Zippy's Player Ratings - Wales vs France
By Zippy
April 10 2006
Player ratings for Wales in their last game of this year’s RBS Six Nations Championship, they lost the game 21-16 against eventual Championship winners France, for details read on.
15. Lee Byrne (6) – We have to remember this is his first season as a pro and he has gone beyond all expectations, I think that he will get better and be able to make an impact, a steady first half till he went off injured.
14. Dafydd James (7) – Better than his Ireland farce, kept the dangerous Rougerie quiet and made ground with ball in hand without ever looking a major threat.
13. Hal Luscombe (8) – Makes a difference when he catches the ball eh? Great game a real thorn for the French defence, notched a great try and will be thrilled with that.
12. Mathew J Watkins (6) – Not a 12 and filling a hole for his country and not being able to use his pace which is his major weapon, can’t see him playing 12 for Wales again but he has done a job.
11. Shane Williams (8) – They seek him here, they seek him there! Back to his best and a joy to watch, this will be the boost he needs.
10. Stephen Jones (8) – Taken as a given now he will put in an assured performance, showed some variety that Wales needed and our most important player.
9. Michael Phillips (9.5) – Best performance I’ve ever seen in a losing Welsh side, took the French back row to shreds time after time and put Wales on the front foot from the word go.
8. Alix Popham (7) – An aggressive busy performance and just what we needed.
7. Martyn Williams (7) – Ensured Wales had plenty of quick ball but marked down for not being on Michael Phillips shoulder.
6. Michael Owen (7) – Much better, Popham took the burden off him and he could play his natural game, looked more aggressive and was far more effective for it.
5. Robert Sidoli (5) – Got bullied a little at the line out and arguably partly at fault for the winning try, not the enforcer we need at lock.
4. Ian Gough (8) – Put in some massive hits and about as well as he can play, done a job for his country but we will hopefully have another option.
3. Adam Jones (8) – His best performance in a Welsh shirt, came through the Marconnet test and his work rate was fantastic.
2. Rhys Thomas (6) – I’m not really a fan but a solid enough afternoon.
1. Duncan Jones (8) – Probably our player of the tournament, big Dunc is one of the worlds top looseheads, big work rate and does his share of defending.
Subs of note:
Henson – King Gav is back, silenced his critics with an assured performance from full back, some great kicks and showed that come next season he will be a force.
France Stars:
No one really showed up to well to be honest, I still think Laporte is a long way off his best side and doesn’t really know how he wants to play.
Overall Comments:
Just what we needed really to finish off the championship and so many positives to take from it:
- We played with passion and looked hungry for it
- We showed variety and it made us more effective
- Certain players showed they may well be good enough in the future.
Still we lost and it is a massive disappointment after completely dominating the French for virtually the whole game.
As a team we can go forward and challenge at the world cup, we do need to have everyone fit. We also need to take our time about choosing the next coach and ensure it is the right man to take us to the world cup.
Off the field I hope the EGM goes ahead and Lewis and Pickering are forced to leave, that’d be a real result on the back of a soap opera of a season.
Until the next chapter….
Match Summary:
Tries: Luscombe
Cons: S Jones
Pens: S Jones (2), Henson
Tries: Szarzewski, Fritz
Cons: Elissalde
Pens: Yachvili (2), Elissalde
Wales: Byrne; James, Luscombe, Watkins, S Williams; S Jones, M Phillips (Blues); Dun Jones, R Thomas, A Jones; Gough, Sidoli; Owen (capt), M Williams, Popham.
Replacements: Davies, Jenkins, J Thomas, Daf Jones, A Williams, Robinson, Henson.
France: Castaignede; Rougerie, Fritz, Traille, Dominici; Michalak, Yachvili; Marconnet, Ibanez, De Villiers; Pelous, Thion; Nyanga, Bonnaire, Lievremont.
Replacements: Szarzewski, Milloud, Nallet, Magne, Elissalde, Valbon, Heymans.