
Wales 12-54 France: Six Nations holders run riot in record Cardiff win
France laid down another statement of their Grand Slam intentions at the Six Nations as they thumped a hapless Wales side 54-12 at the Principality Stadium.
Having opened their defence of the title with a convincing 36-14 victory over Ireland, then watched potential contenders England lose to Scotland on Saturday, Les Bleus assumed full control of the table with their biggest-ever victory in Cardiff.
France only required 98 seconds to get their opening score, as Emilien Gailleton finished on the right following good work from Theo Attissogbe, then Louis Bielle-Biarrey crossed in the 10th minute.
The visitors refused to let up as they flooded forwards, and the pressure told once again when debutant Fabien Brau-Boirie went over, making it 19-0 after just 15 minutes.
Wales' weary home fans had something to celebrate thanks to Rhys Carre's 18th-minute try, but a fluffed kick from Adam Beard teed up Matthieu Jalibert to make it 26-7 by half-time.
The hosts had enjoyed some respite before that score, but Julien Marchand and Attissogbe added tries within the first eight minutes of the second half to put France 40-7 up.
Attissogbe doubled up in the 57th minute, and Charles Ollivon took France past the 50-point mark with their eighth try, though Wales did cut the deficit slightly in the latter stages as Louis Rees-Zammit's pass released Mason Grady to cross.
𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗜𝗥𝗘 des Bleus à Cardiff !
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 15, 2026
8 essais inscrits, du caractère et une deuxième victoire dans ce @SixNationsRugby !
Notre #XVdeFrance frappe fort en terre galloise.
#GALFRA pic.twitter.com/rSSuiTgqsL
Data Debrief: Another half-century shipped by Wales
France are the only team to win their first two games in the 2026 Six Nations, and though their margin of victory was not as comprehensive as their 43-0 win over Wales in Paris last year, it surpassed their previous 33-point record for a triumph in Cardiff (36-3 in 2000).
Les Bleus are the fourth team in five games under Tandy to score a half-century against Wales on their own turf, after Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa.
They have also won their last seven Six Nations matches against Wales, having lost seven of the teams' previous eight meetings, while Wales' losing run at home in the Championship now stands at 10 games.











