Six Nations Rugby: France lead by five at interval

Latest scores

Wales 19-24 France H/T

England 3-3 Ireland 2.30pm

Tries: Tries:

Cons: Cons:

Pens: Wilkinson Pens: Humphreys

DG: DG:

Italy 0-0 Scotland 3.30pm

Wales 19, France 24 (half-time)

Two Tony Marsh tries have given France the half-time lead against against a battling Wales in the Six Nations Championship at the Millennium Stadium.

Blue skies greeted the teams as new Welsh coach Steve Hansen sought to banish the storm clouds hanging over the team after their bruising 54-10 defeat in Dublin two weeks ago.

France, who made an unconvincing start to the Six Nations with a patchy win over Italy a fortnight ago, were facing a test of their strength in depth.

Les Tricolores went into the game without no fewer than 10 players through injury and suspension, including first and second-choice skippers Fabien Galthie and Olivier Magne, and were led by recalled hooker Raphael Ibanez, who last captained his country in the 1999 World Cup final defeat by Australia at the same Millennium Stadium.

However, the only newcomer on view was Pau forward Imanol Harinordoquy, a dynamic flanker from the Basque region who collected his first cap four days before his 22nd birthday.

Stephen Jones opened the scoring with a penalty in the third minute, which was quickly cancelled out by a penalty by Gerald Merceron two minutes later.

However, Wales scored their first try of the game in the ninth minute when Craig Quinnell went over Jones duly converted.

Wales continued to put the pressure on the French outfit but France pulled three points back through another Merceron penalty in the 23rd minute.

Three minutes later the lead changed when Tony Marsh went over after a break by the French Merceron failed to convert.

Wales responded by attacking but were held by the French defence.

Wales gained the lead in the 30th minute with a 42-metre penalty from Jones only for Merceron to put over a drop goal to make it 14-13 to France.

The sides again exchanged the lead when Jones put over a penalty in the 33rd minute.

But Tony Marsh went over for his second try of the game in the 35th minute to put distance between the sides and this time Merceron did not miss from the spot for the conversion.

Stephen Jones again kept his side within kicking distance of the French in the 38th minute with another 40-metre penalty.

Wales will begin the second half with 14 men after Martyn Williams was sin-binned in injury-time for a late tackle and Merceron again slotted over the resulting penalty to put five points between the teams at the break.