Welsh luck ran out but future looks much brighter

For some it could have been the ‘Lucky 13th’ Grand Slam, but in the end the luck ran out. Fair play to the French, they kept going and going and going and deserved their win in the end.

- SHANE WILLIAMS

But let’s not be too downhearted. The Slam was there up until the 82nd minute of the game and we scored three tries and 30 points in Paris. What might have been will forever be a dream, but what a magnificent game it was.

The title could still be ours if the Scots can do us a favour, but let’s just salute an incredible effort from Alun Wyn Jones’ side. They went toe to toe with the French in Paris and were almost good enough to deliver a knock-out blow.

The disallowed try and red card may have played its part in keeping Wales in the game, but how cruel was it to see the corner effort from Louis ReesZammit ruled out by a fraction of an inch.

This was very much a shot to nothing for Wayne Pivac’s team after their appalling 2020. Nobody gave them a prayer of coming near the top of the Six Nations table but what they showed in a breathless contest at Stade de France is they can still produce against the biggest rugby nations in the world.

When you concede a try within six minutes to the French in a game they have to win with a bonus point to stay on course for the title then you know you are in for a long night at the office. You get back into it with a try of your own and then concede again.

The character of this Welsh team shone through in the first quarter as they said anything you can do, we can do better. Twice the French hit the front, yet by the end of first quarter Wales were ahead and it was all square at the break.