Women’s Six Nations: France vs Wales

France host Wales looking to set up a title decider against England in Round 4 in a pivotal TikTok Women’s Six Nations clash at the Stade des Alpes.

Les Bleues are three wins from three after victories against Italy, Ireland and Scotland, and sit second in the table behind England, who they play at Twickenham in Round 5 in front of what will be a world record crowd.

Wales though are also in the mix for the title, despite their 59-3 defeat to England last week, having beaten Ireland and Scotland, and will be hoping to apply the same levels of pressure they did against England last week for the full 80 minutes.

Les Bleues stormed to a 33-5 win last year, thanks largely to a Laure Sansus brace, and Wales will want to close that gap considerably this time around.

Team News 

France have made three changes from the side that defeated Scotland 55-0 last week, with a re-jig of the back row and two changes in the backs.

Romane Menager steps up from the bench, where she came on to score a try against Scotland, slotting back in at No.8 after recovering from injury.

Her return sees a shift in the back row, as Charlotte Escudero, who impressed with a powerful display against Scotland, moves to blindside flanker in place of Axelle Berthoumieu, and Gaelle Hermet remains at openside flanker.

In the backs, Alexandra Chambon starts in place of Pauline Bourdon, while Cyrielle Banet replaces Caroline Boujard on the right wing.

Wales have made seven changes from the side that lost against England in Cardiff last week.

Abbey Constable will make her debut at prop, joined by Carys Phillips and Cerys Hale in a completely new front row, while Kate Williams makes her first Test start at openside flanker.

In the backs, Ffion Lewis starts at scrum-half joining Elinor Snowsill at fly-half, who earns her 75th Wales cap.

Lleucu George comes into the side at inside centre, while Carys Williams-Morris replaces Lowri Norkett on the left wing.

Stat attack: 

France have conceded just 15 points this Championship, joint-best with England, at an average of five per match, Italy scored 12 of those points in Round 1, meaning Les Bleues have conceded just three points in their last two matches.

No player has more try assists than France scrum-half Pauline Bourdon’s five, she is missing from this weekend, how much will France miss her?

Wales kick the ball the least out of any other team from hand, kicking just 912.6 metres so far, compared to France, who kick the most, with 2,025.8 metres kicked so far.

Teams 

France:15 Emilie Boulard, 14 Cyrielle Banet, 13 Marine Menager, 12 Gabrielle Vernier, 11 Melissande Llorens, 10 Jessy Tremouliere, 9 Alexandra Chambon, 1 Yllana Brosseau, 2 Agathe Sochat, 3 Assia Khalfaoui, 4 Maelle Picut, 5 Audrey Forlani (C), 6 Charlotte Escudero, 7 Gaelle Hermet, 8 Romane Menager 

Replacements: 16 Elisa Riffonneau, 17 Ambre Mwayembe, 18 Rose Bernadou, 19 Manae Feleu, 20 Emeline Gros, 21 Margaux Duces, 22 Carla Arbez, 23 Maelle Filopon 

Wales: 15. Courtney Keight, 14. Lisa Neumann, 13. Hannah Jones (C), 12. Lleucu George, 11. Carys Williams- Morris, 10. Elinor Snowsill, 9. Ffion Lewis, 1. Abbey Constable, 2. Carys Phillips, 3. Cerys Hale, 4. Abbie Fleming, 5. Georgia Evans, 6. Bethan Lewis, 7. Kate Williams, 8. Sioned Harries

Replacements: 16. Kelsey Jones, 17. Gwenllian Pyrs, 18. Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19. Bryonie King, 20. Alex Callender, 21. Keira Bevan, 22. Robyn Wilkins, 23. Niamh Terry