France resoundingly beat Wales, but lose Six Nations title to Ireland
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Defending champion France completed its Six Nations campaign by scoring five tries in an entertaining 41-28 win against Wales, but it wasn’t enough to retain the title as Ireland beat England 29-16 later Saturday to clinch a Grand Slam.
France got the attacking bonus point it needed to move one point ahead of Ireland before its game against England in Dublin. But Fabien Galthié’s side needed No. 1-ranked Ireland to lose without collecting a defensive bonus point.
Ireland beat France 32-19 last month — a result that ended France’s 14-game winning streak and also shifted the momentum Ireland’s way.
So there was no Grand Slam repeat for France, but a party atmosphere still prevailed on Saturday afternoon at Stade de France.
Fireworks went off after the game to celebrate another Six Nations where Galthié’s side showed an abundance of attacking flair and thrilled rugby fans with some spectacular tries.
Prolific right winger Damian Penaud grabbed two against the Welsh and fullback Tomas Ramos was perfect with his kicking as Les Tricolores took their tournament try tally to an eye-watering 21 — compared to 20 for Ireland.
“We can be proud of ourselves after this tournament, although we can have a lot of regrets about the match in Ireland,” star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont said. “We feel that our attacking potential is still growing.”
England was reeling from last weekend’s 53-10 win loss to No. 2-ranked France for its third heaviest defeat ever, but clearly wounded from that humiliation it played with great determination even with a player sent off late in the first half.
Wales started strongly and took three attacking lineouts over penalties, scoring off the third when scrumhalf Rhys Webb pinged a quick pass to center George North, who went over for a converted try.
It was North’s 23rd in the…
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