Grand Slam dream alive for Francis

By Andrew Baldock
13/3/21

Tomas Francis’ Grand Slam hopes are still very much alive after he helped Wales move to within one victory of it in this season’s Guinness Six Nations Championship.

The unbeaten tournament leaders reeled off a third successive bonus-point victory to increase pressure on their rivals for silverware by crushing Italy 48-7 in Rome.

Wayne Pivac’s team now head to the French capital knowing that a sixth Six Nations crown and fifth Grand Slam will be secured if they topple Les Bleus.

Hooker Ken Owens led the way with a try double, while wing Josh Adams and No.8 Taulupe Faletau also touched down during a dominant first-half display that saw Wales secure a bonus-point after just 30 minutes.

Centre George North added his 43rd Wales try early in the second period, equalling Shane Williams’ Wales record of 22 Six Nations touchdowns, and there were also scores for fly-half substitute Callum Sheedy and wing Louis Rees-Zammit.

Sheedy kicked two conversions, with Dan Biggar landing three conversions and also kicking a penalty, while wing Monty Ioane scored a try for Italy that fly-half Paolo Garbisi converted.

Despite the victory

However, Pivac knows his side, which once again included Francis - the Exeter Chiefs tight-head - will be facing a ‘massive challenge’ against a French side who were undone themselves by England at Twickenham.

“We need to improve, and we are looking to improve each week,” Wales head coach Pivac said. “They (France) are going to be a different proposition. We will review our performance, preview them and we know we are in for a massive game.

“The two previous games (against France in the last 12 months), we have been on the receiving end of the result and we are in for a massive challenge.

“If you asked this side coming out of the autumn whether they would take four (wins) from four travelling to Paris for a potential Grand Slam, I think you know the answer.”

Italy’s 31st Six Nations defeat in a row saw them predictably offer little resistance at Stadio Olimpico as Wales tore them apart by scoring seven tries.

The result equalled Wales’ biggest victory over the Azzurri in Rome, and Pivac added: “To have the bonus point by half-time gave us the luxury of being able to rest a few (players). We had hoped to get into that position and we achieved that. We came for five points and we got five, so we are certainly happy with that.

“We scored some good tries, but we were pretty disappointed that we actually left a few out there as well. We talked about being ruthless and clinical. Going to Paris will be a different challenge for us, but it is one game at a time and you play what is in front of you.”