On Saturday, a total of 31 planes landed at Cardiff Airport from across France.
The Welsh Rugby Union had struggled to sell tickets to its own fans for this Six Nations clash but fortunately for them, an exodus of support from across the Channel arrived to cheer on the away side at Principality Stadium. Cardiff or Paris?
For most of the 80 minutes and even beforehand, it felt like the latter as a French invasion took hold. There was much for them to cheer. England’s Edinburgh implosion had already given the title hopes of Fabien Galthie’s side a significant boost, but the reality is France don’t need others to give them a helping hand.
‘La Marseillaise’ and ‘Allez Les Bleus’ rang around Welsh rugby’s amphitheatre as France ran riot without really having to get out of second gear.
Just 24 hours after England laboured in defeat by Scotland, France showed they can wield the scalpel and the axe as and when required.
They are utterly mesmeric at times.
Wales’ fall from grace continued on Sunday as they were thrashed 54-12 in the Six Nations
France were utterly mesmeric at times as they swept aside Wales with ease and confidence
Fans are voting with their feet – Wales struggled to sell tickets to its own fans against France
Given their on and off-field struggles, Wales were never realistically going to trouble their opposition. But even those who follow the dragon would have appreciated the sheer brilliance of Antoine Dupont and Co in full swing. Watching this France team is a real joy. It looks close to impossible that any team will be able to stop them retaining their title, with the only real outstanding question to come being whether or not they will end with a Grand Slam.
A crowd of 57,744 was announced by the WRU – the lowest for a Wales men’s Six Nations game at Principality Stadium. There were large swathes of empty seats and the lack of sales will be another financial blow to Welsh rugby at a time when money is already tight.
Apathy is rife in Wales’ national game amid a toxic atmosphere of bitter fighting as the governing body looks to bring an end to the existence of the Swansea-based Ospreys as part of its plan to move to three domestic teams. These are dark days in Welsh rugby and the trains into the city centre and pubs, usually heaving with fans, were eerily quiet. Supporters of both sides voted with their feet.
While many Welsh regulars were absent, the magnificent French fans travelled in huge numbers. French rugby is thriving at all levels and of course it is easier to follow a winning team, but the commitment of their supporters continues to set the standard.
Welsh great Sir Gareth Edwards was pitchside for this and pre-match, footage of his fellow former team-mate – the late JPR Williams – was shown on the big screen. One had to wonder what the legendary Edwards must make of his nation’s dramatic fall from grace. France’s fanatical fans were on their feet within just 98 seconds.
Their mercurial captain Dupont produced an outrageous pass, setting his team away for a try finished by Emilien Gailleton. It set the tone for some wonderful rugby.
While Wales were improved in terms of discipline and intent from the awful performance they delivered away to England, it was men against boys.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey was soon over for a trademark try and the wing’s stepping of Dewi Lake was pure theatre.
Even those who follow the dragon would have appreciated the sheer brilliance of Antoine Dupont (above) and Co in full swing – watching this France team is a real joy
There were large swathes of empty seats and the lack of sales will be another financial blow to Welsh rugby – but the magnificent French fans travelled in huge numbers for Sunday’s match
Fabien Brau-Boirie marked his Test debut with a French third.
At 19-0 down with only 16 minutes played, you feared the worst for Wales. But they didn’t cave initially, Rhys Carre crashing over. Ellis Mee worked tirelessly in defence and Louis Rees-Zammit was the one player capable of showing true international class.
But Welsh moments of joy were fleeting. Adam Beard’s bold attempt to kick went all wrong, handing a try to Matthieu Jalibert and in the second period, France ran riot.
The magnificent Bielle-Biarrey scythed through and past red shirts like a hot knife through butter and Julien Marchand and Theo Attissogbe added further scores, with Galthie cruelly bringing more misery by unloading a giant bench packed with even more power.
The one-way traffic continued. It seemed impossible, but the level of La Marseillaise went up another notch. You had to remind yourself this was a Wales home game.
From one supreme No 9 to another, Edwards applauded Dupont off the field as he was rested with greater challenges in mind.
Attissogbe and the hulking Charles Ollivon completed the rout and it was fortunate for Wales that the final 15 minutes turned into an end-to-end basketball-type match in which France took their foot off the gas. In the end, this went entirely as expected and it looks likely Wales’ winless Six Nations run will now extend into a third straight Championship.
To watch their current struggles leaves you with an overriding sense of sadness for what should be a great rugby nation.
Wales’ fall from grace has been as quick as it has been shocking, but they did grab the last score through replacement Mason Grady. For France, the emotions couldn’t be more different. No 10 Jalibert was named player of the match, but in truth the award could have gone to pretty much any of Galthie’s wonderful side.
His men play the game the way it should be played and the Test arena is all the better for their return to its top table.
