France Women Beat Wales 38-7 in Six Nations Despite Unhurried Start

PARIS, France — France’s women’s rugby team overcame a shaky beginning to secure a commanding 38-7 victory over Wales at Stade Jean-Bouin on Saturday, extending their winning streak in the 2025 Women’s Six Nations Championship. The win keeps Les Bleues firmly in contention for the title as they prepare for a pivotal clash with England next week.

After conceding an early try and struggling to find rhythm in the opening 20 minutes, France responded with 31 unanswered points before halftime, turning a potential upset into a statement performance. Fly-half Mélissande Llorens orchestrated the comeback with two tries and a conversion, although winger Chloe Pelle added two scores of her own to highlight France’s attacking depth.

“We didn’t start the way we wanted,” said France captain Gaëlle Hermet after the match. “But we stayed calm, trusted our process and executed when it mattered. That’s what championship teams do.” Hermet, who led the team in tackles with 14, also scored France’s fourth try just before halftime to put the result beyond doubt.

Wales, ranked ninth in the world, showed flashes of resilience early on. Fullback Lisa Neumann broke through France’s defense in the 12th minute to score the visitors’ only try, converted by outside half Ellie Nicky Thomas. But France’s superior set-piece dominance and relentless pressure in the contact zone eventually wore down the Welsh side, which managed just 68 total meters after halftime.

The victory improves France to 3-0 in the tournament, matching Ireland and England at the top of the standings. With a points differential of +62, Les Bleues currently hold the edge in the tiebreaker race should they finish level on points. Their next test comes against reigning champions England at Twickenham on April 5 — a match likely to decide the Six Nations winner.

Key Moments That Shifted the Momentum

France’s turnaround began in earnest after Wales’ early lead. A turnover by Welsh scrum-half Kelsey Jones in midfield led to a break by center Emilie Boulard, who offloaded to Llorens for the equalizing try in the 24th minute. The conversion made it 7-7, and France never trailed again.

Just four minutes later, Llorens darted through a gap created by a dominant scrum to score her second try, giving France a 14-7 lead. Pelle then crossed in the 34th and 39th minutes — the latter coming after a lineout maul drove 10 meters before Pelle peeled off to score in the corner. Hermet’s try four minutes before halftime capped a 24-point burst that left Wales reeling.

The second half saw France rotate their squad liberally, giving debut caps to two uncapped players: lock Manae Feleu and flanker Cyrielle Banet. Both made immediate impacts, with Feleu winning three turnovers at the lineout and Banet making a try-saving tackle on Neumann in the 58th minute. Head coach Gaëlle Mignot used the window to experiment with combinations ahead of the England clash.

Statistical Highlights from the Match

France completed 89% of their passes and won 12 of 14 lineouts, showcasing their superiority in set-piece execution. They also dominated the gain line, making 14 clean breaks compared to Wales’ three. Llorens finished with 14 points (two tries, two conversions), while Pelle became the first French woman to score two tries in a Six Nations match since 2021.

Wales managed just 52% possession and were penalized 10 times for offside and obstruction — a symptom of their struggle to cope with France’s high-tempo approach. Thomas was Wales’ top scorer with seven points from a try and two penalties, but the team managed only one visit to France’s 22-meter zone after halftime.

Attendance at Stade Jean-Bouin was recorded at 8,200 — a solid crowd for a mid-tournament women’s international in Paris, though below the stadium’s 20,000 capacity. The match kicked off at 4:00 p.m. Local time (15:00 UTC), with clear skies and a light breeze aiding kicking accuracy.

What Which means for the Six Nations Title Race

With Ireland set to face Scotland later on Saturday and England due to play Italy on Sunday, the standings remain tightly contested. A bonus-point win for either Ireland or England could momentarily overtake France at the summit. Yet, France’s superior points differential gives them a buffer should they win their remaining two matches.

A victory over England at Twickenham would likely secure the championship for France, regardless of other results. Conversely, a loss would open the door for Ireland or England to capitalize if they win their final fixtures. The last time France won the Women’s Six Nations was in 2020 — a drought they are eager to end.

Looking Ahead: France’s Path to the Title

France’s next match against England on April 5 will be a rematch of last year’s final, which England won 24-19 in Grenoble. This year’s encounter carries added significance as both teams enter unbeaten. England, coached by Simon Middleton, has won five straight Six Nations titles and aims for a sixth consecutive crown.

Should France prevail, they will finish the home leg of their campaign with a perfect record before traveling to Dublin to face Ireland on April 26. A win in London would put immense pressure on Ireland, who host France in the final round and need a victory to keep title hopes alive.

For Wales, the loss drops them to 0-3 in the tournament, leaving them battling to avoid the wooden spoon. Their final two matches — against Italy in Parma and Scotland at home — offer opportunities to salvage pride and build toward the 2025 Rugby World Cup qualifiers later this year.

As the Six Nations enters its decisive phase, France has shown the resilience and depth needed to win silverware. After a slow start against Wales, they answered the question many were asking: Can Les Bleues handle adversity and still impose their will? Saturday’s performance suggests the answer is a resounding yes.

What do you think of France’s performance against Wales? Can they go on to win the Six Nations? Share your thoughts in the comments below and spread the word on social media.