Wales’ final pre-World Cup challenge ended in defeat by 34-7 as tournament hosts France provided a further powerful example of their title credentials.
The French arrived in Cardiff on the back of successive victories over England and, despite making 11 changes and experimenting with three players out of position, proved too strong for the best in Wales.
France eased into a 17-0 lead with tries from lock Jerome Thion and scrum-half Pierre Mignoni before Wales had even managed to encroach on their 22.
Fly-half James Hook kept faint Welsh hopes alive with a confident score on the stroke of half-time – but a raft of substitutions at the interval only served to make France stronger.
And where Wales struggled for accuracy in their finishing, Les Bleus were razor sharp as Aurelien Rougerie’s try 16 minutes into the second half sealed the win.
Sale hooker Sebastien Bruno, on as a half-time replacement, rounded off a thoroughly convincing afternoon for France with their fourth try in the final minute.
Wales were immediately on the back and fly-half Lionel Beauxis slotted a simple penalty and before long France scored the opening try.
The powerful Rougerie made the first charge and was held up on the line by Martyn Williams but Thion powered through Hook’s attempted tackle to touch down.
After a huge effort from the Welsh pack to force a turnover at a next five metre scrum Dwayne Peel’s attempted clearance was blocked by number eight Imanol Harinordoquy and Mignoni scooped up the loose ball to score.
Wales needed a spark and it came from Hook when his chip forward thrust Wales onto the front foot for the first time in the match.
Martyn Williams held off Pieter de Villiers and slipped the offload to Hook, who opted against feeding Shane Williams on the outside and charged head down for the line.
Hook was stopped short and did well to ground the ball – but there was no way back for Wales.
France attacked off a lineout on the Wales 22 after some excellent defensive work from Wales’ replacement scrum-half Mike Phillips and Rougerie burst onto Beauxis’ inside ball to score under the posts.
Gareth Thomas was carried off in the closing minutes after colliding with Thierry Dusautoir and his departure left Wales with just 14 men on the field.
France rounded off a thoroughly dominant performance with a try in the final minute from Bruno, who drove from close range through Matthew Rees and Ian Gough.
