Back-Row Battle Tale of Two Scrum-Halves
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Friday 2 Cardiffian March 17, 2017 Numbers game Between 1975 and 1999, Wales never won in Paris, but have since gone on to win five of the last nine matches. Recently, the matches have been scrappy, low-scoring affairs. But it wasn’t always that way... RAHAM Henry’s1999 men travelled to the brand new WO2001 years after Wales had stunned the Stade de France having lost their first two matches of world with a scintillating victory in the tournament. Paris, they pulled off the same trick. GThe mercurial French fly-half Thomas Castaignede missed TAfter deservedly falling 19-9 behind in the an easy penalty in the early moments - an omen of what was to first half an hour, Rob Howley scored a superb come for the euphoric Welsh support. solo score from his own 22 to drag Wales back The normally reliable Neil Jenkins missed four penalty attempts of into the game. The Welsh fightback continued his own but was successful with five others, while even he bought into into the second-half, with tries from Scott Wales’ sense of adventure that day. Colin Charvis’ try after a scything Quinnell and Dafydd James and the boot of break by Rob Howley gave Wales the lead before tries from Émile Neil Jenkins (including one monster drop-goal) Ntamack made it 18-16 to the home side after half an hour. putting them 33-22 up after 54 minutes. But Wales led 28-18 at half-time after Dafydd James and Craig After the Welsh ebb came the French flow. Quinnell (finishing off an 80-metre team effort) scored a try each in a A try from Philippe Bernat-Salles and the devastating two-minute salvo. France pulled it back to 28-28 in the second- kicking of substitute Christophe Lamaison half, and led 33-31 after Ntamack’s hat-trick try cancelled out Jenkins’ penalty. saw France regain the lead. But, as was so Castaignede missed the conversion, but when Jenkins had another attempt from often the case for Wales at the turn of the tee after a Castaignede high tackle, he made no mistake, and Wales led 34- the millennium, fly-half Jenkins turned 33. the game in their favour. First, he France’s maverick fly-half was given one final chance to kick his side to victory, slotted a second drop-goal to make it but was wide of the target yet again. Wales had secured an historic victory. 36-35 to Wales. Then, in injury-time, a miscued Bernat-Salles chip was charged down by Gareth Thomas, and the ball found its way to Jenkins via James giving the Pontypridd man the simplest of run-ins. Jenkins converted his own score to make it 43-35. INS over England2005 and Italy in the opening rounds meant Wales travelled He had gone through the card in a 28-point to France with higher hopes than in previous years where they had haul, passing 1,000 points for Wales and the unquestionably been the underdog. Lions in the process. WBut in the first-half, France were sensational, scoring tries through Dimitri Yachvili and Aurélien Rougerie in the first 15 minutes and leading 15-6 at half-time. Mike Ruddock elected not to cajole his team into life during the interval, but the silent treatment did the trick. Whereas in previous years it had been the ginger-haired Neil Jenkins to whom Wales owed their victories, this time it was his former Pontypridd teammate and hair-sake, Martyn Williams. Within seconds of the restart, Stephen Jones waltzed 60 metres upfield. The ball made its way out to Shane Williams who jinked outside the French defence before offloading back inside to the man known affectionately as “Nugget”, giving the flanker the easiest of run-ins. He struck again almost immediately. Williams’ quick tap caught France napping, and he hauled himself over in the corner. Suddenly, Wales were 18-15 up. A Frederic Michalak drop-goal brought France level, but a penalty from Jones and a drop-goal of his own gave Wales a 24-18 lead that they would never relinquish. Ruddock’s side went on to beat Scotland and Ireland in the final two weekends, and the most thrilling of Grand Slams was secured. Metres made BACK-ROW BATTLE Rucks hit Led by the gigantic Louis Picamoles, France's back-row has carried 522 for far more metres than their Welsh counterparts, but Wales' trio are 153 160 more industrious when it comes to the unseen work. 241 Metres made TALE OF TWO SCRUM-HALVES Errors Rhys Webb has been one of Wales' best attacking threats this year, but 82 can be prone to giving away possession and penalties. Baptiste Serin 1 124 may not be quite as lively, but he does the basics superbly well. 9 The Six Nations form book 2016: WALES 19 - 10 France 2011: FRANCE 28 - 9 Wales 2006: Wales 16 - 21 FRANCE 2015: France 13 - 20 WALES 2010: Wales 20 - 26 FRANCE 2005: France 18 - 24 WALES 2014: WALES 27 - 6 France 2009: FRANCE 21 - 16 Wales 2004: Wales 22 - 29 FRANCE 2013: France 6 - 16 WALES 2008: WALES 29 - 12 France 2003: FRANCE 33 - 5 Wales 2012: WALES 16 - 9 France 2007: FRANCE 32 - 21 Wales 2002: Wales 33 - 37 FRANCE.