Men’s Six Nations opener: France v Wales
Venue: Stade de France
Date: Friday, 31 January
Kick-off: 20:15 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales & BBC Radio Cymru and S4C.
Tournament curtain-raiser in Paris
The 2025 Six Nations gets underway in the French capital tonight (Jan 31) as tournament favourites France welcome a struggling Wales side to the Stade de France.
Fabien Galthie’s French squad has shown significant improvement since his appointment in 2020, boasting a squad often described as a ‘golden generation’. However, their only silverware under his tenure remains the 2022 Grand Slam.
For Wales, the picture is markedly different. Warren Gatland’s men endured a torrid 2024, suffering a winless calendar year for the first time since 1937 and finishing bottom of the Six Nations table. They now seek to avoid an unwanted record—an unprecedented 13th consecutive Test defeat.
Yet, history offers a glimmer of hope. Wales have secured five victories in France during the Six Nations era, and a shock result in Paris could provide the perfect springboard for a revival.
Coaches’ Perspectives
France head coach Fabien Galthie: “It’s a long competition, yet also something of a sprint—like a 400-metre race. The opening match, no matter the opponent, is always special and demands both caution and motivation.”
Wales head coach Warren Gatland: “There’s more pressure on France due to the high expectations of their fans. They’re expected to play expansive rugby, score tries, and entertain. Sometimes that can lead to overplaying, particularly early on, which could present us with opportunities.”
Team News: France
France welcome back talismanic scrum-half Antoine Dupont, who resumes captaincy after a stint with the national sevens side. He partners Romain Ntamack, who returns to Test rugby after a 17-month injury absence.
Injury concerns mean Fabien Galthie is without key names, including wing Damian Penaud, centre Gael Fickou, and flanker Charles Ollivon. Theo Attissogbe replaces Penaud on the wing, while Matthieu Jalibert is left out of the matchday squad.
France XV: 15-Ramos; 14-Attissogbe, 13-Barassi, 12-Moefana, 11-Bielle-Biarrey; 10-Ntamack, 9-Dupont (capt); 1-Gros, 2-Mauvaka, 3-Atonio, 4-Roumat, 5-Meafou, 6-Cros, 7-Boudehent, 8-Alldritt.Replacements: 16-Marchand, 17-Baille, 18-Colombe, 19-Auradou, 20-Guillard, 21-Jegou, 22-Le Garrec, 23-Gailleton.
Team News: Wales
Wales retain experienced backs Josh Adams and Liam Williams but are without veteran number eight Taulupe Faletau.
Up front, Evan Lloyd and Henry Thomas earn their first starts, while Dafydd Jenkins, who captained Wales in last year’s Six Nations, returns at lock. In the backline, Ben Thomas gets the nod at fly-half ahead of Dan Edwards, who is set to make his debut from the bench. Tom Rogers, Freddie Thomas, and Blair Murray are also poised for their Six Nations debuts.
Wales XV: 15-Williams; 14-Rogers, 13-Watkin, 12-Tompkins, 11-Adams; 10-B. Thomas, 9-T. Williams; 1-G. Thomas, 2-Lloyd, 3-H. Thomas, 4-Rowlands, 5-Jenkins, 6-Botham, 7-Morgan (capt), 8-Wainwright.Replacements: 16-Dee, 17-Smith, 18-Assiratti, 19-F. Thomas, 20-Reffell, 21-R. Williams, 22-Edwards, 23-Murray.
Expert Analysis
BBC commentator Andrew Cotter believes Wales face a daunting task but insists all hope is not lost.
Seldom would Wales enter a Test match believing victory is beyond them, but winning in Paris would require an extraordinary performance. France, considered favourites for the title, possess enviable squad depth despite the absence of key players like Damian Penaud and Charles Ollivon. Their power and physicality in the pack will be a serious challenge for Wales.
However, this Welsh team has some quality. The back-row trio of James Botham, Jac Morgan, and Aaron Wainwright should compete well, while scrum-half Tomos Williams is in fine form. With the experience of Josh Adams and Liam Williams in the backfield, there is at least some reason for optimism—not just for this fixture but for the championship as a whole.
Key Talking Points
•. France’s expectations: With a talented squad and home advantage, Les Bleus are under pressure to deliver a statement performance.
•. Wales’ potential resurgence: Can Gatland’s side defy their recent form and cause an early tournament upset?
•. Return of Dupont and Ntamack: The half-back pairing could be pivotal in setting the tempo for France.
•. Debutants to watch: A number of fresh faces on both sides could make an impact in this opening clash.
Final Word
As the Six Nations kicks off, all eyes will be on the Stade de France. France are clear favourites, but if Wales can weather the early onslaught and capitalise on any French over-eagerness, an upset might just be on the cards.
France v Wales: Six Nations opener
