Dan Biggar touches down
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A superb Dan Biggar try in the second half helped Wales to claim a hard-fought 20-13 victory over France in the Stade de France.

The first half saw little in the way of flowing rugby, but with Leigh Halfpenny proving more accurate than kicking counterpart Camille Lopez, Wales took a 6-3 lead into the dressing room at half-time.

After another exchange of penalties, it fell to Biggar to score the breakthrough try, but it owed much to superb handling on the edge of the France 22 by Dan Lydiate, which opened the space perfectly for the Wales fly-half to burst through to the corner.

Brice Dulin pulled France back within four points with a 68th-minute try, but a final penalty from Halfpenny clinched a seven-point win for Warren Gatland's men.

Wales arrived in Paris seeking a fourth successive Six Nations victory over France that would keep them among this season's title contenders.

Head coach Gatland made four changes from the team that beat Scotland a fortnight ago, calling up wing George North, hooker Scott Baldwin, prop Samson Lee and lock Luke Charteris.

North, who was rested against Scotland after taking two heavy knocks to his head during the England game nine days previously, became at 22 the youngest player in international rugby union history to make 50 Test match appearances - 47 for Wales and three as a British and Irish Lion.

Rhys Webb is hauled back by Yoann Maestri © Getty Images

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France boss Philippe Saint-Andre, meanwhile, changed five of the side beaten by Ireland last time out as he handed starts to full-back Dulin, wing Sofiane Guitoune, centre Remi Lamerat, scrum-half Morgan Parra and lock Romain Taofifenua, who replaced the suspended Pascal Pape.

France dominated early territory and their fired-up approach was underlined through a crunching tackle by wing Yoann Huget on his opposite number Liam Williams.

Wales soon settled, though, and after moving smoothly through the phases, they went ahead in the seventh minute when Halfpenny booted a penalty.

Given that it was a win-or-bust game for both teams, with the losers knowing they would no longer be in Six Nations title contention, there was plenty of admirable attacking adventure on show.

France fly-half Lopez looked to unlock the Wales defence by mixing his kicking and running approach, yet the visitors, having not conceded a try against Les Bleus in the countries' last four meetings, held firm through impressive organisation.

Lopez then drew France level through a short-range penalty, and there was an early introduction off the bench for powerhouse centre Mathieu Bastareaud as the opening quarter ended 3-3.

Lopez then missed a chance to put France ahead when he rifled a penalty attempt wide, and there remained little to choose between the teams as Wales burst into Les Bleus' 22 following centre Jonathan Davies' kick and chase that had the home side back-pedalling.

It gave Wales an attacking scrum and they used possession well, spinning it wide in an attempt to free North, but France infringed and Halfpenny kicked the resulting penalty to take him past 450 points for Wales.

Wales were now well and truly into their stride, with their forwards securing plenty of front-foot ball for scrum-half Rhys Webb to utilise, but France came storming back as Huget powered over the try-line. However, referee Jaco Peyper correctly ruled a forward pass during build-up play.

It was a warning to Wales, though, as the half ended with matters still very much in the melting pot.

France changed their goal kicker at the start of the second period, with Parra taking over from Lopez, but he also failed to find the target and Wales preserved their three-point advantage.

Lopez then regained the job seven minutes later, and he hauled France level, only for Wales to edge back in front when Halfpenny completed his penalty hat-trick.

It was a real nip-and-tuck contest, with neither side able to break clear on the scoreboard, but the Wales pack - roundly criticised after the defeat against England three weeks ago - began to take charge.

The Wales scrum consistently held up well and attacking opportunities began to increase on the back of that set-piece solidity, but it remained 9-6 heading into the final quarter.

Wales then stunned France by scoring the opening try with 20 minutes left, and it came from a trademark Webb break.

The Ospreys No.9 burst clear into space, found flanker Lydiate in support and his pass sent Biggar scampering to clear to touch down in the corner.

Halfpenny failed to land the difficult conversion attempt, but he was back on target just five minutes later, kicking a fourth successful penalty as Wales opened up a 17-6 advantage.

But such a healthy lead did not last long as France hit back when they recycled possession wide quickly and Dulin dived over to score.

It was France's first try try against Wales in five Tests, and Lopez booted the conversion to leave the home side just four points adrift.

Halfpenny then kicked his fifth penalty to give Wales a 20-13 lead, and despite a last-ditch French flurry, the visitors deservedly held on for victory.

Camille Lopez is sent tumbling by a Sam Warburton tap tackle © Getty Images

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