Warren Gatland observing first Six Nations picket spoon for 26 years | EUROtoday

Gatland can – and can – ring again George North, who didn’t play on this fixture after being both dropped or rested, relying in your opinion on the controversial choice in midfield. In reality, the centre duo of Owen Watkin and Joe Roberts weren’t the issue and with a attempt apiece greater than justified the Kiwi’s daring choice.

The burning, brutal subject was the devastation inflicted when the replacements got here on and analysing the respective benches that ought to not have been a shock. Fabien Glathie may carry on 20st front-rowers with notches already on their creaking belts. But Gatland, with a commendable eye to the longer term, needed to whistle for Evan Llloyd, a hooker referred to as into the squad after the late withdrawal of Ryan Elias who has not but even began a first-class match and who was a backrower just some years in the past.

Lloyd is a superb younger prospect and merely an instance of the small pool, however all these years of Wayne Pivac counting on the outdated hens and never blooding the chicks have now come residence to roost. Wales will need to have endurance, however with that humble picket utensil looming over their heads just like the sword of Damocles, the subsequent week will probably be all in regards to the current and definitely not the longer term.

Match particulars

Scoring sequence: 3-0 Costelow pen, 3-3 Ramos pen, 8-3 Dyer attempt, 10-3 Costelow with, 10-6 Ramos pen, 10-11 Fickou attempt, 10-13 Ramos with, 15-13 Williams attempt, 17 -13 Costelow with, 17-18 Le Garrec attempt, 17-20 Ramos with, 22-20 Roberts attempt, 24-20 Costelow with, 24-23 Ramos pen, 24-28 Colombe attempt, 24-30 Ramos with, 24- 35 R Taofifenua attempt, 24-37 Ramos with, 24-40 Ramos pen. H-T: 17-20

Wales: C Winnett; J Adams, J Roberts (Grady 61), O Watkin, R Dyer; S Costelow (I Lloyd 56), T Williams (Davies 56); G Thomas (Domachowski 70), E Dee (E Lloyd 70), Okay Assiratti (Lewis 44), W Rowlands (Martin 70), A Beard, D Jenkins (c), T Reffell (Mann 56), A Wainwright.

France: L Barré; D Penaud, G Fickou, N Depoortère (Moefana 70), L Bielle-Biarrey; T Ramos, N Le Garrec (Lucu 70); C Baille (S Taofifenua 51), J Marchand (Mauvaka 51), U Atonio (Colombe 51), T Flament, E Meafou (R Taofifenua 51), F Cros (Boudehent 70), C Ollivon (Roumat 62), G Alldritt ( vs).

Referee: L Pearce (RFU)

Attendance: 71,242

Wales v France: As it occurred