Frances vs Wales: Six Nations live scores, blog

France and Wales will both look to get the Six Nations off to a successful start when they go head to head in Paris as the 2019 championship kicks off up north. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7am AEDT.

In any normal year the Six Nations is an exciting tournament and arguably a lot more competitive than the Rugby Championship.

But in a World Cup year the whole championship comes under more scrutiny as fans and pundits search for indications of how form now will mean success or failure in eight months.

The Championship kicks off with a fantastic opener. Wales have put together a nine-match winning streak and sneaked up to third in the world rankings while France have continued to promise so much but still failed to deliver. So surely it’s an open-and-shut case for this match?

France are always thought of as bringing attacking flair and daring style to the game but recent years have seen their domestic Top 14 league embrace “the big man” and a much more direct game plan based on massive men crashing into each other.

This will be epitomised in this first match where France will start the largest pack ever in international rugby which is believed to weigh in at over 950kg.

Interestingly though, French coach Jacques Brunel has stripped out weight from the back line as Mathieu Bastareaud is replaced by the young and lean(er) Romain Ntamack. Son of the legendary French player Emile, the new centre will be key to the French attacking plans.

But even more important will be the half back partnership of Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez. The Clermont pair have led their club side to second place on the Top 14 ladder and French hopes in this match versus Wales rest heavily on their shoulders.

While Wales are coming here on the back of a great nine-match winning streak, matches against the French are always tight.

The visitors are missing the powerful No.8 Taulupe Faletau and although they have some exciting other options in the back row – Ross Moriarty, Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi – Faletau gives so much go forward that he will be sorely missed.

Wales are also going with a club pairing in the half-backs with Gareth Anscombe and Tomos Williams. Williams might be third choice in Wales but he’s an exciting talent and if he can play his natural game then he will be a real threat against the French.

Prediction
Wales have a pretty decent draw this year with arguably their toughest games against England and Ireland to be played in Cardiff. But they have to start with a win in Paris.

It’ll be a close match for sure but the Welsh have found a way to win in the past nine games even in tough situations.

Wales to win by 7 points.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 6:50am AEDT.

Where: Stade de France, Paris, France
Date: Saturday 2nd February 2019
When: Kick off 7am (AEDT)
Betting: France – $1.84, Wales – $1.93

France
15 Maxime Medard
14 Damian Penaud
13 Wesley Fofana
12 Romain Ntamack
11 Yoann Huget
10 Camille Lopez
9 Morgan Parra
8 Louis Picamoles
7 Arthur Iturria
6 Wenceslas Lauret
5 Paul Willemse
4 Sebastien Vahaamahina
3 Uini Atonio
2 Guilhem Guirado (c)
1 Jefferson Poirot

Replacements
16 Julien Marchand
17 Dany Priso
18 Demba Bamba
19 Felix Lambey
20 Greg Alldritt
21 Baptiste Serin
22 Gael Fickou
23 Geoffrey Doumayrou

Wales
15 Liam Williams
14 George North
13 Jonathan Davies
12 Hadleigh Parkes
11 Josh Adams
10 Gareth Anscombe
9 Tomos Williams
8 Ross Moriarty
7 Justin Tipuric
6 Josh Navidi
5 Alun Wyn Jones (c)
4 Adam Beard
3 Tomas Francis
2 Ken Owens
1 Rob Evans

Replacements
16 Elliot Dee
17 Wyn Jones
18 Samson Lee
19 Cory Hill
20 Aaron Wainwright
21 Gareth Davies
22 Dan Biggar
23 Owen Watkin

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

Form
France – LWLLLL
Wales – WWWWW

Played 96
France 44
Wales 49
Draw 3

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