A DRAMATIC 72nd minute dive to the corner from George North lit up an otherwise forgettable Six Nations encounter in Paris.
The young winger’s diving finish broke the deadlock and set Wales on their way to a 6-16 victory away to France.
Two penalties apiece from Leigh Halfpenny and Freddy Michalak had give the sides an inseparable fell up to that point.
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But the Welsh fullback would add a conversion and a penalty to put an end to Wales’ eight-game losing streak – a run which stretched back to their last meeting with France in March last year.
In a game more notable more for the difficult conditions of the Paris pitch than the incisive rugby, the hosts struggled to string phases together after multiple handling errors in the opening 40 minutes.
Wales, who missed an early drop goal attempt from Dan Biggar, started on top – but in a tale reflective of the remainder of the half – could not turn possession into points against a solid French defence.
Les Bleus’ best opportunity of the first half arrived arrived midway through it, after Halfpenny and Michalak had exchanged penalties, but Yoann Huget spurned an opportunity in the right corner.
The Toulouse fullback opted to keep the ball in hand, rather than release Wesley Fofana in the corner. The Welsh defence scrambled and extinguished the danger.
Francois Mori/AP/Press Association Images
The teams entered the tunnel at half time to the sound of boos raining down from the stand.
30 minutes of the second half provided only two more penalties, but when North found himself one-on-one with Francois Trinh-Duc on the left wing the 21-year-old propelled himself through the replacement out half and the TMO would show he planted the ball down before any part of his body reconnected with the soft Paris turf.
The result consigns France to their second defeat of this year’s Six Nations, after beginning the tournament as favourites prior to defeat in Rome last Sunday.
6 Nations: North's flying finish ends Welsh losing run
A DRAMATIC 72nd minute dive to the corner from George North lit up an otherwise forgettable Six Nations encounter in Paris.
The young winger’s diving finish broke the deadlock and set Wales on their way to a 6-16 victory away to France.
Two penalties apiece from Leigh Halfpenny and Freddy Michalak had give the sides an inseparable fell up to that point.
But the Welsh fullback would add a conversion and a penalty to put an end to Wales’ eight-game losing streak – a run which stretched back to their last meeting with France in March last year.
In a game more notable more for the difficult conditions of the Paris pitch than the incisive rugby, the hosts struggled to string phases together after multiple handling errors in the opening 40 minutes.
Wales, who missed an early drop goal attempt from Dan Biggar, started on top – but in a tale reflective of the remainder of the half – could not turn possession into points against a solid French defence.
Les Bleus’ best opportunity of the first half arrived arrived midway through it, after Halfpenny and Michalak had exchanged penalties, but Yoann Huget spurned an opportunity in the right corner.
The Toulouse fullback opted to keep the ball in hand, rather than release Wesley Fofana in the corner. The Welsh defence scrambled and extinguished the danger.
The teams entered the tunnel at half time to the sound of boos raining down from the stand.
30 minutes of the second half provided only two more penalties, but when North found himself one-on-one with Francois Trinh-Duc on the left wing the 21-year-old propelled himself through the replacement out half and the TMO would show he planted the ball down before any part of his body reconnected with the soft Paris turf.
The result consigns France to their second defeat of this year’s Six Nations, after beginning the tournament as favourites prior to defeat in Rome last Sunday.
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