Six Nations 2026: Will anyone deny that France is flush with a Grand Slam title?

In some ways, what France achieved in Cardiff was nothing special, as Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa had already beaten Steve Tandy’s side for half-centuries in the autumn.

The hosts felt their performance was reasonable – certainly better than in the first round against England – but they were still underwhelmed in all respects.

France scored their first try after 88 seconds and netted three goals in the first 15 minutes, with 20-year-old Fabien Brau-Boyri scoring on his debut, while electric winger Louis Bel-Biary notched his 23rd try in 24 international appearances.

Bale’s team-mate Theo Atesugbe, who replaced Damien Penaud, France’s all-time top scorer in the squad, scored twice in the second half as the visitors recorded their biggest Six Nations victory in the Welsh capital.

They could have achieved more with an attack organized by Antoine Dupont and Mathieu Jalibert, registering 28 line breaks, beating 31 defenders, 1,136 carrying meters and 24 offloads.

Instead, their final effort came in the 60th minute from second row Charles Ollivon.

“When you play for a team like that, you have to be good at everything,” former England and British Lions and Irish captain Martin Johnson told BBC One.

“France had no worries because they knew they were going to win, they knew they were very good.

“They are all very comfortable on the ball. When they are confident and there is no danger, I would think ‘thank God I’m not on that pitch’.”

“It’s very difficult to contain them when they are so confident and don’t feel that anything is going to happen to them.”