The hosts will be out to deliver a commanding opening victory on home soil to throw down the early title gauntlet to back-to-back champions Ireland, having been made favourites for this year’s competition after finishing as runners-up to the Men in Green twice since winning a first title since 2010 with their 2022 Grand Slam.
Their chances of glory have been significantly boosted by the return of Antoine Dupont, who was absent for last year’s Six Nations having decided to represent his country in rugby sevens instead at their home Olympic Games, going on to deliver gold.
It is a truly daunting start to the campaign for Wales, who endured a horrific 2024 – their worst year ever – and enter this tournament having lost a record 12 Test matches in a row.
Warren Gatland remains at the helm for now, but his position has come under intense scrutiny amid such a torrid run of form that last year included a first Six Nations wooden spoon since 2003.
France vs Wales date, kick-off time and venue
France vs Wales is set for an 8:15pm GMT kick-off on Friday January 31, 2025 at the Stade de France in Paris, which is hosting Six Nations games again this year after renovation works caused Les Bleus to play in Marseille, Lille and Lyon 12 months ago.
How to watch France vs Wales
TV channel: In the UK, France vs Wales is being shown live and free-to-air on ITV1 and Welsh-language channel S4C, with coverage beginning on both at 7:30pm GMT.
Live stream: Free coverage is also available online via ITVX and S4C Clic.
Live blog: You can also follow Friday’s game as it happens with Standard Sport’s live match blog.
France vs Wales team news
Dupont was back on 15-a-side France duty in the autumn, but Les Bleus have now been furthered boosted by the return of fly-half Romain Ntamack, who has not played internationally since the summer of 2023 due to injury.
35-year-old Leinster prop Rabah Slimani has earned a recall having not played for his country since 2020, while the uncapped second-division star Noah Nene and Joshua Brennan – son of former Ireland star Trevor – were among the standout picks in Galthie’s wider 42-player tournament squad.
Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou were both picked after aggravated rape charges against the pair were dismissed by an Argentine court in December.
Mathieu Jalibert is in the squad after leaving the French camp ahead of their final two autumn matches, but there are some key absentees including former captain Charles Ollivon, who will miss the entire Six Nations after knee surgery. Star wing Damian Penaud has also been battling a muscle complaint.
Centres Jonathan Danty and Gael Fickou are also sidelined at the moment, while wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey has been dealing with an inner ear issue. Romain Taofifenua and Alexandre Roumat are among France’s other absentees.
As for Wales, fly-half Sam Costelow will not be available for the Six Nations after breaking his collarbone playing for Scarlets in the Challenge Cup earlier this month.
Sidelined: Wales will be without captain Dewi Lake for the entirety of the Six Nations
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Uncapped prop Ben Warren has been added to Gatland’s squad this week as a replacement for the injured WillGriff John.
Wales’ fortunes are not helped at all by a raft of other absentees including captain and hooker Dewi Lake, who will miss the whole Six Nations after bicep surgery. Back-rower Jac Morgan steps up as skipper in his absence.
Adam Beard, Mason Grady, Archie Griffin, Ryan Elias and Ben Carter are some of the other players currently unavailable for Wales due to injury, while Gatland has made some notable omissions from his tournament squad including Gareth Anscombe, Rio Dyer, Cameron Winnett, Taine Plumtree and Max Llewellyn.
Dan Edwards and Ellis Mee were the two uncapped players called up, but there is much-needed experience in the ranks too with the likes of Josh Adams, Liam Williams and Taulupe Faletau – who, along with James Botham, has been dealing with an injury – all recalled along with Dafydd Jenkins, Sam Parry and Joe Roberts.
Fabien Galthie and Warren Gatland are both due to name their respective teams on Wednesday.
France vs Wales head to head (h2h) history and results
France are aiming to notch up a seventh successive win against Wales, to whom they have not lost since the 2019 World Cup quarter-finals in Japan.
They had previously lost every contest between the two nations between 2012-19 bar one, though have dominated the fixture in recent times, winning each of the last five Six Nations showdowns including last year’s thrilling 45-24 bonus-point victory in Cardiff.
France vs Wales prediction
A Wales team in the midst of a record losing run could simply not have asked for a tougher start to this Six Nations campaign than opening night away in Paris.
With the likes of Dupont and Ntamack back in the fold, France are favourites for the title with good reason and will be eager to put on a show in this curtain-raiser to send an early warning shot to Ireland, who host England in Dublin on Saturday.
Wales can be forgiven for perhaps already having one eye on next weekend’s trip to Rome, which will likely go a long way to deciding if they are staring down the barrel of another winless campaign and wooden spoon.
Under pressure: It remains to be seen for how much longer Wales coach Warren Gatland will stay in post
David Davies/PA Wire
Gatland needs to start picking up results fast but it is extremely difficult to see how they can even employ much by way of damage limitation here, much less stun fancied France, who have supreme attacking threats all over the park.
Their only hope for a somewhat respectable night is that they catch Les Bleus a little cold in round one, with Galthie’s side not yet firing on all cylinders. But even that seems a very tall order.
France to win, by at least 20 points.
France vs Wales match odds
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
