France vs Wales Preview & Prediction | 2025 Six Nations Championship

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Tournament favourites France open their Six Nations campaign against a struggling Welsh side who haven’t won a match since October 2023.

Start date/time: Friday 31st January, 2025: UK – 8:15pm / US ET – 3:15pm / US PT – 12:15pm

How to watch on TV: UK –ITV / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – ITVX / US – Peacock

France Form: Pre-tournament favourites

Despite the fact they have only claimed the Six Nations title on one occasion in the last 14 iterations of the flagship Northern Hemisphere event, France have been installed as the favourites to come out on top this time around.

This comes off the back of an impressive 2024, which saw Les Bleus play some impressive rugby, particularly in the autumn internationals where they defeated both New Zealand and Australia.

Last Five: WLWWW

Wales Form: The only way is up?

2024 was easily the worst year in living memory for Welsh rugby, with Warren Gatland’s strugglers losing all 11 of their matches, including all five in a dismal Six Nations campaign.

Currently on a 12-match losing streak overall, Gatland has brought in national legend Adam Jones as a scrum coach in the hope that he can help rejuvenate a Welsh camp that has experienced some huge lows in recent times.

Last Five: LLLLL

France Team News: Jalibert left out

Squad: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Alexandre Roumat, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros

Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Mickael Guillard, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Emilien Gailleton

Wales Team News: Falatau misses opener

Squad: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Ben Thomas, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan (c), 6 James Botham, 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Evan Lloyd, 1 Gareth Thomas

Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Dan Edwards, 23 Blair Murray

France vs Wales Prediction

As the pre-tournament favourites, France will want to make a statement here and they have been handed, in theory, the easiest fixture with which to start positively.

Wales have been at a low ebb for some time now but have somewhat surprisingly stuck by Warren Gatland as head coach despite the fact they have lost their last 12 contests. The fact that there is no expectation on them at this year’s Six Nations may actually go in their favour, but it is probably too much to ask for them to be competitive against the mighty French at the Stade de France.

The handicap market is the way to go here, with the hosts capable of overturning a considerable deficit.

France vs Wales Tip: France to win with -21 handicap