Wales vs France, Rugby World Cup 2019 LIVE result: Latest reaction from today’s quarter-final
Follow the latest reaction from the Rugby World Cup quarter-final thriller between Wales and France
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Louise Thomas
Editor
Ross Moriarty scored the winning try as Wales exploited their numerical superiority to rally for a 20-19 victory over France in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday after French lock Sebastien Vahaamahina had been shown a red card.
In an echo of the semi-final meeting between the two nations in 2011 when France won after Sam Warburton was sent off, the Six Nations champions overhauled a nine-point deficit after Vahaamahina was dismissed for foul play in the 49th minute.
Replacement loose forward Moriarty crossed in the 74th minute to give Wales an eighth win in their last nine meetings with France and set up a semi-final against hosts Japan or South Africa, who play in Tokyo later on Sunday.
France had threatened to stage another sensational World Cup upset after a brilliant first-half display in which they scored three tries, including two in the first eight minutes, to lead 19-10 at the break.
Reuters
When is the match?
Wales vs France takes place on Sunday 20 October at Oita Stadium.
What time does it start?
The quarter-final kicks off at 4:15pm Japan Standard Time, which is 8:15am BST.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on ITV and the ITV Hub online from 7:30am BST. Highlights will be shown on ITV4 from 7pm.
Teams
Wales: Liam Williams, George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies, Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (c), Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Ross Moriarty, Tomos Williams, Rhys Patchell, Owen Watkin.
France: Maxime Medard, Damian Penaud, Virimi Vakatawa, Gael Fickou, Yoann Huget, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont, Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado (c), Rabah Slimani, Bernard le Roux, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Wenceslas Lauret, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: Camille Chat, Cyril Baille, Emerick Setiano, Paul Gabrillagues, Louis Picamoles, Baptiste Serin, Camille Lopez, Vincent Rattez.
Odds
Wales to win: 2/5
France to win: 11/4
Draw: 30/1
Prediction
Wales 25-10 France: Wales appear to have all of their big guns fully fit for the knockout clash, and if they can reach the levels that they achieved against Australia in the pool stage, they should reach the semi-finals for the third time in their history.
38 mins: Ntamack's effort strikes the upright for the second time today! Once again, it deflects away and Watkin is there to collect the ball, with Biggar subsequently finding touch. With Moriarty warming up and ready to come back on imminently, that's a big let-off for Wales.
40 mins: France are on the attack once again but Ntamack's ball to Fickou is loose, and Vakatawa has to clean up behind him. The ball is spilled forwards and Biggar cleans it up, but with the fly-half out of action Wales have no one to kick clear. Instead they try to run it from their own 22, and Ken Owens throws a speculative 30m pass aiming for Watkin, only for Penaud to intercept and offload to Guirado to go over. The whistle goes before he can touch down though as Peyper will bring play back for the knock-on, but that was quite lucky for the Welsh as there weren't many of them who knew they had an advantage.
Half-time: Wales 10-19 France
Half-time: What a superb half of rugby! The French have been superb so far this afternoon, and it's fair to say that they should be even further ahead than the nine points they currently had in the pocket. Wales's try came through an opportunistic moment for Wainwright, but by that point they desperately needed it as Vahaamahina and Ollivon had crossed to put the French 12 points clear.
Fly-half Romain Ntamack has been running the show so far, and together with Penaud they combined beautifully to send Vakatawa over for their third score of the half - and it could well have been more given that last-minute intercept.
The problem remains whether France can maintain that dominance in the second half. Warren Gatland will be delighted his side are only nine points behind given what they've faced so far, and while the French were brilliant three weeks ago against Argentina in the first half, they were dog-awful in the second.
Which France will we get after the break? If it's the one that turned up so far, Wales are in big trouble.
Half-time: The players return to the field and there's bad news for France, with, Ntamack off injured and Camille Lopez on at fly-half. 40 minutes to decide who's going home and who's going to Yokohama, here we go!
41 mins: France kick-off and the second half is underway!
43 mins: Wales make a better start to this half than they did last time out, but Penaud intercept's Ball's attempted pass over him and France get possession, followed by an immediate penalty when Francis comes into the ruck at the side. Lopez kicks for touch just outside the 22.
44 mins: France work the ball inso the middle of the park, allowing Lopez to drop back and go for the drop-goal. It's from more than 40m out though, and the ball drifts agonisingly wide right of the uprights.
46 mins: Lopez fields a Davies box kick and superbly spins away from the chasing North, before Vakatawa comes inside laterally and tries to find a space, to no avail. Dupont kicks for the corner and it's touched by Biggar, meaning Williams needs to stop this from going out, and he can only palm it into touch on the five-metre line.
France go for catch and drive, and Tipuric gives away the penalty for coming in at the side. France go to the corner again.
48 mins: France make slow progress towards the Welsh line, but as Dupont goes for the break, Peyper awards a penalty to Wales for Vahaamahina's arm being wrapped around the neck of Wainwright.
This is much worse than first thought. Replays show Vahaamahina has clearly elbowed him in the head. Peyper is in no doubt here. IT'S A RED CARD!
50 mins: So France have to survive 30 minutes a man down, and now they're without their captain as Guirado goes off for Camille Chat. Wales kick the penalty up to the 22 and they're smelling blood here.
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