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

England head coach Steve Borthwick previews Six Nations at launch in Rome

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 vs Wales LIVE

• The Six Nations begins with France thrashing Wales 43-0 in Paris
• The returning Antoine Dupont inspires Les Bleus with a mesmerising display
• Warren Gatland's visitors went the entirety of 2024 without a win and didn't come close to breaking that streak
• 78' - TRY! Alldritt burrows over from close range (FRA 43-0 WAL)
• 70' - RED CARD! Ntamack's shoulder catches Thomas in the head and he sees a yellow card upgraded to red (FRA 38-0 WAL)
• 68' - TRY! Ntamack cross-kick gathered by Gailleton to touch down (FRA 38-0 WAL)
• 55' - TRY! Marchand touches down at the back of a driving maul (FRA 33-0 WAL)
• 40' - TRY! Dupont sets up another try as Bielle-Biarrey gets his second (FRA 28-0 WAL)
• 35 - TRY! Magic from Dupont to dance through the defence and pass to Attisogbe for his second try (FRA 21-0 WAL)
• 23' - TRY! Ramos chest passes to Bielle-Biarrey for the score (FRA 14-0 WAL)
• 18' - TRY! Dupont lofts perfect kick to Attisogbe for the opening try (FRA 7-0 WAL)

[31 January 2025 22:04 · Luke Baker]

France 38-0 Wales, 75 mins

Blair Murray takes contact for Wales and tries to lay the ball off as he hits the ground but it rolls forward. The French defence seem to have them sussed today.

Five minutes to avoid being blanked

[31 January 2025 22:01 · Luke Baker]

RED CARD! France 38-0 Wales (Romain Ntamack, 73 mins)

Wales desperately trying to get some points on the board but it’s not happening in attack.

And we’ve got an announcement on the Ntamack tackle - that’s been upgraded to a red card and deservedly so. Thomas had already kicked the ball, he led with the shoulder, no attempt to wrap, no mitigation and so it’s a sending off.

[31 January 2025 21:59 · Luke Baker]

SIN-BIN! France 38-0 Wales, 70 mins

That’s not pretty from Romain Ntamack. He leads with the shoulder and it smashes into the head of Ben Thomas. I’m not entirely sure what the French 10 was trying to do there...

He gets sin-binned and it will be reviewed. That could easily be upgraded to a red, 20-minute or otherwise, for me.

[31 January 2025 21:54 · Luke Baker]

TRY! France 38-0 Wales (Emilien Gailleton, 68 mins)

There’s the try. After the exhibition stuff in the 22, Ntamack dinks a crossfield kick out to the left where Emilien Gailleton, just on as a replacement catches it on the bounce and strolls over the whitewash.

Le garrec is the kicker now but his touchline conversion attempt goes across the face of the posts.

[31 January 2025 21:52 · Luke Baker]

France 33-0 Wales, 67 mins

Wales turn the ball over and Josh Adams gets in the referee’s face shouting about a high tackle. Paul Williams doesn’t take kindly to that and marches France 10 metres further forward.

Les Bleus playing champagne rugby now! Prop Baille with a pass out the back of the hand and scrum half Le Garrec then does likewise with a long pass. They’re into the 22.

[31 January 2025 21:48 · Luke Baker]

France 33-0 Wales, 64 mins

Welsh maul defence holds this time. Baille with a great carry takes France within two metres but there’s a knock-on in contact, so Wales survive.

A scrum on their own five-metre line isn’t hugely appetising but they exit well and young fly half Edwards produces a monster clearance kick towards halfway. Good stuff by the young debutant.

[31 January 2025 21:46 · Luke Baker]

France 33-0 Wales, 62 mins

Perhaps understandably given the replacements and the scoreline, this match is in danger of petering out slightly as we enter the final 20 minutes.

Dee pinged for a croc roll on Marchand and France kick to the corner for another five-metre lineout

[31 January 2025 21:41 · Luke Baker]

France 33-0 Wales, 58 mins

Wales run 11 phases and Tompkins wriggles over the gain-line to keep them going forward. But France then win the ball at the breakdown.

A knock-on by Les Bleus though, so Welsh ball in the France half.

[31 January 2025 21:39 · Luke Baker]

TRY! France 35-0 Wales (Julien Marchand, 55 mins)

Marchand with a good throw. The maul gets rolling, rumbles over the line and it is indeed Julien Marchand who dots down at the back.

Simple game, rugby... Ramos misses for the first time from the tee and loses his perfect record. That was a straightforward kick by his standards, so he’ll be frustrated.

(AFP via Getty Images)

[31 January 2025 21:37 · Luke Baker]

France 28-0 Wales, 54 mins

Penalty to Les Bleus as Wales don’t release. The Welsh back on a final warning with the next offence being a yellow card.

Ntamack kicks to the corner. Lineout five metres out...