Wales win the Grand Slam

Wales 29 France 12

Wales won their second Grand Slam and RBS 6 Nations title in four seasons after record-breaker Shane Williams struck gold at the Millennium Stadium.

Wing wizard Williams’ 60th-minute touchdown was his 41st for Wales, putting him above Gareth Thomas as his country’s all-time highest Test try scorer.

And it made a telling difference in an attritional contest dominated by kickers and defences, before flanker Martyn Williams added a late try.

Wales fly-half James Hook kicked three penalties, while his second-half replacement Stephen Jones slotted two conversions and two penalties, rendering France scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde’s penalty hat-trick and a late Dimitri Yachvili strike irrelevant.

Wales’ clean sweep ensured a stunning start for new coach Warren Gatland, who only took over the top job last December after a World Cup flop when Wales failed to reach the knockout stages.

But less than six months on from the misery of a World Cup exit at the hands of Fiji, Wales were crowned kings of Europe.

Wales were led out by Gwenan and Manon Gravell, the daughters of late Llanelli legend Ray Gravell, who died last year and was a member of the 1978 Grand Slam team that beat France in Cardiff.

Ospreys lock Ian Gough, who won his 50th cap, followed them as they carried the Triple Crown trophy won by defeating Ireland in Dublin last Saturday.

France made a lively start, but that was negated when fly-half James Hook picked up and offloaded brilliantly to centre Tom Shanklin, who combined with full-back Lee Byrne and sent wing Mark Jones clear.

Jones slipped as he tried to cut inside France’s last line of defence, yet sustained pressure was rewarded when Hook slotted a seventh-minute penalty.

Hook’s opposite number David Skrela then sliced the restart so badly that it drifted backwards, allowing Wales the put-in to a scrum on halfway.

And that was the cue for further Wales territorial dominance, although Hook missed his second penalty kick when he drifted the ball wide, giving France a let-off.

Wales still had an appetite to press wide, using the lively Byrne and ever-alert Jones to threaten French defenders at every opportunity.

Hook kicked a second penalty in the 19th minute, giving Wales a richly-deserved 6-0 lead.

France’s first scoring opportunity came just two minutes later, and scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde made no mistakes from straight in front of the posts, 25 metres out.

But French indiscipline was never far beneath the surface, and Hook’s third successful penalty hoisted Wales 9-3 clear.

France though, were not noticeably troubled by the deficit, and they enjoyed a prolonged period inside the Wales half as Elissalde expertly mixed his tactical kicking game.

Centres Jauzion and Damien Traille also proved a handful, yet Wales, having conceded just two tries in the championship, had no intention of letting them through.

And Byrne’s steepling 40-metre clearance kick sparked huge cheers from a crowd aware of just how strong a defence Wales now possessed under coach Shaun Edwards’ direction.

Wales were impressively efficient in shutting out French attacks, and they deservedly trooped off six points clear, although not before centre Gavin Henson was sin-binned for a high tackle on France flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo.

Elissalde booted the resulting penalty.

Wales made 77 tackles during the first half - more than twice as many as France - and the visitors knew they had to prosper while Henson served his 10 minutes in the sin-bin.

Wales unquestionably faced an edgy stage of the game, and it was as if their fans could feel it as early optimism was replaced by growing anxiety.

Hook did not help them when he missed a second penalty opportunity, and France responded by running from deep, looking to utilise the searing pace of wings Vincent Clerc and Julien Malzieu.

Elissalde completed his penalty hat-trick in the 48th minute after Wales prop Gethin Jenkins was helped off following a clash of heads.

The Cardiff Blues forward was replaced by Duncan Jones, who won his 50th cap, and Wales knew they had to step up a gear, such was the impressive nature of France’s fightback.

Henson rejoined the action, then Jenkins returned instead of Jones, and there was no let-up in terms of intensity, even if skill levels were slightly below par.

Wales coach Warren Gatland made a double 56th-minute substitution, sending on Stephen Jones for Hook and replacing Bennett with Matthew Rees.

So attritional had the game become that it looked made for Jones to take charge of.

Wales went ahead in the 60th minute when a crunching tackle by Shanklin on Jauzion saw the ball bounce free – and master poacher Williams did not require a second invitation.

He hacked the ball on, and then won the sprint, claiming a Welsh Test record 41st try amid scenes of unbridled celebration.

It also moved Williams level with former England centre Will Greenwood’s record of six tries in one Six Nations season.

Jones slotted the extras, lifting Wales 16-9 clear before France infringed in midfield and Jones kicked a penalty, giving the home side a 10-point advantage.

Dimitri Yachvili, on for Elissalde, narrowed the gap through a penalty, but Jones restored a healthy lead when he found his range from 40 metres.

Wales now looked unstoppable, and Mark Jones’ brilliant 60-metre run almost produced a second try as the home side looked to finish with a flourish.

Then flanker Martyn Williams put them in dreamland, adding another try three minutes from time that Jones converted, and the celebrations could begin.

It was Wales’ biggest win against France in Cardiff since 1950.