PIVAC UNHAPPY WITH KEY DECISIONS

WAYNE Pivac felt the big refereeing decisions went against Wales as France claimed a first Six Nations win in Cardiff for 10 years to stay on course for Grand Slam glory.

France claimed victory at the Principality Stadium to make it three wins from three as reigning European champions Wales lost at home in the tournament for the first time since 2017.

But the game was not without controversy as France, leading 27-16 with 15 minutes to go, escaped sanction when second-row forward Paul Willemse knocked the ball down with wing Josh Adams set to take Ken Owens’s pass.

Adams seemed likely to score in the corner, but English referee Matthew Carley decided a penalty was punishment enough and chose not to brandish a yellow card.

“There was quite a few key moments in that game,” Wales head coach Pivac said.

“It just seemed, whenever we were playing advantage, the next ruck was killed or the ball was slowed down so we came back for the penalty.

“There was the (Willemse) slapdown. We had a good look at that and I think the officials may have got that one wrong. That killed momentum there as well.

“Another disappointing one was when the French tighthead (Demba Bamba) came on. He went straight across the scrum and was rewarded for that. Those were the big moments in the game.”

France led 17-9 at the break, with full-back Anthony Bouthier and Willemse scoring tries for Les Bleus and Dan Biggar replying with three penalties.

Dillon Lewis’s first Test try reduced the deficit to a point, but Romain Ntamack, who finished with a 17-point haul, claimed an interception score and kicked a penalty to put France in command.

Biggar scored a late try, but France held on for a famous win – their first in Cardiff since 2010.