The second started with a rapid attack by Wales with Biggar kicking a penalty and then George North scored the opening try after yet another French off load spilled the ball and Jonathan Davies’ kick ahead saw North race clear.
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Twickenham Stadium will be the venue for Wales” next RBS 6 Nations assignment and no sooner had the dust started to settle on the 19-10 triumph over previously unbeaten France than everyone’s thoughts began to turn to the “big one’ against Eddie Jones’ England side. France remain in the hunt, but their loss to Warren Gatland’s men has seen them lose ground.
Wales have won at Twickenham three times under Gatland, having gone 20 years without a victory there before his arrival, and it is their physical threat that will most concern England, who will be hoping to have the centre Manu Tuilagi available again.
“Our defence was outstanding, our set piece was good again and we were good in the air”.
Who will win this weekend’s matches?
Looking forward to the March 12 encounter against England at Twickenham, Gatland added: “It’s a great stadium, we love going there to play and they are a quality team”.
“We are showing confidence in him as coaches – we think he can build and improve – and he hasn’t let us down”.
Gatland said the victory over France, under new coach Guy Noves, came after a “really tough Test match”.
“We felt we were only a couple of phases away from breaking them and the main message at half-time was to be a little bit more patient and physical around the breakdown”.
“In fairness, we need to look at ourselves as well to see why that penalty count was as high as it was”.
The try which was ultimately won the contest was a useful metaphor for the game itself in that it had a strong element of the Keystone Cops about it.
“There isn’t that much space to be found in modern-day rugby with defences being as organised as they can be”.
North attempted to kick the ball ahead to carry the ball with his momentum but missed only for Plisson to knock it into his path as he ran back to his defensive position and North crossed the white wash for the opening try of the afternoon.
“The biggest difference was on the counter-attack”.
“That try allowed the Welsh to take confidence”.
Wales: Liam Williams, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate, Alun-Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies, Samson Lee, Scott Baldwin, Rob Evans. They conceded 16 penalties and consequently had to make twice as many tackles as their opponents. But the lads showed a desire to play, they stuck at it right to the end.
Noves added: “We weren’t surprised by Wales”. Biggar missed a penalty after 10 minutes of pressure and Plisson was also off target with an effort from just inside the Welsh half as the game settled into a familiar pattern of Wales attack against French defence.
France themselves were penalised moments later after a shoulder barge off the ball and this time Biggar made no mistake, driving it straight down the middle of the posts to put the first points on the board after 22 minutes. They were awarded a penalty which was reversed where Barnes ordered a replay of a tackle by Dan Lydiate on Guilhem Guirado which revealed the flanker had not used his arms in the challenge.
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After drawing with Ireland in Dublin and beating Scotland at home, Wales were worthy winners against France to make it five points from three matches.
