SIX NATIONS/Wales 20 France 26:FRANCE CONTINUED their march towards probable RBS Six Nations Championship Grand Slam glory by ending Wales' title challenge at the Millennium Stadium last night.
The unbeaten tournament favourites will secure a first championship clean sweep since 2004 if they win their remaining two games against Italy and England in Paris next month.
Les Bleus look unstoppable, emphasised by an irresistible first-half display that took them 20 points clear through tries by wing Alexis Palisson and outhalf Francois Trinh-Duc.
Scrumhalf Morgan Parra added 13 points from the boot, while Wales could only manage two Stephen Jones penalties during the third quarter.
Comeback kings Wales, who scored 17 points in injury-time to beat Scotland 13 days ago, threatened another another remarkable revival when wings Leigh Halfpenny and Shane Williams posted second-half tries – but France sealed success through a late Frederic Michalak penalty and further Parra strike.
Williams’ magical solo score took him to 50 for Wales and broke Gareth Edwards’ Welsh record of 18 touchdowns in the Five/Six Nations.
France’s triumph keeps alive the prospect of a March 20th Grand Slam shoot-out when England arrive at Stade de France.
Even though Wales stepped up a gear in the second period, they found France too composed, organised and powerful as they claimed a third successive win for the first time during coach Marc Lievremont’s two-year reign.
Lievremont’s Wales counterpart Warren Gatland, though, has plenty to ponder. If they lose to Ireland in Dublin in a fortnight’s time, their home game against Italy seven days later could decide who finishes bottom of this season’s championship and takes the wooden spoon.
That seems rough justice on a Wales side that entertain the big crowd with a spirited fightback in the second half.
They showed four changes from the side that produced an immense injury-time fightback to beat Scotland a fortnight ago, including first Six Nations starts for Cardiff Blues locks Bradley Davies and Deiniol Jones.
Davies’ mother Cheryl died last week and the Wales team wore black armbands as a mark of respect. Davies also wore an embroidered message on his playing shirt – “In Loving Memory of Mam, Cheryl Davies 1964-2010.”
Lievremont, meanwhile, called up three players due to injuries – wing Julien Malzieu, lock Julien Pierre and flanker Julien Bonnaire — with ex-Sale Sharks forward Sebastien Chabal on the bench.
The atmosphere crackled under a closed roof for Britain’s first Friday night Six Nations Test, but notorious poor starters Wales soon found a predictable self-destruct button.
Gatland had spoken all week about the need for a strong opening, yet France were able to cash in with a gift sixth-minute try.
James Hook’s speculative pass to his centre partner Jamie Roberts went straight to Palisson, and he sprinted over unopposed from the halfway line for a score that Parra converted.
Hook’s missed tackle led directly to an early Scotland score in Cardiff 13 days ago, and once again he was forced to reflect on a painful blunder.
Wales struggled to cope with Les Bleus’ physical intensity, illustrated when their star centre Mathieu Bastareaud powered through his opposite number Roberts. It resulted in Parra kicking his second penalty either side of Wales lock Jones limping off to be replaced by Newport Gwent Dragons forward Luke Charteris.
Wales had a mountain to climb at 13-0 adrift, and it soon became a case of Shane or bust.
Wing wizard Williams represented Wales’ best – and seemingly only chance – of breaking down a mighty French defence.
But one from one of his trademark touchline darts, France scored a critical second try as half-time approached. Williams was tackled, and after he lobbed the ball back to his supporting team-mates, it ricocheted straight into Trinh-Duc’s hands and he easily finished off.
Parra’s second conversion gave the visitors a 20-point interval lead, leaving Wales to contemplate a damage-limitation exercise before Jones opened their account through a 46th-minute penalty after an impressive counter-attack ended when Charteris spilled possession.
It was much brighter from Wales, though, and Jones’ second penalty lifted the capacity crowd after they were left stunned by a French first-half masterclass.
And things got even better after 62 minutes when Williams appeared in midfield and rifled a scoring pass to Halfpenny. Jones’ wide-angled conversion made it 20-13 and set up a pulsating finish.
Roberts then made a sparkling break to keep Welsh hopes alive, yet he failed to find one of his supporting runners and a golden chance went begging.
In truth, it summed up Wales’ night. A case of so near, so far, after once again leaving themselves with too much to do, although Williams provided one late flash of genius.
WALES: L Byrne, L Halfpenny, J Hook, J Roberts, S Williams, S Jones, R Rees, P James, Bennett, A Jones, B Davies, D Jones, Thomas, M Williams, R Jones. Replacement: L Charteris (N-G Dragons) for D Jones 24,
FRANCE: C Poitrenaud, J Malzieu, M Bastareaud, Y Jauzion, A Palisson, F Trinh-Duc, M Parra; T Domingo, W Servat, N Mas, L Nallet, P Pape, T Dusautoir, J Bonnaire, I Harinordoquy. Replacements: D Szarzewski for Servat (51), J-B Poux for Domingo (54), F Michalak ( for Trinh-Duc, S Chabal for Pierre (64). Sin bin: Parra (64).
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa).
