France v Wales LIVE: Six Nations 2025 result and reaction as Les Bleus thump outclassed visitors
France 43-0 Wales: The returning Antoine Dupont orchestrated a ruthless first-half display from the tournament favourites as Warren Gatland’s men had their losing streak extended
France and Wales kicked off the Six Nations under the Friday night lights in Paris and another thrilling edition of rugby’s greatest annual championship begun with Les Bleus routing their outclassed visitors 43-0.
Warren Gatland’s side are winless since the 2023 World Cup having gone the entirety of 2024 without Test success, and never looked like breaking that duck in Paris despite a promising first 10 minutes. After that period, France stepped things up and ran riot against their young opponents.
The hosts welcomed back captain Antoine Dupont after his absence was keenly felt last year and the world’s best player proved exactly why he has that title with a scintillating first-half display that saw him directly assist three of the four tries in the opening 40 minutes.
Les Bleus ran in three more tries after the break but didn’t enjoy a perfect evening as Romain Ntamack was sent off late on for a reckless hit to the head of Ben Thomas, meaning he may well miss the next couple of games for Fabien Galthie’s side as they chase just a second tournament triumph since 2010.
Relive all of the action from the opening clash at the Stade de France in our live blog below:
France 14-0 Wales, 27 mins
You don’t like to see this. Owen Watkin in a lot of pain and the stretcher comes on. He eventually gets up but is helped off the pitch and looks in serious discomfort.
The 21-year-old fly half Dan Edwards on for his debut. Welcome to the big leagues, kid... Ben Thomas moves out to his more natural position of 12
France 14-0 Wales, 26 mins
Better from Wales, a couple of bruising carries and they’re up towards the French 22. Tomos Williams thumped backwards though.
Ben Thomas then goes for a chip over the top but it’s aimless and easily claimed by Ramos. A waste from the 10
TRY! France 14-0 Wales (Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 23 mins)
France are hitting their straps now and it’s their other winger, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, with the score this time.
They surge forward with intent and Ramos creates it with a two-handed chest pass as he runs across the field, finding Bielle-Biarrey for the simple run-in. Ramos conversion and Les Bleus are in complete control.
France 7-0 Wales
Antoine Dupont is so good he now seems to be rehearsing his try-scoring plays. Minutes after a cross-kick landed on green grass with not a teammate in sight, the scrum half nails the skill again to land one in the hands of Theo Attisogbe, this time reading from the same script. A first try for Attisogbe, whose time in the side may be brief with hope that Damian Penaud might be back fit for England next week.
France 7-0 Wales, 20 mins
Damian who? France apparently not missing the injured Penaud as Attisogbe steps in perfectly, although that try was all about Dupont. Showing exactly wht he’s the best player in the world.
How will Wales respond?
TRY! France 7-0 Wales (Theo Attisogbe, 18 mins)
France go wide to Bielle-Biarrey but Wales scramble and hold for now. France still five meres out, penalty coming...
A free play and they make it count in style! It’s sumptuous by Dupont as he picks the ball at the base, runs backwards and lofts a perfect cross-field kick into the arms of a sprinting Theo Attisogbe who can dot down on the right wing. Sublime!
Ramos adds the touchline conversion. France lead by seven
France 0-0 Wales, 17 mins
Wales in trouble in their own 22 as a French counter-ruck has them battling to retain the ball. The clearance barely makes it out of the 22 and this is a great foundation for France.
Alldritt with a powerful carry into the 22, inch by inch they’re getting closer. Atonio takes them five metres out and Barassi has a dart. They’re nearly at the line...
France 0-0 Wales, 15 mins
Wales proving themselves a right nuisance here and a dink over the top causes more issues as Rogers claims it.
But France force them backwards and Dupont blitzes out of the defence, gets in Tompkins’s eye-line and the ball hits the floor. Boudehent hacks on and the flanker looks to be winning the foot race for the ball near the line but as he tries to dive on it, he knocks forward. Wales survive.
France 0-0 Wales, 13 mins
Wales win the scrum and this is a chance to get some points. Decent carry on a nice line by Rogers but eventually, France win the turnover at the ruck and can clear.
Good defence by the home side.
France vs Wales
A Mexican wave inside ten minutes is perhaps more a reflection of an impatient crowd than a game that is livening up quite nicely. Wales have scrambled effectively on a couple of occasions defensively, and have painted some nice initial shapes in attack; France are clearly keen to play but just haven't quite got their accuracy right yet.
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