Wales scored four tries but couldn’t upset France in the Six Nations encounter in Paris as the hosts ran out 41-28 winners.
It was a defiant display from Warren Gatland’s players, underlined by Rio Dyer having the final word with a last-minute touchdown.
They weren’t close enough to seriously challenge for the win, though, with the French taking the game away from their opponents with a superb mid-game surge.
But Gatland will see some positives in this effort at the end of a difficult championship for his side.
MARK ORDERS dishes out the player ratings.
Louis Rees-Zammit 6
Rees-Zammit has won almost all his caps as a wing but looked to get on the ball from full-back and made more than hundred metres with ball in hand. Unable to stop the Uini Atonio from scoring, but then not many would have stopped the giant prop. Whether he's a wing or a 15 is still up for debate.
Josh Adams 5
Out of form going into this game and didn’t pose much of a threat in the opening half, with the wing too easily closed down. Came up with one superb take in the air and didn’t hide but there needs to be more.
George North 6
Became Wales’ all-time record try scorer in the Six Nations with early touchdown — his 23rd in the championship — but the visitors’ midfield defence was ripped open too often.
Nick Tompkins 6
Couldn’t stop Ntamack in build-up to France’s first try and not always especially poised, though did try to keep moves alive with offloads. Great read headed off danger, never less than busy.
Rio Dyer 6
Ran up a blind alley at one point where three French players were waiting for him and duly stripped him of possession. Unable to stop Danty scoring shortly after. On the plus side, he didn’t stop working and earned reward with try at end.
Dan Biggar 6
Looked up the definition of ‘defiance’ in the dictionary and there may well be a picture of Biggar. Stopped a Dupont break by holding onto jersey and kept battling, with pass in build-up to Roberts’ try something special, although he’ll be annoyed to have missed touch from a penalty and Wales' attack still lacked flow.
Rhys Webb 6
The previous week’s hero threw out a sumptuous pass to North for try but later put Biggar in trouble with a delivery. A decent effort, overall; replaced on 55 minutes.
The fans' Wales Six Nations verdict: Have your say
Wyn Jones 3
Started with a couple of punchy carries, but the scrum is his bread and butter and he endured a difficult afternoon, giving away a couple of penalties. Subbed early in second half.
Ken Owens 6
Some good work at the lineouts early doors, varying his throws and finding his jumpers every time. Decent defending and carrying, too. Replaced on 45 minutes as Wales looked to up tempo.
Tomas Francis 5
The Welsh scrum was under pressure in the opening half, although the problems seemed on the other side. Francis carried a bit and put in some tackles without playing the house down.
Adam Beard 6
Competed well in lineouts and made some ground with ball in hand while doing his bit in the tight exchanges. There was onc ball spillage, but Beard performed solidly enough.
Alun Wyn Jones 6
Almost certainly his final Six Nations game, and started like a house on fire, making a flurry of carries and passes. A bump to the head checked his momentum and he was later replaced, spending 33 minutes on the pitch.
Aaron Wainwright 6
Sighted less often over the previous six weeks than the yeti in dense fog, but carried really well early on here. Failed to remove Marchand at one breakdown, but he did make ground and he missed with just one out of 11 tackle attempts.
Justin Tipuric 8
Defended brilliantly, felling 18 opposition ball carriers all told, and pulled an improbable turnover out of the bag in third quarter. Tipuric also popped up increasingly in the wide channels later on and made contributions to several of the Welsh tries. Didn’t stop from minute one to minute 80.
Taulupe Faletau 7
Marked his hundredth cap with much powerful carrying. One of his 12 passes went behind North, but there was a majestic charge from a scrum deep in Welsh territory; Faletau also took responsibility for restarts. Class, then, as always.
REPLACEMENTS
Bradley Roberts 7
One missed lineout, but expertly finished try: added impetus.
Gareth Thomas 7
Improved the scrum, four hits but couldn’t get hands on ball.
Dillon Lewis 7
Smashed backwards in tackle by Wardi but carried and scrummed well.
Dafydd Jenkins 6
Nice chop tackles, played to the whistle.
Tommy Reffell 6
Involved in build-up to Williams’ try, conceded penalty.
Tomos Williams 8
Best display for a long time. Put in some lovely kicks behind the defence, took try well and looked lively.
Owen Williams 5
A few passes.
Leigh Halfpenny 6
Joined moves, trademark conversion.
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