Women's Six Nations: France v Wales match preview, coverage & key stats

BBC News

11-04-2025

Women's Six Nations: France v WalesVenue: Stade Amedee-Domenech, Brive Date: Saturday, 12 April Kick-off: 12:45 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Online, listen on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds
Overview
Wales travel to Brive looking to repeat the heroics of 2016, when they defeated Grand Slam-chasing France. Les Bleues are once again unbeaten so far in the championship, overcoming a gritty Ireland in the opening round before storming past Scotland.Wales, in contrast, are a team in transition, with new head coach Sean Lynn clearly needing time to get his systems in place.Wales did show promise in the narrow loss to Scotland before a sobering defeat to reigning champions England, with the defence a particular weakness.Wales have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with France's pack, but it is the host's dynamic backline which could set the two sides apart at Stade Amedee-Domenech.The statistics do not favour Wales either, they have not beaten France since the aforementioned victory at The Gnoll, with Saturday's hosts winning all eight meetings since.Previous scorelines also suggest Wales could be in for a difficult afternoon, with France winning by an average margin of 30 points in all of their home matches against Wales.Last year France ran out 40-0 winners at Cardiff Arms Park on their way to setting up a Grand Slam decider which they lost against England.It is hard to see the tournament panning out any different this year, but will this finally be the tournament where Les Bleues ditch their bridesmaid tag and claim a long-awaited seventh title? Not if Wales can help it.
Team news
France's coaches Gaelle Mignot and David Ortiz must have been happy with what they saw in La Rochelle as they have made just the one change to their starting XV.The experineced Emilie Boulard returns to the wing in place of Melisande Llorens Vigneras who drops out of the matchday squad.Bouldard made a notable impact in the comeback win against Ireland, with 73rd-minute introduction helping France score three late tries.Prop Assa Khalfaoui is named on the bench, while back-rower Romane Menager re-joins the squad after a stint with France Sevens.Similarly, Wales have only made minor changes, with Lynn continuing to show faith in his players.An ankle injury to Lleucu George forces a change at fly-half, with Kayleigh Powell moving in from the centre to cover her usual position.Courtney Keight is drafted in to partner the skipper Hannah Jones and could provide some much needed physicality in the midfield.Like France, Wales have opted for a six-two split on the bench, which makes room for a fit again Natalia John, while Sian Jones is preferred to Meg Davies as the replacement scrum-half.Fellow scrum-half Ffion Davies is no longer available after announcing that she was leaving the Welsh Rugby Union with immediate effect after learning her contract would not be renewed this summer.Last year's tournament top tackler Alex Callender remains a big miss through injury, although could return next week for Ireland, while Alisha Butchers has been declared "not medically fit".
View from the camp
Wales head coach Sean Lynn: We took a lot of learnings from the England game. I realised that England took us out of our comfort zone and I need to start taking these girls out of their comfort zones in training. The intensity last week was some of the best we've trained at.We know France is going to be a hostile environment and we will enjoy that experience. The performance is what I'm going after, having that intensity and putting France under pressure. Everything is about making sure we're improving each game that we're playing and we're looking to build within this campaign.Wales captain Hannah Jones: Week by week, we're just trying to make little improvements in certain areas.We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain [against France], we're probably the underdogs going into this game. It will be nice to play under a French crowd, I quite like the hostile environment, it's fun to play, but the focus is on us and the rugby will come. If we start like the first 10 minutes we played against England, the French crowd will turn and we'll have that support, and obviously we'll have our travellers coming from Wales.
Match stats
FranceAt home, France have not lost to any team other than England since 2003, a run of 42 straight victories.France have made more offloads (22) than any other team after two rounds of action and have moved the ball wide less often than any other side – just 4% of their plays have gone wide.Morgane Bourgeois has scored 32 points, more than double any other player so far in the championship. She has landed 11 of her 12 goal kicks, contributing 27 points from the tee.WalesWales have lost eight of their last Six Nations 10 games, with their only wins coming against Italy (2023 and 2024).Wales have the lowest gainline success rate (57%) and the lowest tackle evasion rate (11%) in the championship so far.Wales' Abbie Fleming has won more jackal turnovers (three) than any other player in the championship to date. Team mates Gwenllian Pyrs and Jasmine Joyce-Butchers are two of just nine players to have won two jackals so far.
Line-ups
France: Morgane Bourgeois; Kelly Arbey, Marine Menager (co-capt), Montserrat Amedee, Emilie Boulard; Carla Arbez, Pauline Bourdon-Sansus; Yllana Brosseau, Manon Bigot, Rose Bernadou, Manae Feleu (co-capt), Madouddou Fall-Raclot, Charlotte Escudero, Seraphine Okemba, Teani Feleu.Replacements: Elisa Riffonneau, Ambre Mwayembe, Assia Khalfaoui, Kiara Zago, Axelle Berthoumieu, Lea Champon, Oceane Bordes, Lina Queyroi.Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Courtney Keight, Carys Cox; Kayleigh Powell, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Jenni Scoble, Abbie Fleming, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Georgia Evans.Replacements: Kelsey Jones, Maisie Davies, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Alaw Pyrs, Bryonie King, Sian Jones, Nel Metcalfe.