Wales 16 France 9: Cuthbert secures Dragons’ Slam

Merv knew from his own Grand Slam wins in his celebrated career that sometimes even dominance of Europe is not enough. If there was a check on euphoria in Cardiff last night — and it was incredibly difficult to spot — it was that Wales decided to dog out this match, to take no risks that would have left them susceptible to French counterattacks. They left parts of their armoury unused and lacked a swagger.

There are clearly five other teams who would have happily taken a Grand Slam with a succession of boring 3-0 victories. But to see Wales shut up shop around the hour mark and refuse to speculate, when one second-half try would have buried France, was a shaft of disappointment for the neutral.

There was just a chance at the end that one of the French gems — such as Wesley Fofana or Jean-Marcellin Buttin — might attack from deep and claim a draw, leaving Wales utterly deflated champions. They did not. Wales did the job and Warren Gatland moved nearer to a coronation as Lord Wales. Just behind him were several of his troops.

Dan Lydiate, from mid-Wales farming stock, was a bull, a quite sensational powerhouse at close quarters, in defence and over the ball. It was one of the greatest flank performances ever given on this ground and, just for once, those who choose the Man of the Match award ignored the bloke who kicked the points and gave it to the bloke who supplied the power.

Wales were beautifully served by Leigh Halfpenny, full of resource and footballing wit at full-back; by Jonathan Davies, their new diamond in the centre; by the resurgence of Rhys Priestland at fly-half and Toby Faletau in the back row. Meanwhile, Ian Evans reeled off yet another in a series of performances that arguably make him the Welsh player of the tournament.

The team planners will be happy that there is so much more to come rather than thrilled at what was produced. This Six Nations has given many of us the impression that the current England squad are already flat out, while Wales, not yet a great side, have acceleration still to make.

Dimitri Yachvili gave France a measure of calm and their defence in the forwards and midfield was absolutely magnificent. Wales could only score when Alex Cuthbert, an elongated wing, came sidestepping again and again off his right foot, scorching to the posts. It recalled memories of the jack-knifing steps of Ieuan Evans in a Wales-Scotland match years ago, a try that caused Bill McLaren to christen him “Merlin the Magician”.

Cuthbert had magic about his steps as well. It was his first-half try that gave Wales some much-needed sustenance because they had dominated the opening stages, worked the electric Davies through half-gaps and missed three points when Priestland hit a post with a penalty shot.

There were just the first stirrings of alarm, in a match of forbidding commitment and tension, that Wales had missed an opportunity. Perhaps the alarm grew when Yachvili put France in the lead.

Lydiate had seen enough. He put in a massive tackle, Alun-Wyn Jones secured the ball on the floor, Wales worked it out to Cuthbert and, quite delightfully, the young man zipped over at the posts.

Wales extended to 10-3 just before half time, dominating the proceedings, when Adam Jones and the home scrum rocketed forward. Davies came up and hammered the fallible Lionel Beauxis, France conceded a penalty and Halfpenny scored.

Captain Warburton looks at the trophy that Wales have won three times in eight years (David Davies)

However, when Halfpenny hit the post with another penalty everyone in the stadium knew that Wales had left themselves open. And a French revival of sorts began when Buttin, who had come on for Poitrenaud, seized a loose ball and went steaming off down the left wing. Gethin Jenkins played the kick ahead in an offside position, Beauxis kicked the penalty and France were clearly reviving.

The superior Welsh pack managed to clean up some of the mess and re-establish momentum, then Halfpenny kicked a wonderful penalty from a metre inside his own half to make it 13-6. France were there for the taking.

However, with the game there for the taking the Welsh tactics suddenly bewildered. They went through an interminable phase of pick-and-drive, even though it seemed incredibly early to be running the clock down, particularly with Davies and the wings lurking for a second try.

France almost made Wales pay, breaking out twice. The first time, Lydiate turned the ball over. On the second occasion France were penalised for diving over the ball off their feet just when the move was becoming tasty.

When Wales wheeled a scrum illegally near their own posts with only 10 minutes remaining, Yachvili set 74,000 pairs of knees knocking with a penalty and France were back within four points. It was the seminal period of the match, a time for faint hearts to be banished — and it was a time when Wales found that they had no such faint hearts.

Halfpenny and Priestland put in some rolling kicks, Ryan Jones began to orchestrate Wales at the breakdown and they absolutely dominated the closing stages, to the accompaniment of a crowd on the brink of exhultation.

The match ended amid the loudest noise heard in Cardiff since Merv was swerving.

Star man: Dan Lydiate (Wales)

Wales: L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, J Davies (S Williams 53-60min), J Roberts, G North; R Priestland, M Phillips (L Williams 63min); G Jenkins, M Rees (K Owens 63min), A Jones, A-W Jones (L Charteris 63min), I Evans, D Lydiate, S Warburton (capt, R Jones ht), T Faletau.

France: C Poitrenaud (J-M Buttin 35min); W Fofana, A Rougerie, F Fritz, A Palisson (F Trinh-Duc 53min); L Beauxis (M Parra 71min), D Yachvili; J-B Poux (V Debaty 44min), W Servat (D Szarzewski 44min), D Attoub, P Papé (J Pierre 67min), Y Maestri, T Dusautoir (capt), J Bonnaire (L Picamoles 59min), I Harinordoquy.

On page two: Stephen Jones’ player ratings