France Crush Wales 54-12 in Record Six Nations Victory

Matthieu Jalibert stars as France dominates Wales

France beats Wales 54-12 in Six Nations, scoring eight tries and topping the table.

“We were a lot better than last week (a 48-7 loss to England) but there is still a lot to work on in our game...”

France put on a spectacular show in Cardiff, scoring eight tries and beating Wales 54-12 in their Six Nations Championship match. Matthieu Jalibert was the star of the game, putting in a masterful display at fly-half and helping France secure a record win.

This victory puts France top of the Six Nations table with 10 points, making them the only team to have won both of their matches so far. On the other hand, Wales is struggling at the bottom, having conceded a whopping 102 points.

Theo Attissogbe scored two tries, and Fabien Brau-Boirie made a try-debut as Wales suffered their 13th consecutive Six Nations loss. France's 54 points were their most against Wales, surpassing their 1998 win at Wembley.

France's win was their biggest in Cardiff, with 54 points scored. They've had only two wins in Wales' last 25 Tests, both against Japan.

“Very pleased with the ‌performance and that we got the bonus point,” France centre Emilien Gailleton said. “We had a lot of ball to carry, so we were pleased with that.”

Matthieu Jalibert was on fire, dictating France's attack with clever kicks and pinpoint accuracy, constantly keeping Wales' defense on their toes. His vision and skill made him the conductor of France's winning orchestra.

“We were a lot better than last week (a 48-7 loss to England) but there is still a lot to work on in our game,” Wales captain Dewi Lake said. “It is always a privilege to put this jersey on, that will never change.

“But morale comes from the scoreboard, the disappointment. We will be happier with what we put out on the field this week.”

France's tries were scored by Emilien Gailleton, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Matthieu Jalibert, Julien Marchand, and Charles Ollivon, showcasing their impressive handling skills and power that Wales' defense struggled to contain.

Wales has conceded over 50 points to several top teams in the past year, including England (68 points), Argentina (52 points), New Zealand (52 points), and South Africa (73 points), highlighting their defensive struggles.

Wales' defense needs work, with 31 missed tackles and a 68% tackle success rate. Coach Steve Tandy knows they struggle when defense falters, saying they're improving but “it's not where we want to be as a team.”

Wales' struggles continue, with only 19 points scored in two Six Nations games, including two tries against France scored by Rhys Carre and Mason Grady. The match against France saw a record-low attendance of 57,744 at the Principality Stadium, with a significant number of French fans in attendance. This drop in attendance is raising concerns for the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), as fans seem to be losing interest.

France with the big victory in Cardiff 🙌#GuinnessM6N #Since1883 pic.twitter.com/hvXkDJvCwl

— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 15, 2026

The low turnout is attributed to Wales' poor performance, including a 12-game Six Nations losing streak and internal conflicts within Welsh rugby. The WRU is trying to address the issue by giving away tickets and overhauling their ticket distribution system. 

“Ultimately it is our job to want to make people want to come ⁠and watch games,” Lake admitted. “We are a ⁠side that is not getting ‌results but we are growing as a team.”