GAT: WE COULD SURPRISE YOU Gregor: It’s been eventful!
28 BY WARREN GATLAND believes his Wales side will surprise teams at the World Cup in France later this year despite this fourth defeat in five games.
Gatland (below) emulated the fifth position of Wayne Pivac’s side in last season’s Six Nations table.
But he said: “We will surprise some teams in the World Cup by how good we will be. We are taking steps in the right direction during this campaign but we have a lot of work to do.”
Les Bleus ensured the title race with Ireland ran its full distance, as Wales provided bright moments in this earlier kick-off but were simply overpowered.
A week after demolishing England at Twickenham, France at times staged another thrilling spectacle of total rugby to triumph in bonus-point fashion.
Wales led through an early George North try that Dan Biggar converted, yet the French proved unstoppable on the occasions they reached for the turbo button.
Wing Damian Penaud
France 41 Wales NICK PATTISON 26 Italy 14
BLAIR KINGHORN rose to the challenge of replacing Finn Russell as he scored a hat-trick of tries to help Scotland earn a dramatic bonus-point win over Italy.
Kinghorn (above) – standing in for Russell at fly-half – went over the line either side of half-time to add to an earlier touchdown by Duhan van der Merwe. He completed (two), centres Jonathan Danty and Gael Fickou scored tries, together with prop Uini Atonio, with fullback Thomas Ramos kicking five conversions and two penalties.
Trailing 20-7 at the break, Wales kept going in the second half and there were tries for replacements Bradley Roberts and Tomos Williams, and wing Rio Dyer, while Biggar added two more conversions and Leigh Halfpenny one, to ensure a losing bonus point. But this was a campaign that produced four defeats and a lowly finish.
It will probably be mostly remembered for the threat of a players’ strike – albeit averted – over off-field issues ahead of a home game against England.
Wales now have just three games left before their World Cup opener against Fiji in Bordeaux, and Gatland has a huge amount of work ahead. FRANCE: Tries: Penaud (2), Danty, Atoniox, Fickou; Cons: Ramos (5); Pens: Ramos (2) WALES: Tries: North, B Roberts, T Williams, Dyer; Cons: Biggar (3), Halfpenny the scoring in the last moment as the Scots survived a late onslaught from the visitors.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend said: “It’s been an eventful Six Nations and we’re just glad we finished with a win.” SCOTLAND: Tries: Van der Merwe, Kinghorn (3); Cons: Kinghorn (3). ITALY: Try: Allan; Pens: Allan (2), P Garbisi.