It was Wales’ lowest ever attendance for a Six Nations match as French fans appeared to take over. These were the unseen moments inside the Principality Stadium
They used to roll back the stadium roof so God could watch us play. Wales in Cardiff, it was a religious experience of sorts.
The hymns, the communal spirit, the sense of belonging. Now, as Sunday staple Songs of Praise played on the screens in the press room ahead of kick-off, it all felt a little too on the nose.
Wales needed prayers for this one.
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The visit of France, title favourites and a class or two above this Wales side, almost constitutes the last rites.
But the Principality Stadium as a cathedral of Welsh rugby is becoming a distant memory.
57,744 the crowd in Cardiff; Wales’ lowest home attendance for a Six Nations match. Once upon a time, you couldn’t get a seat for such a game.
Now, the parish is diminishing. The faith is ebbing away.
Moreover, more of Sunday’s congregation came from afar. More than 30 chartered flights from France arrived in Cardiff over the weekend. Has the Principality Stadium ever seen such a low Welsh contingent?
Joe Dassin’s 1977 hit Dans les yeux d’Émilie, an unofficial anthem of French sport, was played on repeat outside the City Arms, in the shadow of the Principality Stadium, on Friday night.
Berets, with Frenchmen underneath, piled into the stadium – having sampled the delights of Cardiff City Stadium and the Arms Park the previous day. In both the football and U20s rugby, they were treated to more of a contest than today.
In the minutes before kick-off, minds tried to revert to happier times. A montage of Wales’ 1976 Grand Slam triumph over France was drowned out by ‘Allez Les Bleus’.
Five members of that side convened pitchside. Roy Bergiers, Brynmor Williams, Sir Gareth Edwards and Allan Martin all met with cheers.
The fifth and final name, current Welsh Rugby Union president Terry Cobner, was met with a handful of boos.
At least, it sounded like boos amongst the French wall of noise.
Things didn’t get much better when the rugby started. “Blind, blind, blind,” called Welsh voices in defence as Antoine Dupont scanned the fringes.
But it was too late. Moments later, just 90 seconds into the match, France had their first try. By the 14 minute mark, La Marseillaise was ringing around the ground.
If that wasn’t a kick in the teeth, then referee James Doleman’s advice to Dewi Lake probably was. 19-0 down, but on the attack, Wales had worked a penalty in striking range.
“Make sure you tap it,” Doleman said as Lake prepared to take the tap-and-go penalty. Nothing out of the ordinary, although the fact that Lake had been pulled up last week for not tapping it at Twickenham likely poured some salt into the wound.
Thankfully for him and the home side, they would score. For a while, Wales just about held on.
Wales’ defence was being stretched to breaking point time and time again. Yet, they were staying in the fight.
Ellis Mee managed to scrag Louis Bielle-Biarrey into touch with his fingernails, prompting Dafydd Jenkins to scream “Yes, boy,” in the winger’s direction.
On other occasions, the Scarlets man was standing in acres of space, calling for reinforcements as France zeroed in on the narrow defence.
A fourth try was chalked off for offside, after Lake had begged the officials to take another look. “To be fair,” Doleman told Lake after ruling the score out, “we were checking that anyway – it’s the one thing to check after a try.”
Perhaps, but the score had been awarded fairly quickly and the TMO’s intervention only occurred after the Wales captain asked the question.
However, for all Wales’ good work, it was undone with a needless bonus point try late in the first-half. Adam Beard’s grubber, seemingly thinking he had a penalty advantage after Jenkins’ breakdown steal, served up a simple score for Matthieu Jalibert.
Jenkins, feeling he was robbed of a penalty, made his feelings known to the officials as Steve Tandy fumed up in the coaching box.
“The first man wins the ball, he wins it cleanly,” explained Doleman to Lake as the Exeter lock listened in intently. “It’s not a penalty for holding on because he wins it.”
It was all in vain. Away from the pitch, former Ireland wing Simon Zebo – stationed in the front-row of the press box – joined in with the bouncing celebrations of French fans, having once plied his trade there.
Two more in berets raced down the stairs in a bid to see more tries, with one losing his footing right as a steward – complete with a stern look – stepped out in front of him.
His pint glass? Half-full or half-empty? Depends if you’re Welsh or French.
The same goes for Glanmor’s gap. Some fans, more empty seats.
There was the odd flicker of Welsh endeavours towards the end, with even some of the gallant French crowd standing to cheer Mason Grady’s consolation.
By the end, Jenkins dropped to his haunches. How many more heavy defeats can these boys take?
Over the PA, the stadium announcer issued a plea to the departing fans. “Stick with us,” was the gist.
Keep the faith. Unfortunately, there’s not a great deal of that around these parts anymore.
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