How they rated
Had the French had him at Agincourt, history might have turned out differently. Halfpenny’s goal-kicking was again important and he was calm throughout in general play.
GEORGE NORTH
Quiet for much of the opening half, aside from one good take of a high ball. A strong run towards end brought crowd to feet, but North was penalised for not releasing. He at least stuck to his task.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
A few mistakes but set up Liam Williams’s try with deft kick through and displayed a relish for the physical side of the game with a turnover or two. Took a knee to the face but stayed on the pitch and shirked nothing.
HADLEIGH PARKES
Failed to win the man-of-the-match award this time, which made a change. Indeed, he made a couple of mistakes in the opening 15 minutes, including putting the ball out on the full. Then Gael Fickou went clear of him for a try. Test rugby isn’t all plain sailing.
LIAM WILLIAMS
Gave himself an early confidence boost with try but overran a pass from Josh Navidi and then one from Scott Williams. Also gave away a loose penalty before half-time and one midway through second half.
DAN BIGGAR
His selection had divided opinion to the point where some Trappist monks might have been tempted to join the debate. In credit in opening half with some nice clearances and pinpoint diagonal kicks.
GARETH DAVIES
Lively in opening half hour, using his pace to test the French back row. But there were occasional inaccuracies in his play. He is a threat in attack but there is still scope for improvement with his game-management.
ROB EVANS
Will not forget being smashed into touch by Mathieu Bastareaud but was lively in loose with his charges and readiness to look for support. Welsh scrum came under heavy fire after the break, though, and he incurred the wrath of the referee.
KEN OWENS
A strong defensive effort from the Test Lion. Missed one line-out but stuck to his task even though Wales were up against it in the front five.
TOMAS FRANCIS
Had deservedly won back his starting spot after some of the best form of his Test career and he did well against Jefferson Poirot in opening half. But France brought on fresh props and turned the screw in the scrums.
CORY HILL
He is a traffic light that never turns green, boasting an impeccable defensive record in this championship. But Wales struggled for ball after the break and Hill wasn’t exactly prominent.
ALUN WYN JONES (MAN OF THE MATCH)
You can’t keep a good man down. Immense and the difference between Wales winning and losing.
JUSTIN TIPURIC
Two turnovers in the first half helped Wales turn around with an interval lead. Tipuric also did his bit in defence and tried to get into the game with ball in hand, but was pulled off on 56 minutes.
TAULUPE FALETAU
Another who found himself on the wrong end of a mighty hit by Bastareaud. But Faletau galloped through the game like a Gold Cup winner, making at least two superb breaks, one of which covered 35 metres. A class act.
JOSH NAVIDI
Couldn’t stop Adrien Pelissie from triggering the first French try. That said, another major tackling performance and continued to graft when the going got tough for his side in the second half. Dee, Smith, Lee, B Davies, Shingler, A Davies, Anscombe, S Evans.