Wales player ratings vs France: 2026 Six Nations

Sunday, 15 February 2026 at 16:56

byHarry Tovey

Wales player ratings vs France as Steve Tandy's men were well beaten by the tournament favourites at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Watch the Guinness Six Nations at your local Greene King sports pub.

France kept their Grand Slam charge very much alive — and left Wales licking their wounds yet again.

Les Bleus ran in eight tries in a ruthless 54-12 demolition job as a sorry Wales slumped to a 13th straight Six Nations defeat. It was men against boys at times in Cardiff.

Flying wing Theo Attissogbe grabbed a brace, while Emilien Gailleton, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Matthieu Jalibert, skipper Julien Marchand and Charles Ollivon all crossed in a statement performance. Thomas Ramos piled on 14 points from the tee to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Wales had no answers. Their defence was torn apart, their attack blunt, and the gulf in class painfully obvious as France turned on the style.

And to make matters worse for the hosts, the Principality Stadium was dotted with empty seats — just 57,744 inside, the lowest Six Nations crowd in Cardiff outside of the Covid-hit years.

For France, the dream lives on. For Wales, the nightmare rolls into a 13th straight chapter.

Scroll down Wales player ratings vs France.

Wales 12

Tries: Carre (18'), Grady (77')
Cons: D Edwards (19')
Pens:

France 54

Tries: Gailleton (1'), Bielle-Biarrey (10'), Brau-Boirie (14'), Jalibert (38'), Marchand (43'), Attissogbe (48', 57'), Ollivon (61')
Cons: Ramos (2', 15', 39', 44', 49', 58', 62')
Pens:

Wales player ratings vs France

15.⁠ ⁠Louis Rees-Zammit – 7

Following a return to the international stage as a full-back, it was a much better outing for the Bristol Bears player. Attempted throughout to get his side on the front foot, but Wales were unable to build from it. He’s the difference maker when Wales are in attack.

14.⁠ ⁠Ellis Mee – 6.5

Mee yet again was brilliant under the high ball, pressurising Louis Bielle-Biarrey brilliantly. However, like Josh Adams on the other wing, he was almost like a spectator in the encounter, a part from the odd line-break up-field.

Was baffling to see he was replaced by Mason Grady before the hour mark.

13.⁠ ⁠Eddie James – 7

Was yet again one of Wales’ main backline carriers, but did not get much of the ball again this afternoon until late in the second half.

Is he Wales’ future Test 13? From his positive two outings in this year’s Six Nations, it’s starting to look likely from the big ball-carrying centre.

12.⁠ ⁠Joe Hawkins – 6

Hawkins’ last Six Nations game was against Italy, which was Wales’ last triumph in the championship. He was strong defensively at times, with a notable moment of holding up Theo Attissogbe over the try-line.

11.⁠ ⁠Josh Adams – 4

Adams could count himself rather fortunate to be included in this afternoon’s contest, but the 30-year-old made sure to make more of an effort this week. However, with France so dominant with the ball in hand, he didn’t really have a chance to show his pace.

Maybe it’s time for Mason Grady to start on the wing.

10.⁠ ⁠Dan Edwards – 4.5

His performance was one of the main highlights last weekend, as he didn’t reach the heights of the autumn internationals. There was the occasional moment from the young outside-half, but he is still not hitting the heights of the November Tests.

9.⁠ ⁠Tomos Williams – 5

Probably Wales’ most in-form player at this torrid time in Welsh rugby, but it was not one of his best in a Welsh shirt, with some questionable kicks from the breakdown area. It was an uncharacteristic performance by one of Wales’ strongest players in recent times.

1.⁠ ⁠Rhys Carré – 4.5

The loose-head insisted in the build-up to the contest that last weekend’s thumping loss was a ‘one off’, but the 28-year-old, despite scoring in the first half, had another quiet international outing. He was replaced with only a matter of minutes on the clock in the second half.

2.⁠ ⁠Dewi Lake (C) – 5

There were a lot of questions around the hookers recent outing in the Welsh jersey, and it must be said it was a much-needed improvement from last week’s poor outing. At lineout time, his arrows were firing consistently, but he needs to improve defensively.

3.⁠ ⁠Tomas Francis – 4

The tight-head was playing his first game in the Welsh capital since playing England in the 2023 edition of the championship. His main highlight was at scrum time, but that was pretty much it from the Pro D2 player.

4.⁠ ⁠Dafydd Jenkins – 5

One of Wales’ top performers last weekend, with an incredible work rate, and he made yet more of a solid effort in his side’s defence. He made some noticeable hits in defence and worked tirelessly around the pitch, much better from the Exeter Chiefs’ player.

5.⁠ ⁠Adam Beard – 2

Despite some strong hits in defence, compared to his counterpart in the second row, it turned into an afternoon to forget. He gifted France their fourth try after a poor attempted clearance kick that went nowhere. No surprise he came off on 60 minutes.

6.⁠ ⁠Aaron Wainwright – 7

The 28-year-old has been Wales’ most consistent performer, and it was no different this afternoon. He looked to get his side over the gainline with some decent footwork. Yet again, the Gallagher Prem-bound player shone.

7.⁠ ⁠Alex Mann – 6

The Cardiff Rugby player had nothing go his way against England, and it was a decent outing for the open-side today. After some great pressure in the air, it led to winger Mee breaking and putting Wales on the front foot and ultimately scoring their first try of the afternoon.

8.⁠ ⁠Olly Cracknell – 6.5

Playing his first Six Nations game and only his second start for Wales, he was good at the line-out and added something to his side’s attack. Came as a shock after his best international performance so far; Taine Plumtree replaced him.