five minutes after giving the French a significant wake-up call, Emilie Boulard decided to inflict pain on the visitors for a second time in the first quarter of an hour.

Following a period of physical and speedy build-up play, the left winger showed soft hands and great balance to claim yet another try against Wales. Bourgeois added the extras from the touchline to give the home side an advantage of nine points.

Head coach Lynn had challenged his charges to be brave in Brive and they showed great character once again early in the second quarter of the match. Strong and efficiant play from the forwards led to a try for lock Gwen Crabb – and a warning to the home side for persistent indiscipline.

It became a two-point game following Keira Bevan’s accurate conversion.

Prop Rose Bernadou thought that she’d registered her side’s third first half try – but Hannah Jones drew referee Holly Wood’s attention to a potential knock on – and the Welsh captain’s actions were completely vindicated as the match officials reviewed their original decision.

Unfortunately from a Welsh perspective, the French did cross for a further first half score as Player of the Match and livewire hooker Manon Bigot claimed her try after the clock had turned red. Bourgeois added her third conversion to establish a nine-point advantage for France at the interval.

England are the only team to have won a championship match on French soil since 2003 and Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz’s team showed their class once again less than four minutes after the break as co-captain Manae Feleu powered her way to the try-line and claimed a bonus point for her side in the process.

Courtney Keight thought that she’d crossed for her country’s third try of the afternoon, but the match officials decided that Abbie Fleming had caused an obstruction in the line-out which chalked off the try.

Although Wales showed great commitment and composure until the final 15 minutes of the match – replacement prop Maisie Davies was shown a yellow card for an infringement at the scrum – and Holly Wood awarded a penalty try to the home team.

France managed to cross for their sixth and final try with two minutes remaining as substitute Lea Champon took her team to the 40 point mark before Morgane Bourgeois slotted her fifth conversion of the afternoon.

A third championship loss for Wales this season, but a competitive and promising display from Jones and her team against one ot the top four teams in the world.

Lynn and his squad will now have eight days to prepare to face Ireland at Rodney Parade, before bringing the curtain down on their 2025 campaign in Italy on the 26th of April.