France vs Wales live score, updates and highlights as Les Bleus make last stand to retain Six Nations title

Wales head to Paris to close out their Six Nations campaign, having picked up their first win of the tournament in Rome last time out, against a France side who simply have to win if they’re to have any chance of retaining their crown.

France had been playing like a completely different side to the one that stormed to the 2022 Grand Slam, but things finally clicked into gear against England at Twickenham, as Les Bleus recorded the biggest win the tournament has seen for many a year.

🇫🇷 Cymru vs Ffrainc encounters always see moments

🥂Remember Tips’ chip through leading to a Josh Adams score in 2021?#WelshRugby | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/BEn1LcZ58E

— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 14, 2023

Wales hardly laid a glove on Ireland, Scotland and England in their first three games but finally showed some composure and execution to defeat Italy in Rome. Three first-half tries gave the visitors a handsome lead at the break, and Taulupe Faletau’s second-half score sealed a bonus point.

France need a four-try bonus point to temporarily overtake Ireland in the championship race. If they can do that prior to the tournament’s final game Dublin, they’ve got a chance of retaining the title. However, Warren Gatland’s time in the Wales dugout has shown that they can never be written off, setting up an almighty showdown in Saint-Denis.

The Sporting News is following the match live, providing commentary and highlights below.

MORE: A history of the Six Nations: Records, trophies and greatest players

France vs Wales live score

Tries: 

Conversions: 

Penalties: 

France vs Wales live commentary, highlights

90 mins to kick-off: Hello, and welcome to our coverage of Super Saturday! It’s the final day of the 2023 Six Nations, and with Scotland against Italy already underway, France vs Wales in Saint-Denis could prove to be a key match-up in deciding the fate of the title.

𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗔𝗨 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗗𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 🏟️🥳

Qui sera là ? 😁 #FRAPDG #XVdeFrance @StadeFrance pic.twitter.com/gLTpreYpFD

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 14, 2023

France vs Wales confirmed lineups

Thomas Ramos is well on course to finish as the top points scorer in this year’s Six Nations, with his 68 so far more than double the 32 of nearest challenger Finn Russell. The full-back’s early try began an afternoon of free-scoring madness at Twickenham, and Ramos retains the 15 jersey in an unchanged back-line that also features fellow scorer Damian Penaud, who crossed for a late brace against England on the right edge.

France’s only changes come in the forwards, with boulder-esque prop Uini Atonio back at tighthead following suspension for a high tackle against Ireland. He displaces Dorian Aldegheri up front, with Romain Taofifienua coming into the second row alongside Thibaud Flament, who alongside flanker Charles Ollivon scored twice at Twickenham as Les Bleus ran riot.

😍💪 De retour au @StadeFrance dans 3 jours pour le dernier match de ce #SixNations2023 !#FRAPDG #XVdeFrance #NeFaisonsXV

Qui sera là ? 👇😉 pic.twitter.com/umPSdfexNF

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 15, 2023

France starting XV: Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Ethan Dumortier, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont; Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Uini Atonio, Thibaud Flament, Romain Taofifenua, Francois Cros, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt.

France replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Reda Wardi, Sipili Falatea, Bastien Chalureau, Sekou Macalou, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Melvyn Jaminet.

🤩 Voici 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙧𝙚 𝙚́𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙥𝙚 pour affronter le Pays de Galles pour le dernier match de cette édition 2023 du #SixNations 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
📅 Samedi 18.03 | 15H45
🏟️ @StadeFrance #NeFaisonsXV #FRAPDG pic.twitter.com/PoxkxAsjea

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 16, 2023

As he as for all four of Wales’ games in the tournament so far, Warren Gatland rings further changes for this final match, with Wales still able to finish as high as third if other results go their way. Louis Rees-Zammit will look to spring Welsh attacks from the back in place of the injured Liam Williams, with a physical centre partnership of George North and Nick Tompkins picked in an attempt to match the muscle of France in midfield.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 One of the greatest Welsh players of all time to make it 💯 for his country.#AwakenAnticipation | #FRAvWAL pic.twitter.com/lq7PPKmDAQ

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 16, 2023

Taulupe Faletau scored the bonus point-sealing fourth try for Wales in Rome, and the Tongan-born number eight will win his 100th cap for Wales in this fixture, with himself and fellow regular Justin Tipuric joined in the back-row by the returning Aaron Wainwright. Alun Wyn Jones is also back in the XV, and brings with him a world-record 157 caps of international experience, as Wales aim to finish a very difficult tournament on a high.

Wales starting XV: Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Wales replacements: Bradley Roberts, Gareth Thomas, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell, Tomos Williams, Owen Williams, Leigh Halfpenny.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 The @WelshRugbyUnion team to face France in Paris on #SuperSaturday⚡️#AwakenAnticipation | #FRAvWAL pic.twitter.com/Qw3NSMklGb

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 16, 2023

MORE: How France won the 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam

France vs Wales live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the major territories:

USA: All games are streaming live on Peacock and will also be available through fuboTV. However, they will also be repeated on CNBC on delay, usually by a couple of hours. 

Canada: All games are streaming live on DAZN.

UK: The tournament will be shown on BBC and ITV, with S4C also broadcasting in Wales. This match will be shown on ITV 1.

Australia: Six Nations coverage is provided by Stan Sport.

India: Premier Sports Asia is the main place to watch the Six Nations.

France vs Wales odds

As expected, Les Bleus are heavy, heavy favourites to win this Super Saturday clash in Saint-Denis, with none of our partner bookmakers appearing to give Wales a sniff. The shortest odds of a Welsh victory are BetMGM and Sports Interaction’s +900 and $9.00 offerings respectively, which are both long shots compared to France’s odds.

Both Sports Interaction and Neds have France as short as $1.04 to win, while Bet MGM’s -3300 is the reverse of their +3300 offer on a draw! Sky Bet’s odds are slightly longer but are still only 1/25, with anything other than a home win looking unlikely.