The second half was only seven minutes old when Stephen Jones replaced Hook at fly-half, but the old warhorse had been on the field only a matter of seconds when Paul James was penalised for pulling down a rolling maul, giving Parra the opportunity to maintain his perfect record to widen the gap to six points.

Suddenly underpowered in the scrum and undermanned in defence, it was apparent that Wales would depend for any chance of recovery on the ability of Phillips, Roberts, Toby Faletau and George North, their most powerful ball-carriers, to drive holes in the French cover.

With 58 minutes gone Phillips finally succeeded in making a lethal incursion as he burst around a scrum close to the line, evaded Pascal Papé's attempted tackle and touched down. Disappointingly, Jones's attempted conversion hit the outside of the upright.

Wales remained on the front foot until the end, but were unable to manoeuvre Stephen Jones close enough to the posts a final, unrequited sequence of two dozen phases...

well done it Wales!

/RR