France v Wales match preview, coverage & key stats
Men's Six Nations: France v WalesVenue: Stade de France Date: Friday, 31 January Kick-off: 20:15 GMTCoverage: Listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales & BBC Radio Cymru; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app; watch on ITV1 and S4C.
Overview
The 2025 Six Nations kicks off in Paris on Friday as tournament favourites France host struggling Wales at the Stade de France.The French have improved since head coach Fabien Galthie took charge in 2020, but despite possessing what many perceive to be a golden generation, their only title during that period is the 2022 Grand Slam.Wales collected the dreaded Six Nations Wooden Spoon last year and are desperate to avoid a record-extending 13th straight Test defeat.The visitors endured a bleak 2024, losing every game in a calendar year for the first time since 1937.But the Welsh have won five times in France during the Six Nations era, so this might just be the perfect place to turn that form around.
View from both camps
France head coach Fabien Galthie: "It's quite a long competition but it's also like a sprint, which is quite astonishing, so it's like a 400m race."For these reasons, the opening game - whoever you face - remains special, and one to be approached with caution and motivation."Wales head coach Warren Gatland: "I think there is more pressure on them because of the expectation from their fans. They expect them to go out there, throw the ball around, score tries and entertain everyone."Sometimes teams can go and overplay, particularly early on, try things and make mistakes and this gives you opportunities."
Team news
FranceAntoine Dupont returns from his sevens exploits to skipper the side and he partners Romain Ntamack at half-back – it's Ntamack's first cap for 17 months after recovering from a serious knee injury.Wing Damian Penaud is out with a muscle issue and is replaced by Theo Attissogbe. Jonathan Danty, Gael Fickou, Thibaud Flament Anthony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon and Reda Wardi are all absent and there's no place for fly-half Matthieu Jalibert in the matchday 23.France line-up: 15-Ramos; 14-Attissogbe, 13-Barassi, 12-Moefana, 11-Bielle-Biarrey; 10-Ntamack, 9-Dupont (capt); 1-Gros, 2-Mauvaka, 3-Atonio, 4-Roumat, 5-Meafou, 6-Cros, 7-Boudehent, 8-Alldritt.Replacements: 16-Marchand, 17-Baille, 18-Colombe, 19-Auradou, 20-Guillard, 21-Jegou, 22-Le Garrec, 23-Gailleton.WalesExperienced backs Josh Adams and Liam Williams are in but veteran back row Taulupe Faletau is not in the squad.Evan Lloyd and Henry Thomas earn their first starts in the front row, while Dafydd Jenkins, the 2024 Six Nations captain, is at lock. Ben Thomas is selected ahead of Dan Edwards at fly-half, with the latter set to win his first cap from the bench.Tom Rogers, Freddie Thomas and Blair Murray are set to make their Six Nations bows.Wales line-up: 15-Williams; 14-Rogers, 13-Watkin, 12-Tompkins, 11-Adams; 10-B. Thomas, 9-T. Williams; 1-G. Thomas, 2-Lloyd, 3-H. Thomas, 4-Rowlands, 5-Jenkins, 6-Botham, 7-Morgan (capt), 8-Wainwright.Replacements: 16-Dee, 17-Smith, 18-Assiratti, 19-F. Thomas, 20-Reffell, 21-R. Williams, 22-Edwards, 23-Murray.
Commentator's notes
Andrew Cotter: Seldom would Wales approach any Test match believing they could not win, but victory in Paris on Friday night would stretch the most vivid of Welsh imaginations.France are favourites for the overall title and their talent-rich squad is deep enough to cope with injuries to players such as Damian Penaud, Charles Ollivon and Gael Fickou. They also have an astonishing amount of power and weight in the pack which Wales have to try and live with.But it's not a bad-looking Welsh side. Their back-row of James Botham, Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright should compete well, Tomos Williams is in great form at scrum-half and the experience of Josh Adams and Liam Williams in the back-field will be vital to give them hope here and for the rest of the championship.
Match facts
Head-to-headFrance have won six successive Test matches against Wales.However, the Welsh have won five of their 12 Six Nations Tests in France; no other team has won as often on French soil.
FranceFrance have won the Six Nations once since 2010, securing the Grand Slam in 2022.They won only one of their three Six Nations Tests at home last year, drawing one and losing the other.Thomas Ramos kicked more goals (25) and scored more points (63) than any other Six Nations player in 2024.
WalesWales have lost 12 consecutive Tests, which is their worst ever run.They lost all five of their Six Nations matches in 2024 and went on to claim the Wooden Spoon.Wales could lose seven successive Six Nations games for the first time in 22 years.Warren Gatland will take charge of 150th Test as Wales head coach in Paris.
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