Six Nations 2023: Wales hope to finish campaign with Paris surprise

So the traumatic and turbulent 2023 Six Nations journey for Welsh rugby lastly finishes in Paris.

Now Wales discover themselves in France, the vacation spot for the World Cup later this 12 months.

On the Stade de France on Saturday, Warren Gatland’s aspect have the possibility to log off this competitors with one thing to construct on for when Wales return for the worldwide event in September.

The principle concern the guests face is that that hosts France are ranked quantity two on the earth and underlined their standing in a document 53-10 demolition of England at Twickenham final weekend.

All the pieces factors to a house win. Wales must show in any other case.

No Gatland bounce

It’s truthful to say the Gatland homecoming has not lived as much as the romantic expectations of some after he determined to return for a second stint in cost, three years after he left.

It was maybe foolhardy to hope for, not to mention anticipate miracles after a lacklustre 2022 beneath Wayne Pivac that yielded in solely three wins in 12 video games which included residence defeats in opposition to Italy and Georgia.

Gatland took over from his fellow New Zealander and an optimistic public have been hoping for a direct elevate. What they’ve acquired is extra of the identical.

It started seven weeks in the past with a thumping residence loss to Eire earlier than a document defeat in opposition to Scotland at Murrayfield seven days later.

Then got here the troubled build-up forward of the England sport in Cardiff wherein the gamers threatened to not play due to a dispute over skilled participant contracts all through the Welsh sport.

The Principality Stadium match went forward, however one other defeat ensued earlier than the one relative excessive of the marketing campaign to this point with a hard-fought win over Italy in Rome.

This stopped the potential for slipping exterior the world’s high 10 for the primary time and prevented a primary Six Nations clear sweep of defeats in 20 years.

Now the eye turns to upsetting the rampant French on residence soil.

Six Nations swansongs?

Following that first welcome Six Nations win on the seventh try, Wales based mostly themselves in Good as they aimed to keep away from the “goldfish bowl” of Welsh rugby.

The gorgeous French Riviera has now been swapped for the journey north to Paris, thought to be one of the charming cities on the earth.

In the intervening time strolling across the metropolis you may not recognise that description with baggage of garbage piling up on the streets.

The French protesters say they’re putting for higher phrases and situations. One thing the Wales squad have additionally been battling for lately.

One of many most important sticking factors for the French public is the retirement age is trying to be raised from 62 to 64.

Gatland has his personal dilemmas in how you can take care of a few of his senior servants, who’ve grow to be Wales stalwarts over the past decade.

The Wales coach flagged the tip of an period for Wales in Paris on Saturday by predicting “as much as eight” gamers will probably make their closing Six Nations appearances.

Just below half of Gatland’s beginning line-up and replacements to sort out France are aged 30 or over. The beginning aspect will boast greater than 1,000 caps when the sport kicks off at Stade de France.

Wales will look to make it a memorable day for quantity eight Taulupe Faletau, who turns into his nation’s eighth cap centurion.

Recalled trio Alun Wyn Jones, George North and Dan Biggar are already members of that unique 100 membership. Captain Ken Owens, scrum-half Rhys Webb, flanker Justin Tipuric and Leigh Halfpenny will even be contemplating what’s going to occur after the World Cup.

Whereas the bulk ought to have key roles to play on the World Cup later this 12 months, long-term planning after that can proceed, with or with out a number of the modern-day legends.

They deserve a becoming finale within the Six Nations event. Whether or not that can transpire stays to be seen.

Evaluate and distinction

Wales gamers and coaches have acknowledged no person expects them to win in France this weekend.

Gatland’s aspect may need defeated Italy, however Les Bleus within the forecast Paris sunshine present a totally totally different proposition.

France have gained 4 video games in a row in opposition to Wales, and are contemporary from that mesmeric show in opposition to England.

A bonus-point victory for Fabien Galthie’s aspect would maintain their title hopes alive, though Eire stay odds-on favourites for the Grand Slam after they host England later within the day.

One look on the Six Nations desk reveals all, with France having scored 16 tries and 133 factors in 4 video games.

They’re joint-top of the attempt chart with leaders Eire, and have amassed extra factors than another group.

Wales, in distinction, can mirror on simply seven tries and the event’s worst factors distinction.

Defensively, solely Italy have conceded extra tries than Gatland’s aspect, so the whole lot factors to Les Bleus dominating.

Whereas the bookmakers are unlikely to offer Wales the slightest of glances relating to an away win, the guests can maybe take coronary heart from current performances within the French capital.

They’ve gained on three of their final 5 Six Nations visits to Paris and the losses have been by simply two factors on every event, suggesting it was not a venue they encountered an excessive amount of bother with throughout Gatland’s earlier stint.

So much has modified. Since Gatland left after the 2019 World Cup, France have gained a Six Nations Grand Slam and toppled New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Eire in Paris.

In addition they have the world’s greatest participant in captain and scrum-half Antoine Dupont and defence coach Shaun Edwards of their ranks.

Gatland and Edwards have been a dynamic double act that introduced success to Wasps and Wales for nearly 20 years. Now they discover themselves on opposing sides. One other important sub-plot.

Striving for choice consistency

Twenty-six choice modifications and greater than 30 gamers utilized in 5 video games would recommend Gatland is struggling to decide on his greatest aspect.

One of many hallmarks of Gatland’s first spell in cost was his consistency and ability in choosing the right group and infrequently sticking together with his tried and trusted.

That was a part of his Midas contact. Gatland can have the summer time to attempt to show he has not misplaced that.

Solely Owens, wing Josh Adams and Adam Beard have began each sport on this marketing campaign and centre, again row, entrance row and half-back mixtures have been chopped and altered,

The countdown to France 2023 continues, and new gamers have emerged in centres Mason Grady and Joe Hawkins, wing Rio Dyer, lock Dafydd Jenkins and flanker Jac Morgan.

Gatland will hope hooker Dewi Lake and lock Will Rowlands can recuperate and are available into consideration whereas he will certainly welcome centre Johnny Williams’ current return for Scarlets.

Whether or not Wales have sufficient power in depth and ample high quality to problem the elite is questionable. But it surely ought to be reasonable to anticipate improved showings throughout World Cup warm-up video games in August and the event.

That’s for 5 months time. With ongoing turmoil within the skilled sport, many Welsh followers cannot look ahead to this Six Nations competitors to finish and would not have the optimism trying ahead to that World Cup event.

Possibly, if Gatland’s Wales can produce a shocking finale in France to finish an underwhelming marketing campaign, that would begin to change. How Welsh rugby wants it.