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France gave Shaun Edwards a Cardiff return to remember as Les Bleus stayed on course for a Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam by beating Wales 27-23.<\/p>\nFrance gave Shaun Edwards a Cardiff return to remember as Les Bleus stayed on course for a Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam by beating Wales 27-23.<\/p>\n
Former Wales defense coach Edwards, now performing the same role with France, looked on as his team ran in tries from full-back Anthony Bouthier, lock Paul Willemse and fly-half Romain Ntamack.<\/p>\n
Ntamack added three conversions and two penalties for a 17-point haul, with Les Bleus claiming a first win on Welsh soil since 2010.<\/p>\n
And it proved richly deserved despite Wales clawing back to one point behind early in the second period through prop Dillon Lewis\u2019 first try for his country and fly-half Dan Biggar touching down late on.<\/p>\n
Biggar booted two conversions and three penalties, collecting 18 points, yet Wales could have few complaints after falling to a second successive defeat under new head coach Wayne Pivac.<\/p>\n
The reigning Six Nations champions suffered a first home reversal in the tournament since England toppled them three years ago.<\/p>\n
They now have to pick themselves up for a Twickenham appointment with England in two weeks\u2019 time, while resurgent France will complete a Six Nations clean sweep if they see off Scotland at Murrayfield, followed by Ireland in Paris.<\/p>\n
Wales showed two changes from the side beaten by Ireland a fortnight ago, with scrum-half Gareth Davies replacing Tomos Williams and flanker Ross Moriarty preferred to Aaron Wainwright.<\/p>\n
Powerhouse centre Virimi Vakatawa returned to the French midfield following injury, partnering Arthur Vincent, with Gael Fickou deputizing for Vincent Rattez, who is recovering from a broken leg.<\/p>\n
Biggar kicked a fourth-minute penalty that opened the scoring, yet France responded in clinical fashion just three minutes later.<\/p>\n
Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny failed to gather Ntamack\u2019s steepling kick, and Les Bleus did not require a second invitation as Bouthier gathered and sprinted clear to score.<\/p>\n
Ntamack converted, and alarm bells quickly rang again in the Welsh defense when wing Teddy Thomas looked to be clear, but the home side snuffed out danger.<\/p>\n
France, though, continued to dominate, and Ntamack extended their lead through an angled penalty after Wales lost George North.<\/p>\n
North, who was winning his 94th cap, did not return after going off for a head injury assessment following an aerial collision with Fickou, and Johnny McNicholl replaced him.<\/p>\n
A second Biggar penalty cut the deficit, yet Wales immediately found themselves under pressure when France broke incisively and Fickou touched down after gathering Ntamack\u2019s kick.<\/p>\n
But referee Matt Carley ruled it out following a forward pass in the build-up from Bouthier to Vakatawa, and Wales escaped.<\/p>\n
It was a reprieve that lasted barely two minutes, though, as the French forwards drove an attacking lineout and Willemse touched down, with Ntamack converting.<\/p>\n
Wales were being out-run and out-thought, and despite Biggar completing a penalty hat-trick as the interval approached, France continued to dominate.<\/p>\n
There were chances for Wales ahead of the break, when they twice sacrificed kickable penalties for attacking scrums, fancying their chances after Les Bleus number eight Gregory Alldritt was sin-binned.<\/p>\n
But aggressive French defense kept Wales out, and the visitors enjoyed a deserved 17-9 interval advantage.<\/p>\n
Wales knew they had to announce themselves in the game, and their response was impressive, with Lewis crashing over for a 47th-minute try that Biggar converted to make it a one-point contest.<\/p>\n
Wales\u2019 mini revival was a true test of the French, yet their response spoke volumes, with Ntamack intercepting Nick Tompkins\u2019 pass and sprinting 60 meters to score before converting his try.<\/p>\n
It was a savage blow for Wales to absorb, and a 64th-minute Ntamack penalty gave France a double figures advantage as their sizable travelling support belted out the French national anthem.<\/p>\n
Wales went close to a second try 15 minutes from time, but hooker Ken Owens\u2019 pass to wing an unmarked Josh Adams was interrupted by Willemse, whose knock-down conceded a penalty, yet saw him avoid a yellow card.<\/p>\n
Prop Mohamed Haouas was sin-binned, though, for a technical infringement as Wales began to pile on pressure, but their scrum folded under pressure and Les Bleus cleared.<\/p>\n
Biggar\u2019s try, that he also converted, set up a grandstand finish, but France closed out the game amid a late skirmish involving both packs, to claim a famous win.<\/p>\n