France defeated Wales in Cardiff, securing a win in the Women's Six Nations. Despite the victory, France remains in second place in the tournament standings.
France slipped to second in the Six Nations table despite victory in Cardiff [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Women's Six Nations
Wales (7) 7
Tries: Penalty try
France (7) 38
Tries: Fall Raclot, Feleu, Murie, Bourdon Sansus, Grando 2. Cons: Arbez 4
France produced a second-half power show to shrug off a resilient Wales in Cardiff.
Wales led through a penalty try as they aimed to end a run of nine defeats in a row to France.
But the visitors simply had too much muscle, class and know-how to be denied a comfortable 38-7 win at the Arms Park.
France even survived a spell down to 13 players as Madoussou Fall Raclot hit back before seizing control through Manae Feleu, Lea Marie and player of the match Pauline Bourdon Sansus.
Anais Grando added to her try last week with two late scores but it was not enough to prevent France slipping to second in the Six Nations table, behind England on points difference after the Red Roses crushed Scotland 84-7.
The final score was France 7, Wales 7, with France winning on a penalty try.
France slipped to second place despite their victory due to the overall points and standings in the tournament.
The match took place in Cardiff.
France is competing in the Women's Six Nations tournament.
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Wales were eyeing a first victory in the tournament for two years and a first over France in a decade with the scores level at half-time.
They had matched Les Bleues, taking the lead through their driving lineout after France prop Yllana Brosseau was shown a yellow card.
Gwenllian Pyrs spearheaded an impressive maul and France scrum-half Bourdon Sansus was lured into conceding a penalty try and a second card for the visitors in two minutes.
But France not only had the nous but the power up front to emerge from the nine-minute spell with 13 players on level terms, as lock Fall Raclot finished a series of drives to score their first try.
Wales, who lost Carys Cox to injury before kick-off, made some headway with fellow centre Courtney Keight and full-back Kayleigh Powell.
But there was an over-reliance on the lone kicking of fly-half Lleucu George who had an off-day with the boot.
In contrast, France boasted so many options, pinning Wales back time and again through Carla Arbez, Bourdon Sansus and Pauline Barrat.
Wales were committed in defence against such overwhelming power as Powell and Seren Singleton - making her first Test start - provided big hits, and Kelsey Jones held up Assia Khalfaoul over the try line to remain 7-7 at half-time.
The defensive effort would take its toll as the French response in the second half was inevitable and immediate.
Captain Feleu and scrum-half Bourdon Sansus pulled the strings to ensure France swiftly took control.
Each scored a try, as well as creating another for wing Murie in the space of 13 devastating minutes.
Wales, to their immense credit, refused to buckle as Singleton and Jenna De Vera, just moments after taking the field for her Test debut, pulled off try-saving tackles.
But Grando crossed twice late on to inflict a scoreline that did not reflect Welsh effort.
Wales: Powell; Singleton, Dallavalle, Keight, Joyce; George, Lockwood; Pyrs, Jones, Tuipulotu, Aiono, Crabb, Lewis, Williams (capt), King.
Replacements: Reardon, Davies, Rose, John, Metcalfe, Evans, Bevan, De Vera.
France: Barrat; Grando, Rousset, Vernier, Murie; Arbez, Bourdon Sansus; Brosseau, Lazarko, Khalfaoui, Zago, Fall Raclot, Berthoumieu, M Feleu (capt), L Champon.
Replacements: Riffonneau, Mwayembe, Deshaye, Soqeta, Escudero, A Chambon, T Feleu.
Sin bin: Brosseau (14), Bourdon Sansus (15)
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)
Assistants: Precious Pazani (ZRU),Emily Hope (RFU)
TMO: Estelle Whaiapu (NZR)