Wales missed a big opportunity to derail France's Six Nations Grand Slam challenge as Fabien Galthie's team ran out 13-9 winners in Cardiff.
The hosts dominated the second half without scoring in the round four clash.
It was Les Bleus’ seventh Test win in a row and they will welcome England to Paris next weekend with a Grand Slam in their sights.
But Wales will be kicking themselves.
They won an avalanche of ball and succeeded in bottling up Antoine Dupont, but couldn’t come up with the inspiration that would have yielded a try.
MARK ORDERS hands out the player ratings.
Read next: All the reaction from Wales' defeat to France
Liam Williams 6
Loose kick in build-up to opening French try, turned over a couple of times later on and will not forget being smashed by the 20st Paul Willemse. On the plus side, Williams made ground with all in hand and did superbly to take a high ball in the third quarter. A mixed bag, then.
Alex Cuthbert 7
Not easy to back up the Hollywood stuff at Twickenham, but Cuthbert had a couple of strong runs down the wing. While there was a missed tackle, he gave it his best shot and battled to the very end.
Owen Watkin 6
One emphatic hit on Fickou but France marshalled Wales well in midfield and Watkin had few chances to impress going forward. A spark was needed which never really came.
Jonathan Davies 5
The look on Davies’ face after he failed to make the most of a potentially try–scoring pass from Taulupe Faletau said it all. It was a chance he needed to take.
The Test Lion had previously made a couple of solid runs and proved alert in defence. He’ll be having nightmares about that one moment, though.
Josh Adams 6
A try scorer against England, but not one attacking chance before the break and not called upon to make a tackle, either. More involved in the second period without ever truly threatening.
Dan Biggar 8
Cap number 99 for Biggar, but nothing flaky about his performance.
Largely kicked beautifully out of hand, with one 50:22 showing outstanding awareness and execution. Biggar also hauled down Danty with a text-book tackle.
A captain’s display.
Tomos Williams 6
Pitting his wits against the best player in the world in Antoine Dupont, he lasted barely 10 minutes before succumbing to injury. A couple of good tackles in that time.
The fans' Wales v France player ratings:
Gareth Thomas 7
His ‘reward’ for a big display off the bench against England was an evening opposing Uini Atonio, a veritable mountain of a man at 6ft 5in and 22st 12lb.
Thanks, Wayne.
Thomas grew into the game, scrummaging solidly and carrying, with one tackle on Dupont a highlight.
Ryan Elias 7
Good carrying, sound defence and a hundred percent lineout, which is never to be sniffed at.
A gutsy, battling performance, then.
Tomas Francis 7
A solid Test which saw him anchor the Welsh scrum, do a bit of tackling and even venture forward with ball in hand. He’s an important player for Wales.
Will Rowlands 8
His emergence as a Test player of calibre has been one of the major pluses of the campaign for Wales. Stole a French lineout throw, was safe on his own ball and tackled well; also gave Wales go-forward with ball in hand. An excellent Test.
Adam Beard 7
Wales’ vice-captain oversaw a vastly improved lineout and slammed the door shut in defence. Led the Welsh pack well.
Seb Davies 7
One day Wales will allow him to settle in one position, with the poor man having been asked to fill three different roles in eight previous starts for his country.
Operating at blindside, he helped improve Wales’ lineout and also put in some important hits, playing a part in blunting France's attacking edge. Left proceedings on 62 minutes.
Josh Navidi 7
The challenge was to hit the ground running after just one previous outing in five months.
It wasn’t an easy gig and Navidi uncharacteristically missed a few tackles, but he also played with real grit, slowing down French ball, making ground and nailing big French forwards.
Taulupe Faletau 8
There may be some people who’ve seen Faletau have a shocker. If there are, they would be old enough to have lived through the Franco-Prussian war.
The No. 8 was faultless during the opening half, chasing, covering, tackling and carrying.
He did concede a neck-roll penalty in the second half and was turned over.
But he’s so important for Wales.
Replacements
Dewi Lake 7
Accurate lineout, good carrying.
Wyn Jones 6
Conceded scrum penalty in first stint on the field, came back and grafted.
Dillon Lewis 5
Found it hard to make a telling impact.
Ross Moriarty 6
Big hit on Cretin, driving the Frenchman backwards. Also took lineout ball.
Jac Morgan 6
Great tackle in final stages.
Kieran Hardy 6
On after 10 minutes and marked his arrival by taking a high ball. Tried to trigger matters and top work at one maul, but Wales were too predictable.
Gareth Anscombe 5
Not able to seriously influence the match.
Louis Rees-Zammit 7
Did superbly to win maul turnover, zigged and zagged a bit near end.
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