Wales flop as France run riot in front of empty seats

Wales suffered more Six Nations misery as France romped to a 54-12 victory in Cardiff.

- PHIL BLANCHE

Wales 12

France 54

Les Bleus scored eight tries en route to a second bonus-point win that took them back to the top of the table as Wales wilted again for a 13th straight Six Nations defeat.

Emilien Gailleton, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Matthieu Jalibert, Julien Marchand, Theo Attissogbe (two), and Charles Ollivon crossed as France transformed a Test match into an exhibition of carefree rugby. Thomas Ramos added seven conversions as the visitors claimed their biggest Six Nations triumph in the Welsh capital.

This was the fifth time in six games under Steve Tandy that Wales have conceded over 40 points, with tries from Rhys Carre and Mason Grady providing rare comfort for beleaguered hosts.

There were swathes of empty seats in the Principality Stadium amid turbulent times for Welsh rugby. The official attendance of 57,744 was the lowest in Cardiff for a Six Nations fixture, fewer than the previous smallest crowd of 58,349 against Italy in 2002.