The first ever Friday night 6 nations game. I travelled out to watch the match, my third visit to Paris since 2005. The pre-match pilgrimage involved a visit to the Maryland pub in St Denis near the stadium. This was a pub we found in 2005 that served cheap beer and wine. For the 2007 game we arrived just before match kick-off and did not have enough time to visit this good pub. Alot of people come to the stadium via the Metro and then head towards the stadium complex. There are a few beer tents around the stadium but the prices are expensive and the beer quality is poor. To find the Maryland pub and a street with a few others, head towards the Centre Ville exit as you come out of the Metro. This will take you onto a few streets with pubs, takeaways etc.
After some drinks at the Maryland we headed to the match. It was another 9 pm kick-off. The French TV broadcasters do like these late starts. Getting into the stadium was a bit of shambles. The entry to our gate didn't open until 20 minutes before kick-off, we were in a queue for about 15 minutes. Once inside we found our way to the top tier. Excellent seats and a good view. The Stade de France is a superb stadium once inside.
The game started and after the first ten minutes it was clear to see the home side were really up for the fight. Their forwards were putting in some big hits at the rucks. Wales were living off scraps and their big ball carriers weren't gaining enough ground. Against the general run of play Wales did craft a good opening try for Lee Bryne as the fullback found a way through. This marked the high point of the game for Wales and at one stage they were 13-3 up. Mid-way through the first half Mike Phillips kick a high ball and managed to hit the over head camera. In the last ten minutes France found even more fluency and some heavy pressure saw Dusautoir score to bring the points to 13-13 at half. In fairness France were much the better team in the first half but it was a shame Wales couldn't have taken a lead going into the break.
The second half was miserable viewing for Welsh fans. At the part of the stadium I was in people above us started throwing paper aeroplanes. It also took until the second half for the first mexican wave of the night to occur. It lasted about 2 and half full circuits of the stadium.
France were in total control of the game and denied Wales any ball to play with for large parts of the second half. Their pack was especially fearsome on the night and debut centre Bastareaud was having a fine game. Heymans scored France's second try and because of some missed French kicks Wales found themselves 21-16 down with 10 minutes to go. They rallied well in the last minutes of the game and came very close to scoring the crucial try. It would have been a dramatic finish, albeit an undeserved victory if the the conversion was kicked. The final whistle went and France won. The home side were excellent throughout.
It was a good game to watch live, though the second half was very one-sided. The atmosphere on the night was not as good as the 2005 and 2007 games. Perhaps that was because it was a Friday game, there were less Welsh supporters, and for alot of the French fans it had been a workday. Grand Slam dreams dashed. Time for Wales to bounce back in the next game.
My man of the match: Bastareaud. An accomplished debut.
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