Wales vs France: Guinness Six Nations 2024 preview, team news, tickets and prediction

It’s rest week, so time to look forward to round 4 when Wales take on France in the fourth and penultimate round of the Guinness Six Nations at the Principality Stadium on Sunday, 10 March.

It’s a clash between two teams that can set the field alight with their attacking rugby, although Wales, who are rebuilding after a poor World Cup, and who haven’t had the greatest of tournaments to date, might settle for a more conservative approach.

Both teams have lost two significant players for this year’s tournament, which have hindered their progress.

For Wales, that’s in the form of former flyhalf Dan Biggar, who retired from the global stage of the prestigious event in France at the end of last year. Thanks to his experience alone, Biggar is a massive loss to the Welsh, and his accurate boot punished many teams over the years, including France, notorious for their ill-discipline.

One might say that the loss of Antonie Dupont is more significant for France. Not only is Dupoint their inspirational skipper, but an excellent playmaker too in the No 9 jersey. Dupont, however, has decided on a different challenge and joins his nation’s Sevens time in the hope of Olympic gold in Paris later this year.

The last round was little glory for either side. The French drew 13-13 with a spirited Italy in Paris, and Wales were humiliated by a rampant Ireland.

In fact, in the early Saturday kick off, Italy will be looking to get anything out of their home clash with Scotland. If they do, Wales will be bottom before they even play.

Saturdays late game is all about if England can stop Ireland getting the Grand Slam, and also deny them a bonus point on their quest to become the first team to win on maximum points.

And sorry to all the Welsh mothers out there, as Sunday is about Wales trying to salvage some pride and avoid that wooden spoon. Which in fairness is unlikely as the last game sees Italy come to Wales.

Team News

Warren Gatland, in his second stint in charge of Wales (he left his first one in 2019), opted to name a relatively inexperienced squad on the eve of the Guinness Six Nations.

Yes, regulars such as George North (who has well over 100 caps for his country), Adam Beard, Josh Adams and Gareth Davies are in the squad, but there are five uncapped players as well, not to mention those with only a handful of appearances for the national team to their name.

On the eve of the tournament, Wales were also hit with the news that Louis Rees-Zammit had decided to leave rugby altogether and would attempt to make a name for himself in the National Football League. Losing the experienced winger, capped 31 times by Wales was a massive blow, as he is devastatingly quick and an excellent finisher.

With the retirement of experienced flyhalf Dan Biggar, Gatland has chosen young Sam Costelow, the Scarlets No. 10 as his backline general, although he missed the second game of the tournament through injury.

France have the bulk of their Rugby World Cup team back for the Six Nations, although Galthie has included some new blood as well. In fact, there are six uncapped players in the squad, one more than Wales. The biggest loss is that of Dupont, and his playmaking and leadership skills are not readily replaced.

After his red card in the opening clash of the tournament against Ireland, lock Paul Willemse should be eligible for a return to the French squad for this clash.

Wales’s Guinness Six Nations Squad

Forwards: Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby), Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby), Leon Brown (Dragons), Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Will Rowlands (Racing 92), Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby), Taine Basham (Dragons), James Botham (Cardiff Rugby), Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby), Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)

Backs: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Cai Evans (Dragons), Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets), Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby), George North (Ospreys), Joe Roberts (Scarlets), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby).

France’s Guinness Six Nations Squad

Forwards: Esteban Abadie (Toulon), Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse), Gregory Alldritt (La Rochelle), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Cyril Baille (Toulouse), Gaetan Barlot (Castres),  Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle), Francois Cros (Toulouse), Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Francais), Matthias Halagahu (Toulon), Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse), Thomas Laclayat (Racing 92) , Julien Marchand (Toulouse), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse), Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse), Charles Ollivon (Toulon), Romain Taofifenua (Lyon), Sebastien Taofifenua (Lyon), Reda Wardi (La Rochelle), Cameron Woki (Racing 92).

Backs: Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Bègles), Jonathan Danty (La Rochelle), Nicolas Depoortere (Bordeaux-Bègles), Gael Fickou (Racing 92), Emilien Gailleton (Pau), Antoine Gibert (Racing 92), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Bègles), Melvyn Jaminet (Toulon), Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92), Matthis Lebel (Toulouse), Maxime Lucu (Bordeaux-Bègles), Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Bègles), Damian Penaud (Bordeaux-Bègles), Thomas Ramos (Toulouse).

Current 6 Nations table

Match Tickets

Wales vs France tickets are luckily still available for this encounter featuring two sides that love to give the ball some air.

As match day approaches, however, you’ll need to spring into action, as Wales tickets will sell quickly in the week leading up to the match. France tickets for supporters across the channel will be in demand as well, as it’s not a long trip for French rugby lovers to undertake and follow their beloved national team.

While tickets are still available through official channels, if they are sold out in the days leading up to the clash, you may still find them available on various ticket reselling sites online.

Prediction

There’s no doubt that Gatland sees this tournament as a transition point for Welsh rugby, where recent internal turmoil in administrative structures has affected both the franchise teams and the national team.

That said, Wales won’t want to be at the bottom end of the table as they currently find themselves, but this isn’t an encounter where they can hope to come away with a win. If they do though, it would be a massive shock, even though they are playing at home.

Yes, that feverish Welsh support will give them added motivation to put one over the French, but Galthie’s side have been one of the top three in the world for several seasons now, and even without the wily Dupont, simply have too many guns for Wales.

France too will be hoping that should they be able to secure a bonus point for four tries, they will either leap frog England, or close the gap on Ireland should Andy Farrell’s charges slip up. But while winning will be all-important, they need to secure the extra point too to get up to 11 points. Then, a final game win in Paris against England would likely see a second place finish, bar the Scots shocking Ireland in Dublin.

So it’s all to play for France, so I’m backing them to win this one over a gallant Welsh team, and probably by 15 points or more and they look to bounce back.

Wales 13-28 France

2024 Six Nations results and Fixtures