5 talking points as Wales and France kick off 2025 Six Nations campaign in Paris
5 talking points as Wales and France kick off 2025 Six Nations campaign in Paris
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France and Wales kick off the 2025 Guinness Six Nations when they meet in Paris on Friday night. Les Bleus are overwhelming favourites to continue Wales’ long Test match losing run that began against 2023 World Cup quarter-final opponents Argentina. Here, the PA news agency looks at some key talking points ahead of the game.
It is nigh on impossible at the moment to talk about Wales without referencing a record run of 12 successive Test match defeats. Wales have not won a Test since beating Georgia at the 2023 World Cup, losing to Australia (three times), South Africa (twice), France, Fiji, Argentina, Italy, England, Scotland and Ireland. They are a 20-1 chance with most bookmakers to topple Les Bleus, which underlines a gulf in form and expectation, and Wales have also suffered six losses on the bounce against France. Wales’ Six Nations record in Paris is decent, with a 50 per cent success-rate from the last six visits, but it would represent a colossal upset if they pull it off this time.
Wales head coach Gatland has accepted publicly that change is likely if signs of improvement are not shown during the Six Nations. Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney said Gatland’s position was “on the line” as a review into Wales’ miserable Autumn Nations Series campaign commenced earlier this season. He was given the green light to continue, with another detailed WRU assessment planned after Wales finish the tournament at home to England in mid-March. Wales have won just six of 24 Tests since Gatland returned for a second stint in charge – his first spell delivered Six Nations titles, Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-final appearances – and the heat is on.
