Cardiff braces for a daunting Six Nations clash on Sunday as Wales prepare to face a heavily favoured France at the Principality Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 3:10pm GMT. The match comes amid a challenging period for Welsh rugby, marked by recent on-field struggles and off-field turmoil.
Wales head coach Steve Tandy acknowledged the team’s disappointing performance in their recent 48-7 defeat against England, stating the squad had openly addressed the issues in team meetings. Tandy has made four changes to the starting XV for the match against France, including Olly Cracknell at No 8 for his first Six Nations start. Rhys Carré and Tomas Francis replace Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin in the front row, while Aaron Wainwright moves to flanker to accommodate Cracknell. Joe Hawkins takes over from Ben Thomas at inside centre.
The changes come as Wales seek to end a 12-game losing streak in the Six Nations. The team has lost 22 of their last 24 international matches, a record that underscores the scale of the challenge facing Tandy and his players. Despite the bleak recent results, Tandy maintains that Wales remains a rugby nation, emphasizing the need for collective effort to improve the team’s fortunes.
The match also presents a financial concern for the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), with thousands of tickets still available for the France game and subsequent home matches against Scotland and Italy. More than 50% of the WRU’s turnover comes from gate receipts at Principality Stadium.
For fans wishing to watch the game, free streams are available in the UK via BBC One and BBC iPlayer, in Ireland through RTÉ Player, and in France on TF1 and TF1+. Viewers outside these countries can access the game through paid subscriptions to services like Peacock Premium in the United States, Stan Sport in Australia, and Sky Sport in New Zealand. A VPN can be used to access geo-restricted streams.
The game against France is a significant test for Tandy, who took over as head coach in 2025. Prior to taking the helm of the national team, Tandy served as defence coach for Scotland from 2019 to 2025 and also held the same role with the British & Irish Lions in 2021. He previously coached the Ospreys and Bridgend.
The disparity in form and expectations positions France as overwhelming favourites. Their opening round victory over Ireland showcased their attacking prowess, while Wales’ struggles against England highlighted the depth of the issues facing the Welsh side. The match is scheduled to kick off at 4.10pm CET.
