SPOT AS THEY EDGE THEIR WAY PAST THE FRENCH

Halfpenny missed the conversion, yet he soon found his range by landing an angled penalty as Wales took an 8-3 lead following a lively opening that showcased adventure from both sides.

A second Halfpenny penalty extended Wales’ advantage, but France hit back in scintillating style through a try that owed everything to slick handling and lung-busting support play.

Fickou began the move just inside his own half, and it was taken on at pace by hooker Adrien Pelissie and lock Paul Gabrillagues, before quickly recycled possession ended with Fickou touching down at pace, having crossed from the opposite wing.

Machenaud added the conversion, only for Halfpenny to complete his penalty hat-trick 10 minutes before the break as both sides continued to probe for attacking space during an entertaining contest.

The French scrum-half, though, missed a penalty on the stroke of half-time, and Wales held a fourpoint advantage at the midway point in the battle for second place.

France dominated the early second-half exchanges, and a Machenaud penalty made it a one-point game as Les Bleus’ impressive close-quarter handling game began making in-roads, giving Wales plenty of food for thought.

Wales, despite the odd charge from outstanding number eight Taulupe Faletau, could not establish any kind of territorial foothold in the French half, and even with 20 minutes to go, it looked as though they were hanging on.

France continued to monopolise possession, denying Wales front-foot ball, yet their own attacking limitations were also exposed as the ball too often failed to find Fickou or his fellowwing Remy Grosso.

Trinh-duc then missed a straightforward penalty that would have nudged France ahead – Machenaud had been replaced five minutes earlier – and Wales survived as a dreary, error-strewn encounter lurched towards its conclusion.