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Wales see red as France stumble on
A distraught Wales captain Sam Warburton watches from the sidelines after being served a red card for a dangerous tackle. Photo: Getty Images
Wales will not only rue the sending off of their skipper Sam Warburton in the 20th min but he poor goalkicking - 1 from 5. They missed two shots at drop goal as well while Morgan Parra had 100 per cent record with 3 from 3.
82nd min: Wales 45m out and they have gone 25 phases. France gather the ball and Dimitri Yachvili boots the ball into touch and France are through to their third World Cup final. Will we see a repeat of the 1987 final against New Zealand or the 1999 final against Australia.
80th min: Wales are now about 30m out. The next stoppage is fulltime. France are not competing at the breakdown. They do not want to give away the penalty.
79th min: Wales have it and they are now 38m out from France's line. What will they do.
78th min: France win the lineout. France try to keep possession but they knock on. Wales have the scrum feed just inside French territory. This is their last chance.
77th min: Wales attacking in France's territory but Jamie Roberts is bundled into touch 40m out. Bad play but not Roberts's fault. he was given very little room to move.
75th min: And it goes UNDER the crossbar. Just.
74th min: Wales now have possession just inside France's territory. And they have the penalty 49m out. This is in Leigh Halfpenny's range. Perhaps a harsh call against France.
72nd min: Slow ball again for Wales and Jamie Roberts knocks on in the collision and to compound the problem a penalty is given away for offside. France can breathe a sigh of relief. Wales need to get quicker ball at the breakdown, that was the essence of Mike Phillips' try. Wales finally win a lineout against the throw. Jones puts up a high ball that is returned by Clerc.
71st min: France win the lineout but only gain 10m with their touchfinder. This is Wales' chance as they win the lineout.
70th min: Wales in the lineout and they again attempt to keep the ball in hand. Jones eventually kicks for field position and finds touch 7m out from France's line.
68th min: Wales put up a midfield high ball and Clerc does well to take it. France cautiously advance into Wales territory. But there is a turnover and now Wales are attempting to keep the ball in hand, but get nowhere. Jones kicks down field and finds some space but Medard collects and finds touch on halfway. Wales's throw.
67th min: Rougerie does that by kicking for touch and finding it out 25m out of Wales' line.
66th min: Slow ball followed by crossfield running equals an eventual knock on. France need to stabilise here.
65th min: Wales back in possession 40m out. What will they do.
63rd min: Wales win the scrum but two phases later are shoved over the sideline. Wales can win this despite being a man down, but they must show patience.
62nd min: All of sudden Wales' scrum is solid. There is a re-set but could have easily been a penalty for Wales.
61st min: Wales are on the charge again as Toby Faletau barges through. Wales on the attack but slow ball means Stephen Jones goes for the drop goal. Horrible kick but France knock-on. Wales scrum feed 15m out.
59th min: Wales score. TRY. It was Mike Phillips who sniped at the base of the breakdown. He snuck through a small gap - no mean feat for a big halfback - and scores on the left flank. Jones just misses the conversion. France still lead. FRANCE 9 WALES 8.
57th min: Finally a decent kick by Wales as Stephen Jones finds space in the French 22. Medard kicks it out but Wales have the lineout throw 25m out.
55th min: Former captain Ryan Jones is on for Dan Lydiate who is bleeding as Wales lose another lineout from their own throw. They are the Wallabies all over again.
55th min: Wales lose 15m as they keep being met at the advantage line by a wall of blue jerseys. Jones again puts up a fairly aimless kick.
52nd min: Surging Welsh defence drives France over halfway. Dimitri Yachvili responds with a clever kick but Leigh Halfpenny unleashes a booming response. A quick lineout followed by kick sees Wales back in possession. Stephen Jones puts in a useless cross-field kick but Imanol Harinordoquy does Wales a favour by kicking out on the full. Wales win the lineout.
50th min: And now Wales pinged for collapsing the rolling maul. Parra will have another shot. The replay shows Paul James tripped over (accidentally). Parra kicks it FRANCE 9 WALES 3.
48th min: Wales clear the ball but the kick is off the side of the boot. This is beginning to look like the South Africa-Australia game. Wales cannot escape their own territory.
47th min: France have made two changes to their front-row with Nicolas Mas and William Servat replaced by Dimitri Szarzewski and Fabien Barcella. Wales lose a lineout from their own throw 10 metres. France on the attack but their is a knock-on at the breakdown. The scrum collapses.
46th min: Parra carves them up from the srcum. He passes to Clerc and he is brought down. Faletau steals the ball eight metres out to save Wales. Stephen Jones is on for James Hook. Wales are going to play a kicking game.
45th min: Wales put an aimless kick up and France return with a better up-and-under. Wales are under the kosh as they knock on. France have the scrum 25m out.
44th min: France continue to play for field position but Medard's kick is slighty too long and Wales will re-start from the 22.
43rd min: Wales get a penalty and are on the attack except they fail to win the lineout. France clear and their is a lineout on Wales' 22.
41st min: Wales start terribly in the second half with France claiming possession from the re-start. Morgan Parra eventually takes a drop shot at goal and misses to the left.
40th min: Wales in possibly the last play of the first half charge inton the quarter but George North knocks on just as he threatened to break the French open. There will be a scrum and France march Wales backwards. Dimitri Yachvili boots the ball out and that is halftime.
38th min: Wales go through the phases but eventually they get frustrated and go for field goal. Hook misses by some margin.
37th min: Wales at scrum time opt for the quick strike and Faletau to pick up from the back as they get marched backwards. Wales put up the high ball and France knock on with Wales getting the ball back. No advantage and the scrum is packed down 25m out.
36th min: Wales are valiant with a man down. They are just shading France in open play but at scrum time, the French are right on top.
35th min: He kicks it. FRANCE 6 WALES 3.
34th min: France win the lineout and and after Morgan Parra snipes at the defensive line, Dan Lydiate concedes the penalty for not staying on his feet. Parra to shoot for goal 30 metres out in front.
33rd min: From the re-start Wales charge back into France territory but they fail to release at the breakdown and France get the penalty.
31st min: Jamie Roberts charges through the French defence. From the next phjase a kick is put through for Shane Williams to chase but Palisson gets to the ball to save the day.
28th min: France are playing into Wales's hands here. They are trying attacking kicks inside their own half, but really with their man advantage they should try and play for field position to keep the pressure on. A chip kick by Morgan Parra is dangerous but cleaned up by Leigh Halfpenny just inside France territory. However there is a penalty at the breakdown and James Hook will take a long range shot. He misses.
27th min: Faletau cleans up at the base of the scrum and Wales clear the ball. France take a long range shot at field goal and James Hook runs it back before kicking the ball into space.
27th min: France's scrum is on top now. What a difference the extra man makes.
24th min: The crowd is really behind the Welsh now as a sloppy lineout cedes possession back to Wales. But now France get the ball back and Morgan Parra cuts them wide open. He puts the kick through for Palisson but Leigh Halfpenny grabs possession. The clearing kick is charged down and France are right on Wales' line. Heroic defence from Wales repels France and eventually there is a knock on.
23rd min: France look more composed now that have the man advantage but it is Wales who have the ball inside French territory.
21st min: He kicks it. FRANCE 3 WALES 3.
20th min: France now get some dominance in the scrum and get a penalty inside the quarter. Morgan Parra will take the shot.
19th min: Warburton will surely miss the final if Wales qualify against the odds. France are on the attack but knock on in Wales' quarter. A touch harsh on Warburton, a sin bin would have been more appropriate.
19th min: Trouble here for Sam Warburton. He has tipped tackle Vincent Clerc and Warburton is SENT OFF.
18th min: France get a lucky break. They were being driven back at the advantage line and the clearing kick is nearly charged down but is touched by Wales and the ball goes out pastg halfway. France win the lineout.
16th min: And we have our first falcon of the night. Jamie roberts makes a half break and just when things look dangerous for France, the inside ball cannons into Jonathan Davies' head. France win the scrum under pressure.
14th min: Wales wins a kicking duel which featured some excellent play by Alexis Pallison from France but James Hook's kick is a monster and France kick it out 25m from their own line. Wales win the lineout.
13th min: From the re-start excellent work from Toby Faletau and Shane Williams releases George North down the left flank. Eventually play breaks down as Wales is bundled into touch 15 metres out from France's line. Ther French win the lineout.
12th min: Hook misses this shot which is a huge relief for France. He slipped on the turf just before kicking it.
11th min: Wales get a scrum penalty 35 metres out almost in front. Wales appear to be the dominant pack at scrum time.
10th min: France are losing some compusure. Some poor handling allows Wales to attack the breakdown and re-gain possession. Rolland calls up the knock on Wales have the scrum feed 45m out from France's line. Big blow for Wales as tioght-head prop Adam Jones hobbles off. Paul James is on.
9th min: Alun-Wyn Jones does well from the re-start. Wales hoof it down field and Maxime Medard runs it back.
8th min: And he nails it from the sideline. WALES 3 FRANCE 0.
7th min: France win the lineout following the penalty and James Hook kicks across field. George North fields it just inside the sideline but Thierry Dusautoir concedes another penalty at the breakdown about 30m out from France's line. James Hook to take the shot.
5th min: France attack but Nicolas Mas knocks on. Wales get the advantage and kick down field. France have possession again just inside Wales territory. Francce put up the high ball, but there's not much forward propolsion and the ball comes straight down. France have possession again but concede a penalty at the breakdown.
3rd min: William Servat puts France on the front foot with a surging run. Dimitri Yachvili follows with a clever kick and Leigh Halfpenny ushers the ball out, but knocks on. France win the scrum 15m out.
2nd min: No mucking around from Alain Rolland, within seconds of the scrum engagement he blows the whistle in France's favour. They find touch near halfway.
1st min: Shaky start from France. They receive the kick off but put a poor kick into touch. Wales win the lineout and move into the 22 but drop the ball. Scrum inside France's quarter.
Anthem watch: Both sets of players passionate in their singing. Wales and France are up for this clash - which you expect they would be.
Weather watch: It's bucketing down which I think will suit the French.
Pre-game: the players are out on the field for the national anthems. Stating the bleeding obvious but the winner tonight goes through to the final to face the winner of tomorrow night's clash between the host nation New Zealand and Australia.
Welcome to RugbyHeaven's coverage of the the first semi-final between Wales and France from Eden Park.
Tonight's teams are:
France: Maxime Medard; Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson; Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili; Imanol Harinordoquy, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir (capt); Lionel Nallet, Pascal Pape; Nicolas Mas, William Servat, Jean-Baptiste Poux
Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Barcella, Julien Pierre, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Francois Trinh-Duc, Jean Marc Doussain, Cedric Heymans
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; James Hook, Mike Phillips; Toby Faletau, Sam Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate; Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris; Adam Jones, Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: Lloyd Burns, Paul James, Bradley Davies, Ryan Jones, Lloyd Williams, Stephen Jones, Scott Williams
Referee: Alain Rolland (IRL)
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