Cardiff’s Principality Stadium is bracing for a sparse crowd on Sunday as Wales prepare to host France in the second round of the 2026 Six Nations, with approximately 15,000 tickets still available as of Friday morning, according to BBC Sport Wales.
The Welsh are reeling from a heavy defeat to England in their opening match, and now face the daunting task of containing a French side that convincingly defeated Ireland. France’s preparations for the match include a new midfield pairing of Fabien Brau-Boirie, who will be making his debut, and Émilien Gailleton. Despite the changes, France are expected to maintain their momentum following their strong start to the tournament.
Analysts predict a significant disparity in the scoreline. Alan Pearey, writing for Rugby World, forecasts a 10-52 victory for France, citing Wales’ defensive vulnerabilities, having conceded 34 tries and 248 points in Steve Tandy’s first five games as head coach. Pearey highlights France’s potent attack, noting their impressive statistics against Ireland – 19 line breaks, 21 offloads, and 41 defenders beaten – even in challenging weather conditions. He believes France’s physical dominance will be too much for Wales to overcome.
Rugby World Editor Joseph Robinson is even more pessimistic, predicting an 0-80 defeat for Wales. He points to the record defeat in a Six Nations fixture – England’s 80-23 win over Italy in 2001 – as being under threat, describing the Welsh side as “hopeless” and “maimed.” Robinson anticipates France systematically overpowering Wales up front and exploiting space in the backs, with Matthieu Jalibert and Thomas Ramos poised to capitalize on the opportunities.
Deputy Editor Josh Graham of Rugby World echoes this sentiment, forecasting a 5-67 victory for France. He attributes the availability of tickets to the “malaise hanging over Welsh rugby,” and believes France’s offload game, demonstrated against Ireland, could lead to a one-sided contest. He concedes Wales may avoid a complete shutout, but anticipates a heavy defeat.
Wales head coach Steve Tandy has appealed for strong supporter turnout despite the team’s struggles and the availability of tickets. The match is scheduled to kick off at 3:10pm GMT on Sunday at the Principality Stadium, which has a capacity of 73,931.
Recent encounters between the two sides have favored France. In the 2025 Six Nations, France secured a 43-0 victory in Paris. Previous results include a 45-24 win for France in 2024, a 41-28 victory for France in 2023, a 13-9 win for France in 2022, and a narrow 32-30 victory for Wales in 2021.
