Williams brace inspires Welsh win

France 18 Wales 24

Wales showed all the character of Grand Slam champions in waiting to produce a stunning second-half comeback that secured a dramatic victory over France in Paris.

Martyn Williams scored two tries inside five minutes of the second-half to turn the game on its head after Wales had looked dead and buried in the face of a rampant French side which suddenly rediscovered its flair.

But Wales’ onslaught immediately after half-time left France rattled and from trailing 15-6 at the interval, Williams’ two tries saw Wales suddenly charge into an 18-15 lead.

A drop goal from Frederic Michalak hauled France level but Wales fly-half Stephen Jones, who finished with 14 points, edged them ahead again with a penalty.

Jones then widened the gap to six points with a drop-goal eight minutes from time before Wales produced the most courageous defensive display to hold out for a famous victory – their third in four visits to Paris.

It was an astonishing performance from Wales, who now top the Six Nations table and are in prime position to seal a first Grand Slam in 27 long years.

Today’s encounter was to be the crucial test of their championship credentials. And Mike Ruddock’s men passed with flying colours.

It seemed for 40 minutes as if they would come up short as France buried their recent disappointments with a rampant first-half display to move 15-6. And it could have been more.

Wales were forced into constant, desperate defence as they played out virtually the entire first half in their own territory.

France’s swamp-like defence swallowed up everything that was thrown at it and the hosts coughed up just two penalties for Stephen Jones to convert.

Les Bleus had warmed to their game early and produced expansive, fluid rugby for the first time in the championship.

Wales had promised an onslaught in the opening 20 minutes designed to get the fickle French crowd on the home side’s backs. What occurred was quite the opposite.

It took Yachvili just three minutes to steal around the edge of a ruck and score the opening try after the Welsh line had been broken by clever running from winger Aurelien Rougerie and under-fire fly-half Yann Delaigue.

Martyn Williams did his best to disrupt France’s momentum with a crunching tackle on Serge Betsen, but the Biarritz blindside managed an audacious off-load and Yachvili spotted the gap to score and leave himself a simple conversion.

Delaigue, often unfavourably compared to the inventive Michalak, then broke the Welsh line with a run inside Tom Shanklin and after Julien Laharrague had joined the attack down the right wing, Rougerie dived over in the corner for France’s second try in 12 minutes.

Yachvili missed the conversion, but France were rampant, unrecognisable from the side which had so struggled earlier in the championship.

The adventurous Laharrague, brought in for his “creative madness” almost stole in again down the right but was halted by Gareth Thomas’ cover-tackle. Only desperate defence then halted Christophe Dominici after another wonderful Betsen off-load.

Wales were struggling to retain any meaningful possession as the fast-moving French defence closed in but their first foray into the opposition 22 was rewarded with a penalty for Stephen Jones to convert.

But Yachvili responded in kind two minutes later after Damien Traille had escaped the attentions of Ryan Jones with a scything break down the middle.

Wales, at this point, were clinging on. In a reverse of styles Wales attempted to keep it tight, kicking and driving in the hope of retaining any type of possession.

They eventually earned a second penalty, which Jones slotted on the stroke of half-time before Wales, tired from 40 minutes spent on the backfoot, sought solace in the changing room.

If coach Mike Ruddock could bottle what he said during the interval he would surely be a millionaire.

Wales emerged without their injured captain Gareth Thomas, who had been replaced by Rhys Williams, but suddenly there were leaders all over the park.

Stephen Jones caught the French defence cold with a 60-metre break and when the ball was spun out wide, Shane Williams worked space down the line and found Martyn Williams on his inside for the try.

Jones landed the conversion and suddenly, with Wales able to play in France’s half, their spirits were lifted and France, who had been so composed, so dominant in the first half, were rattled.

Seizing the moment Martyn Williams then sent the travelling hordes from Wales into ecstasy as he stole over again.

Michael Owen took a quick tap penalty just short of the French line and was held up but the ball came back to Williams who drove for the line and stretched out to touch down for a second try in just four minutes.

In an incredible response Wales had rallied from 15-6 down to lead 18-15, prompting France coach Bernard Laporte to ring the changes. Michalak entered the fray charged with winning the game for France.

He slotted a 63rd-minute drop-goal to draw the scores level but Stephen Jones landed a third penalty and drop-goal with eight minutes remaining.

France knew they were within a converted try of victory but Wales produced some truly heroic defence to cling on to a famous victory.