Wales vs France Rugby LIVE: Start Time, TV Channels, Free Stream, Teams

world class

Scrum half Antoine Dupont has been singled out as the man Wales must stop if they are to pick up a surprise win tonight.

Wayne Pivac said: “We don’t tend to single out individual players but you can’t help it because he’s world class.

“You say you’re well done with some of the things he does. Hopefully we can contain it.”

bashed

Wayne Pivac has openly admitted that Taine Basham was dropped for the returning Josh Navidi due to some mistakes he made.

Pivac said: “It’s a selection in a row. He is a young player who has played a lot of rugby in a row.

“He started making some mistakes. He is open and honest about his game.

“We have a guy like Navs [Josh Navidi] available, so we think it’s a good time to brush up on Taine and give Navs a spin.”

“Part of playing in England”

Wayne Pivac has again issued a veiled call for players wanting to play for the Wales national team to play for the Welsh regions.

Two weeks ago, Pivac stated that Louis Rees-Zammit was not improving his chances of a call-up by playing for Gloucester.

And this week Saracens’ Nick Tompkins is injured.

And Pivac said: “It’s happened to other players in previous Six Nations.

“It’s just part of playing in the English Premier League, you don’t get the chance to take a break. Unfortunately he got a bruise.”

“No premiere”

Commenting on Tomas Francis’ head injury, Biggar added: “There are many incidents like this, it’s not the first time boys have been bumped.

“I was at the end of a couple. There will be people who have opinions on this. As long as he goes through the logs, I don’t think we should make too much of it.

“We are not the experts in these areas. If the people have made him fit, that’s not our profession. It’s down to the independent and medical team who are brilliant.

“It’s very much ‘let’s get on with it.’ He is considered fit”

Big distraction

Wales substitute captain Dan Biggar has lashed out at the media’s handling of Tomos Francis’ head injury.

Francis was seen holding his head after a knock and Wales were criticized for allowing him to return to the field at Twickenham and picking him again tonight.

But Biggar said, “The circus around him is probably bigger than ourselves,” he said.

“We have a brilliant team. They won’t take any unnecessary risks. Your first port of call is health and safety. That’s always the case, because it’s a big issue there’s always a bit of a hype about it.”

“If Franny wasn’t playing properly, he wouldn’t be involved. He passed everything and was looked at by independent people.

“We have full confidence in the process and are trying to move it forward. We focus on the experts and professionals we have in our warehouse.”

empty seats

Wales are set to take on France tonight in front of 10,000 empty seats – a rare venue when a team of the caliber of the French arrive in Cardiff.

The WRU has been criticized for raising the price of the cheapest ticket to the match to £100.

Covid uncertainty during December’s initial sale, along with minimal French travel support and Cardiff’s usual lack of hotel rooms, are also said to have contributed to low attendance

Wayne Pivac said ahead of the game: “There are still a few spots left. It would be great if these places filled up.”

head to head

Wales have a slight advantage over France in the head-to-head game.

The Dragons have won 51 of their matches against France’s 47, with three draws between the sides.

However, France have dominated since Warren Gatland left in 2019.

The French won the 2020 Six Nations at Principality Stadium 27-23.

Later that year they easily beat the Welsh 38-21 in a friendly before winning an epic 32-30 at the 2021 Six Nations in Paris

See red

While Wales is best known for their rivalry with England, there is absolutely no love lost between the Welsh and this French side.

Last year, France head coach Fabian Galthie accused the Dragons of specializing in sending players off.

He said: “When you watch the Wales players, it feels like they specialize in making sure opponents get red cards.”

Galthie made the comments after Paul Willemse was sent off in a game in Paris which France ultimately won.

He added: “Her body language is pretty clear. I hope the referees take that into account. I don’t think he deserves a sanction.

“If you look at the video there is clearly no contact, or if there is, it is clearly very restricted. It is absolutely not voluntary.

“I think we have to share that. I don’t see why he should be sanctioned.”

France also had Sebastien Vahaamahina in their World Cup loss to the Welsh but there were few complaints on the day as he viciously elbowed Aaron Wainwright.

Open to the elements

A decision was made for today’s game on the roof of the famous Fürstenstadion.

And Wales fans will be disappointed to learn it will be OPEN.

Whilst it was a rainy day in Cardiff today which in the past has often resulted in the roof being closed, a decision has been made to keep it open tonight to control the spread of Covid

‘A cracker’

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac expects a thrilling game against France tonight.

But he has no illusions about the challenge his side will face, calling the French “the most in-form team in the world”.

Pivac commented: “Both teams want to play some fun rugby and I think you have the team at the moment which in France is probably the best team in the world.

“We’ve certainly had some great games against them lately so I think it’s going to be a smash.”

Thank God it’s Friday

Wales host France to put an end to Les Bleus Grand Slam hopes

And they have an added incentive to do so, because that’s exactly what the French did to them in Paris last year.

There, Brice Dulin crossed the line in stoppage time to win an epic 32-30 battle for France after they finished 14-man against Wales’ 13.

Wales enjoyed many successes against the French under former head coach Warren Gatland, even beating them out of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

However, that was not the case under incumbent Wayne Pivac, under whom they have lost all three encounters with France.

And they will be desperate to make amends tonight after losing in England two weeks ago.

The Welshman scored three tries to one for Eddie Jones’ men but that wasn’t enough to secure a win as they lost 23-19.

France, on the other hand, looked almost unstoppable last week as they beat Scotland 36-17 in Murrayfield