Les Bleus end Welsh dream

Cedric Heymans' second-half try ended Wales' Grand Slam hopes in a 21-16 defeat to France in Paris on Friday night.

Lee Byrne had put the visiting champions in front midway through the first-half, but the French hit back with a crushing Thierry Dusautoir try to level the scores right on half-time.

And Heymans' converted try, accompanied by 11 points from make-shift kicker Morgan Parra, denied the Welsh their first back-to-back Grand Slams since 1909.

The Welsh will now turn their attentions to the championship and the Triple Crown with Ireland still to come, while France have thrown the tournament wide open with England their next opponents.

Momentum

Stephen Jones got the first ever Friday night Six Nations encounter underway with a long kick-off and the Scarlets fly-half and acting France scrum-half Parra traded early penalties to make it 3-3.

The battle for the gain line was ferociously tight at that stage, but Jones was able to restore the visitors' three-point advantage after another lapse in discipline from Les Bleus.

Then came the pivotal moment of the half as Tom Shanklin was fortunate not to be sin-binned after his early tackle in the air on Imanol Harinordoquy. First the number eight was denied a try by the video referee after manoeuvring the ball forwards on to the tryline in the ruck. And then Wales took full advantage of their let off as that man Shanklin broke through the French defence to set up quick ball that was recycled through Mike Phillips and Jones out to Byrne for the game's first converted try.

Parra maintained his perfect kicking record in Test match rugby (three out of three) as France kept in contention with a deficit of seven on the half hour mark.

After Clermont Auvergne star Benoit Baby - playing his first international at fly-half - had limped off with a knee injury, Les Bleus forced their way into Welsh territory. Once there Harinordoquy broke for the line to set Dusautoir up to drive over as France scored their first converted try to take the teams into the interval at 13-13.

Strength

Parra erred for the first time with the boot in his Test career after the restart, but it was clear the momentum had shifted France's way. Maxime Medard's kick put Andy Powell under pressure in Wales' 22.

Les Bleus were then able to move the ball from the right to left before Heymans somehow found a gap in the Welsh defensive line, after the opportunity appeared to have been lost, to cross for France's second try. Parra missed the kick, but the hosts had an 18-13 lead by the halfway stage of the second stanza.

France had the bit between their teeth and with uncharacteristic unforced errors from the likes of IRB world player of the year Shane Williams, beginning to creep into Wales' game there looked to be only one winner.

Parra missed another kickable penalty from distance though and replacement fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc a drop goal attempt before the Bourgoin youngster did eventually convert his third penalty. No sooner had he done so than Wales were back down the other end and substitute James Hook kicked Wales back to within five points with time running out.

The Ospreys star followed that up with another incredible penalty kick deep into the French 22, but inspired by the passionate Parisian crowd the hosts somehow managed to repel wave after wave of Welsh attack to hold on for the victory.