France run in eight tries to keep Grand Slam hopes alive with dominant win over Wales

Emilien Gailleton, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Fabien Brau Boirie, Matthieu Jalibert, Julien Marchand, Theo Attissogbe (2) and Charles Ollivon all crossed in a classy win.

Thomas Ramos added 14 points off the tee as Les Bleus moved to the summit of the standings after Round Two, sitting above second-placed Scotland on nine points.

Wales crossed for a try in each half through Rhys Carre and Mason Grady but the gulf in class was evident throughout as Steve Tandy's outfit fall to yet another defeat.

France came out of the traps with incredible intent and crossed inside two minutes when Gailleton finished off a short-side break started by Antoine Dupont and involving Attissogbe, the centre taking the last pass from Ollivon. Ramos added the extra points and it was a nightmare start for Wales in front of their passionate supporters.

Les Bleus continued to press hard in the early stages and made it a 12-point buffer on 11 minutes, this after Jalibert spotted Bielle-Biarrey on the left wing for a score.

While Ramos was strangely unsuccessful with the conversion attempt, he made no such mistake four minutes later when Brau Boirie crossed for a try on his international debut. That attack was started by the ruthless Bielle-Biarrey from a kick return and Jalibert's pace compounded the damage before the young inside centre dived over.

It was looking like a procession until Wales got a much-needed score following the restart, Carre eventually barging his way over for a seven-pointer that lifted spirits.

That crossing from the prop appeared to knock France off their rhythm and a spell of missed opportunities would follow as the game moved over the half-hour at 19-7.

France then had a try chalked off on 31 minutes when wing Attissogbe was correctly pulled by the TMO for being in front of Dupont when he dropped a kick over the top.

But the Six Nations holders would still have one further try on the board in Cardiff going into the dressing rooms as a mis-hit kick from lock Adam Beard after a turnover was punished by the lethal visitors, Attissogbe again involved before finding fly-half Jalibert for his side's fourth score of the afternoon, making it 26-7 at the turnaround.

Like in the first period, France started the second 40 in similar style as they picked up a converted try through Marchand out wide, this time through the driving maul.

The lead grew further on 49 minutes when Bielle-Biarrey, Ramos and Attissogbe combined and this time the latter would get his try, Ramos adding the two for 40-7.

Attissogbe's second would arrive soon after as he was found in acres of room by another Jalibert cross-kick and with Ramos on target again the margin was up to 40.

The floodgates were officially open and Ollivon was next to cross, finishing a spell of phases that was started from the restart by replacement Baptiste Serin's break.

But credit to Wales as they dug in and kept France pointless for the final 19 minutes, in fact scoring their second through Grady to give them positives to work with. 

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