France vs Wales LIVE rugby: Result and reaction from Six Nations 2023 clash in Paris

Four Welsh tries won’t at all please Shaun Edwards, but France finish with a bonus point win to at least put a little extra pressure on Ireland this evening. It looked at one stage in the second half like the hosts would carve Wales open, but where England faded last week, Warren Gatland’s side grew to end their campaign in a much more positive manner.

Let’s be clear – Wales are still a long way off, but there were plenty of good bits to give Gatland a little more confidence leading in to his summer of World Cup preparations.

Wales will go away with a bonus point!

That’s a top finish from Rio Dyer. Justin Tipuric puts the ball in his gas-man’s hands, and the wing bolts between Damian Penaud and Thomas Ramos, sending the pair sprawling away as he keeps his legs churning.

He slides over to ensure the last note is a Welsh one – Leigh Halfpenny’s final act in the Six Nations, you would think, is a typically precise touchline conversion to further narrow the final margin.

Another simple run-in for Damian Penaud!

France bide their time and pick their moment to play wide, with the right wing in space and screaming for the ball. Thomas Ramos evades Rio Dyer to ensure the space remains as he releases a pass, and Penaud ambles in for his second try of the afternoon. Up the French try-scoring charts he continues to climb – he’s beyond the late, great Christophe Dominici now.

Ramos converts superbly once more.

France’s maul is collapsed by a Welshman. Penalty.

Peato Mauvaka taps and rumbles. Maxime Lucu runs a switch play with Jonathan Danty, who pushes close. Six Nations debutant Bastien Chalureau nearly reaches the line with a long plant of the left arm, but is stopped short.

Another Ramos nudge is carried over the touchline by a corner-flagging Tomos Williams.

Three French changes. Yoram Moefana, Maxime Lucu and Sekou Macalou come on, with Ethan Dumortier, Antoine Dupont and Charles Ollivon replaced.

Leigh Halfpenny and Owen Williams are introduced by Warren Gatland.

Just a little spice to proceedings now, with a few off-ball collisions and hefty contacts around the ruck bringing the crowd into the contest. Romain Ntamack topples over a grounded Louis Rees-Zammit as he takes impressively in the air, but the Wales full back’s challenge was legal.

Rees-Zammit provides speedy cover to ensure Thomas Ramos’ kick in behind is not first grounded by French hands. Goalline drop out.

Dan Biggar claims a high bomb superbly up above Romain Ntamack, but he limps away after falling awkwardly in an Antoine Dupont tackle. The fly-half will soldier on, hoping to run it off.

Wales have stayed in the fight in the second half, with Tomos Williams crossing for their third try:

That’s more like France! Damian Penaud canters through a great gaping space in the Welsh kick chase, George North exposed by a lack of inside support. Penaud ignores two better options in support to throw a pass wider to Ethan Dumortier.

Penaud is clattered into by Gareth Thomas, staying down to try and draw a penalty from the officials. France turn the ball over and Penaud is back on his feet appealing, but TMO Joy Neville clears Thomas contact, perhaps right in feeling that the wing had milked it slightly.

This has been very, very good from Wales in the last ten minutes when they might have simply folded. Tomos Williams has added plenty since his introduction at scrum-half, twice involved in this passage to eventually capitalise on space to score.

A pre-called play sees Justin Tipuric lurk on the left after the Welsh lineout drive as the rest of the forwards attack infield. Williams finds the flanker with a wide pass, with Tipuric chopped down about two metres short.

Two more punchy carries create enough room for the livewire nine to snipe in. Dan Biggar converts.