By Kasey Rees
The 2025 Guinness Six Nations championship starts this weekend when Wales meet France in Paris on Friday night.
Under the lights, Friday nights have become a regular fixture in the tournament and where better to kick things off than Paris.
After finishing with the Wooden Spoon in last year’s Six Nations, Wales are looking to defy most predictions and get off to a winning start by breaking their 12-match losing streak.
There have been some memorable clashes between Les Bleus and Wales over the years and here is a reminder of some those classics.
“I am more optimistic about Wales’ chances than I was last autumn. I can see them being more competitive. Wales used to be very hard to beat, but that disappeared. I think that disappointed fans most.” | ✍️@samwarburton_
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— Times Sport (@TimesSport) January 26, 2025
2005: France 18 – Wales 24
I was 11-years-old, and can clearly remember the roar of excitement in my living room as Martyn Williams’ brilliance and a late penalty saw Wales snatch the win.
After two opening victories against England and Italy, Mike Rudduck’s men were heading for their first Grand Slam in 27 years and the magic that night in Paris kept them on course.
Dimitri Yachvili and Aurélien Rougerie scored two tries as the home side ran in at the break with a 15-6 lead.
But two poacher’s tries from Martyn WIlliams and a Stephen Jones’ late penalty saw Wales stun the locals to stay on course for the Grand Slam.
2008: Wales 29 – France 12
Wales were roaring towards their second Grand Slam in four years, and what a way to get it against France at home in the Millennium Stadium .
It was a brilliant, enthralling match, absolutely nail-biting as France showed they were not a team to be messed with as they drew level at 9-9 with an hour to go, following the sin-binning of Gavin Henson.
Thankfully for Wales, the footwork from Shane Williams to grab a loose ball and chip it under the posts to get the try was phenomenal.
Penalties from James Hook and Stephen Jones kept Wales in front. Then, witnessing Martyn Williams secure another try from a loose ball made it another occasion to cherish.
2013: France 6 – Wales 16
Wales ended an eight-match Paris losing streak, with a similar scoreline against France that led them to the Grand Slam in 2012.
A year later and Warren Gatland’s men were chasing back-to-back titles and their first victory at the Stade de France since 2005.
Leigh Halfpenny’s kicking boots and a Dan Biggar chip speciality for George North to score the only try of the match was a brilliant way to seal another win against the World Cup runners-up.
2019: France 19 – Wales 24
This was my favourite opening Six Nations match, featuring a fantastic comeback from Wales.
Warren Gatland’s side were 16-0 down going into half-time and most fans thought the game would end in defeat, but what happened next was unbelievable.
After France had dominated the first-half, nobody expected such a turnaround but two wonderful tries from George North and one from Tomos Williams were enough to stun the home supporters.
Wales’ win was the biggest comeback in Six Nations history as well as their biggest in any match.
2021: France 32 – Wales 30
I watched this game in the kitchen of my home and the final few seconds were torture.
Despite the disruptions caused by Covid lockdowns, Wales had won their first four matches and were on course for another Grand Slam, this time under the coaching of Wayne Pivac.
Wales opened up a 10-point lead with tries from Dan Biggar, Josh Navidi and Josh Adams. With a red card for France’s Paul Willemse, it looked enough to secure another Grand Slam.
But few could have anticipated Liam Williams and Taulupe Faletau would both be sent to the bin late in the match, meaning it was France who held a one-man advantage.
France then stole the game with a fantastic try from Brice Dulin to deny Wales the Slam in heartbreaking fashion.
987 Caps, 14 Grand Slam Winners . . . Wayne Pivac Says Wales Are Ready For French Test
