Early Welsh blitz not enough to beat France

France 32 Wales 21

Wales face a desperate battle to avoid the RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon after France powered to a comprehensive victory in Paris.

It had all started so positively as Gareth Jenkins' men, playing with a verve and intensity rarely seen from them this year, surged into a 14-3 lead after just 15 minutes.

Alix Popham burst over down the blindside and James Hook then put Tom Shanklin over under the posts. It seemed as if a fourth Welsh victory in five visits to Paris was on the cards.

But France are a lethal unit. They dominated possession, put Wales under pressure and stung them with 26 unanswered points.

Christophe Dominici jinked in for the first try, Lionel Nallet drove over for the second and fly-half David Skrela added 19 points with seven successful kicks from eight attempts.

Wales' replacement centre Jamie Robinson scored an eye-catching individual try right at the death, but by then the game was already up.

And while France march to Twickenham in a fortnight with their ambitions for a ninth Grand Slam enhanced, Wales travel to Rome in desperate straits.

Italy's victory over Scotland earlier in the day - their first away win in the history of the Six Nations - has done Wales absolutely no favours.

Wales are the only side without a victory in the championship and the pressure will rise again on Jenkins after a sixth defeat in nine Tests.

Wales were hit by a torrent of criticism for the manner of their 21-9 defeat to Scotland a fortnight ago, in which the forwards were horribly outmuscled.

Jenkins reacted to that by beefing up his pack, with Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees and Chris Horsman forming a powerful front row and Ian Gough returning at lock.

Tom Shanklin and Shane Williams both returned to lend experience and an attacking sharpness that Wales so badly missed in the opening two rounds.

Jenkins had challenged his men to restore their pride and Wales showed more creativity in the opening 15 minutes than they managed all game against Scotland.

They played with an intensity and a determination so sorely lacking two weekends ago and with it Wales raced into the lead.

After Skrela had opened the scoring with his first penalty, Wales hit France with two tries - their first of the tournament - inside five minutes.

The Welsh lineout, picked apart by Scotland, was still shaky but they pulled it together brilliantly to capitalise on a sliced clearance from Dominici.

Popham burst down the blindside from the back of the lineout drive, plundered through two tackles and stretched to score one-handed in the corner.

Wales had their tails up and after stealing a French lineout, Jones chipped ahead for James Hook to collect and provide the scoring pass for Shanklin to dive under the posts.

Jones' conversion carried Wales into a 14-3 lead but French hit back immediately with their intoxicating blend of pace and power.

Skrela landed a second penalty before Dominici, who had earlier been halted by an excellent cover tackle from Shane Williams, jinked off the left wing and slid through both Lee Byrne and Gough to score.

France were menacing the Welsh defence now and powered to within touching distance of the line after a powerful run and offload from centre Yannick Jauzion.

Serge Betsen drove forward but was halted just short of the line by Martyn Williams. France continued to hammer away at the Welsh defence and eventually the Castres lock Luke Nallet was driven over for the try.

Alun-Wyn Jones was injured in the goal-line stand and left the field groggily to be replaced by Brent Cockbain, making his first Wales appearance since November 2005.

The try pushed France back into the lead and a long-range penalty from Skrela extended the advantage to 23-14 at the interval.

Wales had been starved of possession in the second quarter and could not rely on sitting back and absorbing wave after wave of French attacks.

They hit France hard again straight from the restart and almost fashioned a sublime try after Shane Williams' electric break.

Hook combined cleverly with Shanklin but they ran out of space in the left corner and blew what would prove to be a rare chance to turn the momentum.

Wales were forced to reshuffle the back division after winger Mark Jones hobbled off gingerly and was replaced by Jamie Robinson, with Shanklin moving to the wing.

Wales were conceding too many penalties under pressure and Skrela punished them with two more successful kicks as France opened a 15-point cushion before the hour was out.

In between time Jones had missed his second penalty attempt and handed over the kicking duties to Hook, who pushed his first effort wide.

There was one last hurrah for Wales, a reminder of how potent a force they can be, when Stephen Jones made a break through the midfield and sent Robinson away for the try.