Wales win the plaudits, France win the game

THE game was as upbeat and rousing as the band's rendering of La Marseillaise beforehand. Wales maintained the tempo - the only jarring note, was the score.

As Wales's director of rugby, Terry Cobner, said afterwards, it was one of the greatest performances by Wales in recent memory." Cobner does not need reminding - he was on the last Welsh side which won at the Parc des Princes 22 years ago.

But Wales are no longer dwelling on the past. Their old maestros, Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennett and Barry John, among the spectators for Wales's final visit to the Parc, were entranced by another Welsh performance of verve and skill. Ten tries in three games is evidence that a pre tournament promise of expansive rugby is being kept.

And yet. Wales, for all their boldness, will never have a better chance of winning in Paris. The French were as cavalier themselves as D'Artagnan and hi chums. They ran the ball from everywhere but lost possession countless times up front and creaked at half back. In the end only a cruel bounce gave Laurent Leflamand, with his second try, a score that decided the match. Wales who had conceded a similar flukey try against Ireland when Eric Elwood's garryowen rebounded off the padding on the posts, may feel Lady Luck is not a member of their squad in this Five Nations.

On both those occasions Neil Jenkins, Wales's converted fullback, was the victim of that cruel bounce. Jenkins, a solid performer and reliable place kicker, should certainly not be a scapegoat. But his lack of pace does deprive Wales of an attacking option from full back. Whenever Jean Luc Sadourny, Jenkins's opposite number on Saturday, fields the ball there is a buzz of expectation in the crowd. But when Jenkins, with Gareth Thomas outside him, had the chance of an incisive break down the left touch line in the second half he chose to kick to the corner. It was an effective kick but an outside break would surely have produced the try.

There were plenty of Welsh heroes, though. Robert Howley's pace and athleticism at scrum half caused France countless problems, Mark Rowley had his most effective game in the red shirt in the lineout and Colin Charvis and Scott Quinnell were fast and effective in the loose. But Wales's best player was Allan Bateman.

Some 18 days after keyhole surgery to his knee the centre looked positively bionic. The French managed to bottle up Bateman's centre partner, Scott Gibbs, but Bateman made some searing breaks, one of which shredded the French defence midway through the first half and indirectly led to Jenkins's only penalty.

After the match the Wales players and management tried desperately to keep a brave face. There was much talk of frightening England next month but, as their captain, Jonathan Humphreys, admitted, there can be no relaxing against the French backs. France may be without attackers of the quality of Philippe Saint Andre, Emile N'tamack and Thomas, Castaignede but the production line of predatory backs rumbles on. Leflamand and Brive's David Venditti, scorer of a hat trick in Dublin, are maintaining the great tradition.

France's other try scorer was Olivier Merle. The giant second row French supporters call L'Homme et Demi burrowed over for a fifth minute try that Richard Dourthe converted from the touch line. Dourthe was later replaced and his dislocated shoulder makes him doubtful for the Championship decider at Twickenham on Saturday week.

Pierre Villeprux, the coaching guru who is now the assistant to Jean Claude Skrela, is another admirer of Wales's enterprise. "If the Welsh maintain their capacity for dynamic movement they will soon be very difficult to beat. They have intention to run with the ball and players like their two centres, out half and Quinnell, who can play this running game."

Wales have been a revelation at this year's Five Nations. But for all their romantic intentions one fears their forwards may not be able to stand toe to toe with England's mighty pack next month. Defeat in Cardiff would leave their season as flat as the band's pre match version of Cwm Rhondda.