Wales claim memorable win in Paris

George North scored the only try of the game for Wales
9 February 2013

Reigning RBS 6 Nations champions Wales ended their dismal run of eight successive defeats with a 16-6 win over France - their first victory at the Stade de France since 2005.

Wing George North's 73rd-minute try condemned pre-tournament favourites France to a second Six Nations loss this season after they were beaten by Italy in Rome last weekend.

And with full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicking three penalties and a conversion from his four shots at goal, Wales quickly consigned last Saturday's home defeat against Ireland to history.

It was their biggest victory in the French capital for 38 years, and keeps alive chances of retaining a Six Nations title they won in Grand Slam fashion last season.

France, though, are bottom of the championship, with two Frederic Michalak penalties their only scoring reward from a game that saw them booed off by a capacity crowd.

And a playing surface that cut up badly throughout the contest epitomised an ugly, scruffy French performance before Wales put them out of their misery by scoring 10 points during the final seven minutes.

France must now pick themselves up for successive trips to England and Ireland, while Wales face a Rome appointment with Italy in two weeks' time.

Although the title still appears to be out of reach for Wales, they have at least given themselves a fighting chance of again being in the mix for Six Nations silverware.

Stand-in captain Ryan Jones told BBC Sport: "It's special, on the back of where we've come from these last few months. It was by no means a flawless display, there were a lot of errors there, but the character and die-hard spirit was something special.

"We knew our errors last week were our undoing, so we tightened a few things up and we've taken the spoils."

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