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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Your support makes all the difference.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.
73 mins: Gabrillagues comes rampaging through the breakdown and clatters into Tomos Williams, handing Wales a penalty in the process for taking out the nine. Dupont and Slimani take their leave of absence as Emerick Setiano and Baptiste Serin come on, and Biggar rages at the touch judge for not giving him as many yards for the kick to touch as he wanted. It's all going on!
74 mins: Oh what's happened there?! France have the put-in, but just like their last scrum, they decide to go with no No 8 and the ball is loose. The Welsh back-row swarm around the ball and it's ripped into the air, with Tiruic the man who claims it. He's stopped short but Ross Moriarty is on hand to pick and go and touch down! Biggar adds the extras, and Wales LEAD 20-19!
78 mins: This is crazy, with minutes to go and the game in the balance, fans are flooding for the exits, given last night's long delays in getting out of the stadium and the fact that Japan and South Africa kicks off at 11:45am BST.
78 mins: Wales win an important penalty after the French collapse the scrum just inside their half, and Biggar is able to find touch inside the 22. Had Leigh Halfpenny been brought on, he could definitely have gone for goal from there, but as it is he's sat on the bench and Wales will go for the try.
80 mins: The Welsh pack makes little progress, but it doesn't matter one bit. Williams passes back to Biggar, he boots the ball into touch. Peyper nervously checks the watch. He asks if it's time...it is!
FULL-TIME: WALES 20-19 FRANCE
WALES REACH THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE RUGBY WORLD CUP!
Full-time: What a ridiculous finish to a ridiculous match. France were brilliant, at times unstoppable, but the sheer madness of Sebastien Vahaamahina left his side with just that little bit too much to do. His horrific elbow to the face of Aaron Wainwright was rightly punished in the harshest way, and he can expect a lengthy ban to boot. But the real agony comes in sitting at the side of the pitch, watching his teammates collapse to the turf in heartbreak, and knowing that had he not got himself sent off, they'd probably be in the semi-finals.
But fair play to Wales, they ground it out and they looked like a side that didn't know it was beat. The red card was important for sure - and it's fair to say the French beat themselves - but Wales are through to the semi-finals and that's what matters.
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