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What a weekend it has been in the Six Nations - rounded off with an entertaining eight-try showdown in Cardiff.

For France, there is a bit of pride restored after a very shaky start to the tournament.

Five tries were enough to see them overtake Italy in the standings and only behind third-placed Scotland on points scored.

They take on England next week with the chance to finish second which had looked so unlikely after the dreary displays against Scotland and Italy.

Wales are now in a desperate position.

All the optimism of their 40-minute displays against Scotland and England and some of the defence against Ireland will count for nothing if they do not win next week.

They face a wooden-spoon decider here in six days against an Italy team brimming with confidence after the showings against France and the win over Scotland.

So join us again next week for Super Saturday in the Six Nations when everything will be decided.

Just a reminder that Scrum V is coming live from the Principality Stadium after the match.

Join Lauren Jenkins for all the reaction with Sam Warburton, James Hook, Dimitri Yachvili and Sean Holley from 18:00 GMT.

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Warren Gatland knows exactly how big next week's clash against Italy has now become.

He said: "Next week is a big game, it's massive for us. We can't hide from that and we have to understand the pressure that will come with it.

"It's a must-win game, it's about stepping up and learn from the things we've been doing.

"We've got a young group of players who some of them aren't quite ready at this level and got to learn very quickly what test match rugby is about."

Martin Johnson
England's World Cup winning captain on BBC One

Italy will come with expectation next week and expect to win, that's a very good French team let's not forget that but Wales will have to rebuild and regroup.

It's a massive rebuild for Wales and when you look at that team when they're under pressure they haven't quite got the players or experience.

I've been impressed with their spirit all the way through the tournament and expect them to come back battling next week.

Wales have now lost 11 of their last 12 games in the Six Nations and now have just six days to nurse some battered bodies before a wooden spoon decider against Italy here in Cardiff.

Sam Warburton
Former Wales captain on BBC One

"The reality check for Wales is that they're not physical enough.

"I'm going to sound like a broken record but you can't play the game and be that inferior physically. If you can't stop the big guys, it's going to be a tough game.

"We don't have the player pool to match the power of England, Ireland and France and we need to find the players from somewhere."

Wales coach Warren Gatland: "We were up 24-23 but we didn't manage the game with turnovers and we're disappointing with some soft points given away.

"We probably overplayed. When we were down by six points and you're thinking just play territory make it easy for yourselves but we hurt ourselves and not played well enough in that last period.

"France put our scrum under pressure, that's something we've been working hard on and we're not there at the moment. I thought our lineout was excellent and our line speed could have been better.

"The plan was if we went multiple phases then we'd cause them lots of problems and we did.

"But we didn't help ourselves with some of the mistakes for us."

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Enjoyed that? Well today's teams will open next year's Six Nations tournament.

France will host Wales in the first match of the 2025 Six Nations on 31 January, with England travelling to Dublin on the opening weekend.

Ireland, the only team still chasing a Grand Slam in this year's championship, host France in round four.

After the trip to Dublin, England have home games against France, Scotland and Italy.

Wales welcome England to Cardiff for the final weekend, with Ireland away to Italy and France hosting Scotland.

It is the first time since 2013, when Warren Gatland's side claimed a 30-3 win over England to claim the title, that the pair have faced each other in the final round.

Read the full fixtures.

Welsh captain Dafydd Jenkins: "We felt like the French would fatigue later on with their big pack. It didn't go to plan but we'll look at it and come back next week.

"We were excited about the physical battle but we definitely came off second best.

"The boys give everything week in week out and I don't think it was fatigue, everyone will play all day for their country but it's just the accuracy.

"Next week is massive for us because we don't want to finish bottom.

"Italy have won here before so we're not going to take them for granted but we've got to reflect on this game and see how we can be better."

French captain Grégory Alldritt: "We had a great performance today, we were really frustrated after Italy and wanted to make France proud again so it's great to do that at this stadium.

"We have a massive massive pack, and we wanted to be tough on the collision.

"We have some really good young players and I'm really proud of them and that Nolan Le Garrec scored a try as well."

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France shoot up to fourth in the Six Nations table while Wales remain rooted to the bottom and staring at a first wooden spoon for 21 years.

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Sam Warburton
Former Wales captain on BBC One

The word power was used a lot in commentary and rightly so.

You can talk a lot about the fluffy things but when you lose the physical battle then more than often you won't win the game.

You saw the warning signs in the first half and Wales were holding on in the game when France's big ball-carriers were come off the number nine.

Martin Johnson
England's World Cup winning captain on BBC One

The writing was on the wall before the subs were made.

Wales were trying to stem that power and as the first half went on the power was starting to tell.

It was a really mature performance from France. Wales scored their best try at the start of the second half and then almost didn't see the ball again.

Benjamin Kayser
Former France hooker on BBC One

It's a fantastic victory for France, 45 points at the Principality Stadium doesn't come every week.

The youngsters played well but the bench was huge and it's about how you use your bench.

With a 6-2 split, bringing four forwards at the same time was key.

Jonathan Davies
Former Wales international on BBC One

It's the dominance and the gainline up front.

Wales tried to play wider but in the end, France plugged those gaps and forced Wales into errors.

Once France reverted to their forward dominance and crashing over the gainline it showed and they came away with points from it.

James Hook
Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

It's been a really brave effort from Wales. A lot of intent in attack, brave in defence.

But the power of France, the scrum and the charge down in the end killed Wales.

That's it, all over and France have a record score in Cardiff.

It's also enough to move level with third-placed Scotland in the Six Nations standings - behind on points scored.

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Jonathan Davies
Former Wales international on BBC One

The backrow were under pressure to stay down, they take it quick and get a coupe of passes in and it's a really well worked try.