Magnificent Welsh defence shocks France

Wales women earned their first win over France since 2008 with a battling defensive performance in a narrow victory in Neath.

In a game where France dominated possession, an almost faultless Welsh defensive performance gave the home team a memorable win in front of 3,000 increasingly vocal spectators in Neath.

The crowd was barely in its seats before they were out of them again, as within almost from the kick-off a Welsh move ended with full-back Dyddgu Hywel who sped past her marker on an arcing run from the 22 to score in the corner.

France were nearly back in the game within minutes when a great cross kick found winger Caroline Boujard in acres of room, but she was just unable to gather the ball. However, France were soon on the scoreboard when Safi N'Diaye levelled after 15 minutes with a pushover try from a French scrum.

This was a tactic that the French used repeatedly, but it was significant that this was the only occasion when the Welsh defence faltered. For much of the rest of the half the French went through phase after phase, but simply could not breach the red wall.

When Wales broke they set up some great chances, and nearly regained the lead when Wilkins pushed a 30-metre penalty wide for Wales, but the French forwards soon reasserted control, and Wales continued to hold them out. Twice they crossed the line, but twice they were held up.

Welsh lock Shona Powell-Hughes was yellow carded just before the break, and in her absence France took the lead when Audrey Abadie was on target with a simple 45-minute penalty - her fourth shot at goal.

With Powell-Hughes now back the thin red line continued to hold, looking for its chance. This came in the move of the match when wing Bethan Dainton saw a gap and raced forward. With the French defence still disordered the ball moved wide to Elen Evans on the left who sent Megan York charging down the touchline for a memorable score.

After that it was business as usual with wave after blue wave crashing against the Welsh line throughout the final quarter. Replacements for both sides had no effect on the story, and when time ran out it was Elinor Snowsill who kicked into touch to start the celebrations.

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With two rounds to go the 2016 Six Nations can still go to England, France or Wales. England are unbeaten and lead the Six Nations - but they still have both Wales (and home) and France (away).

An England win against Wales at the Stoop in the next round will not guarantee the title, so long as France win in Scotland - the title will still go down to a Friday evening in Brittany.A Welsh win at the Stoop would take three teams into the final weekend with hopes of the title, with Wales hosting to Italy two days after France v England knowing what they would have to do to win a first Six Nations.

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Wales women (5) 10Tries: Dyddgu Hywel, Megan York

France women (5) 8Tries: Safi N'Diaye Pens: Audrey Abadie

Wales:1 Catrin Edwards (Scarlets/ Llandaff North), 2 Carys Phillips (Ospreys/ Skewen), 3 Megan York (Dragons / Ynysddu), 4 Rebecca Rowe (Dragons / Richmond), 5 Shona Powell-Hughes (Ospreys / Skewen), 6 Rachel Taylor  (Dragons / Caernarfon - Captain), 7 Sian Williams (Worcester / Dragons), 8 Sioned Harries (Whitland/Scarlets); 9 Keira Bevan (Ospreys/ Skewen), 10 Elinor Snowsill (Dragons / Bristol), 11 Elen Evans (Scarlets / Caernarfon) 12 Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys / Llandaff North), 13 Hannah Jones (Scarlets / Penybanc),  14 Bethan Dainton (Bristol / Dragons), 15 Dyddgu Hywel(Scarlets / Pontyclun)Replacements:16 Amy Price (Ospreys/ Skewen), 17 Cerys Hale (Dragons/ Pontyclun), 18 Amy Evans (Ospreys / Skewen), 19 Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys/ Skewen), 20 Alisha Butchers (Scarlets/ Penybanc), 21 Jenny Hawkins (Scarlets / Llandaff North), 22 Kerin Lake (Ospreys/ Skewen), 23 Adi Taviner (Ospreys/ Skewen)

France:1 Lise Arricastre (Lons); 2 Gaëlle Mignot (Montpellier); 3 Julie Duval (Ovalie Caennaise); 4 Audrey Forlani (Blagnac -Saint Orens); 5 Céline Ferer (Bayonne); 6 Pauline Rayssac (Montpellier); 7 Laetitia Grand (Lons); 8 Safi N’diaye (Montpellier); 9 Yanna Rivoalen (Lille –Metropole RC Villeneuvois); 10 Audrey Abadie (Blagnac -Saint Orens); 11 Laura Delas (Tarbes); 12 Elodie Poublan (Montpellier); 13 Lucille Godiveau (Bobigny); 14 Caroline Boujard (Montpellier); 15 Julie Billes (Montpellier)Replacements:16 Agathe Sochat (Stade Bordelais ASPTT); 17 Arkya Ait Lahbib ; 18 Romane Menager (Lille –Metropole RC Villeneuvois); 19 Julie Annery (Bobigny); 20 Laure Sansus (Stade Toulousain); 21 Camille Imart (Stade Toulousain); 22 Coralie Bertrand (Stade Toulousain); 23 Patricia Carricaburu (Lons)