Les Bleus flanker Antoine Burban briefly left the field for a head injury assessment after being flattened following a Warburton charge, and Wales ended the half camped close to France’s line following an electrifying Gareth Davies break that set up a series of attacking scrums. Next up on March 12 is an away trip to England before a final home game against Italy.
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There are those that suggest it’s exactly these sorts of encounters where Gatland’s Wales have thrived over the past eight years, that it’s against the more savvy southern hemisphere sides that they struggle. We have got confidence in our own abilities, and traditionally we get better as the tournament goes on.
In the weekend’s other games, England and Wales would next face off. Both sides have split the last four Tests at Twickenham, with Wales the most recent winners [at the World Cup]. “Thankfully, we took our chances and got the win”.
Before every Six Nations championship we hear all about the importance of momentum.
“From our point of view, we played a team with two wins from two and we’re undefeated”.
Veteran prop Gethin Jenkins could miss out in round four with a calf injury and lock Luke Charteris is also doubtful with a knee problem, but there could be a return for scrum-half Rhys Webb.
“We are never as clinical as we want to be, so we need to keep working on that, but our defence was excellent”.
Winger George North scored Wales’ only try of a low-quality game and flyhalf Dan Biggar kicked the rest of the points for the hosts, as France lost a fifth straight game against the Welsh and for a fifth time in a row in the Welsh capital.
The Welsh defense was outstanding, though, only breached by France captain Guilhem Guirado for a consolation try off a rolling maul in the 79th minute.
“It was tough to concede a try in that way but ultimately reflects the game”, he said. “They come up very quickly and we know this match will be completely different to the first two”.
Biggar added the conversion to open up a 13-point advantage, but just when there appeared no way back for France, they established prolonged pressure through their forwards that tested Wales’ defence and ensured they retained a fighting chance.
Gatland, however, was disappointed his team constantly fell foul of English referee Wayne Barnes, conceding 14 penalties, and the New Zealander was clearly bemused by some of the decisions. This will be his first appearance in the 7s after last representing New Zealand at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Assessing Cuthbert’s recall, Gatland said: “We just feel it’s an opportunity for Alex”.
“In the past, they’ve gone out with the attitude of saying “jouez, jouez, let’s play” and for teams like us, that’s just happy days – we love that kind of thing, it’s so easy to shut down”.
“They’ve got so many players I think they will improve as the championship goes on”.
Vakatawa is a convert from the shortened version of the game, and made his debut for France against Italy in the Six Nations opener earlier in the month, repaying Guy Noves with a try early on.
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Wales had two scrums on the French line only for hooker Scott Baldwin to be penalised for holding onto the ball under the French posts and Wales only led 6-3 despite all that pressure at the end of the half.
