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		</div><p>France gave Shaun Edwards a Cardiff return to remember as Les Bleus stayed on course for a Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam by beating Wales 27-23.</p>
<p>Former Wales defence coach Edwards, now performing the same role with France, looked on as his team ran in tries from full-back Anthony Bouthier, lock Paul Willemse and fly-half Romain Ntamack.</p>
<p>Ntamack added three conversions and two penalties for a 17-point haul, with Les Bleus claiming a first win on Welsh soil since 2010.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="cy" dir="ltr">FULL TIME: WAL 23-27 FRA</p>
<p>A testing day in <a href="https://twitter.com/principalitysta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@principalitysta</a> for resilient Wales against a very good French side in what was a compelling match. </p>
<p>Canlyniad siomedig heno yng Nghaerdydd, ond clod lle mae&#39;n deilwng i Ffrainc. ​<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GuinnessSixNations?src=hash&;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GuinnessSixNations</a> <a href="https://t.co/xbzcYgD9z3">pic.twitter.com/xbzcYgD9z3</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Welsh Rugby Union ð (@WelshRugbyUnion) <a href="https://twitter.com/WelshRugbyUnion/status/1231289178199117824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>And it proved richly deserved despite Wales clawing back to one point behind early in the second period through prop Dillon Lewis’ first try for his country and fly-half Dan Biggar touching down late on.</p>
<p>Biggar booted two conversions and three penalties, collecting 18 points, yet Wales could have few complaints after falling to a second successive defeat under new head coach Wayne Pivac.</p>
<p>The reigning Six Nations champions suffered a first home reversal in the tournament since England toppled them three years ago.</p>
<p>They now have to pick themselves up for a Twickenham appointment with England in two weeks’ time, while resurgent France will complete a Six Nations clean sweep if they see off Scotland at Murrayfield, followed by Ireland in Paris.</p>
<p>Wales showed two changes from the side beaten by Ireland a fortnight ago, with scrum-half Gareth Davies replacing Tomos Williams and flanker Ross Moriarty preferred to Aaron Wainwright.</p>
<p>Powerhouse centre Virimi Vakatawa returned to the French midfield following injury, partnering Arthur Vincent, with Gael Fickou deputising for Vincent Rattez, who is recovering from a broken leg.</p>
<p>Biggar kicked a fourth-minute penalty that opened the scoring, yet France responded in clinical fashion just three minutes later.</p>
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<div>Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny failed to gather Ntamack’s steepling kick, and Les Bleus did not require a second invitation as Bouthier gathered and sprinted clear to score.</div>
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<p>Ntamack converted, and alarm bells quickly rang again in the Welsh defence when wing Teddy Thomas looked to be clear, but the home side snuffed out danger.</p>
<p>France, though, continued to dominate, and Ntamack extended their lead through an angled penalty after Wales lost George North.</p>
<p>North, who was winning his 94th cap, did not return after going off for a head injury assessment following an aerial collision with Fickou, and Johnny McNicholl replaced him.</p>
<p>A second Biggar penalty cut the deficit, yet Wales immediately found themselves under pressure when France broke incisively and Fickou touched down after gathering Ntamack’s kick.</p>
<p>But referee Matt Carley ruled it out following a forward pass in the build-up from Bouthier to Vakatawa, and Wales escaped.</p>
<p>It was a reprieve that lasted barely two minutes, though, as the French forwards drove an attacking lineout and Willemse touched down, with Ntamack converting.</p>
<p>Wales were being out-run and out-thought, and despite Biggar completing a penalty hat-trick as the interval approached, France continued to dominate.</p>
<p>There were chances for Wales ahead of the break, when they twice sacrificed kickable penalties for attacking scrums, fancying their chances after Les Bleus number eight Gregory Alldritt was sin-binned.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="fr" dir="ltr">ð´ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó ¿ð«ð· Quelle course incroyable de <a href="https://twitter.com/RomainNtamack?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RomainNtamack</a> après cette interception ! ðð¥ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/XVdeFrance?src=hash&;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#XVdeFrance</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NeFaisonsXV?src=hash&;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NeFaisonsXV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PDGFRA?src=hash&;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDGFRA</a> <a href="https://t.co/qNmPSTivmS">pic.twitter.com/qNmPSTivmS</a></p>
<p>&mdash; France Rugby (@FranceRugby) <a href="https://twitter.com/FranceRugby/status/1231282502872043520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>But aggressive French defence kept Wales out, and the visitors enjoyed a deserved 17-9 interval advantage.</p>
<p>Wales knew they had to announce themselves in the game, and their response was impressive, with Lewis crashing over for a 47th-minute try that Biggar converted to make it a one-point contest.</p>
<p>Wales’ mini revival was a true test of the French, yet their response spoke volumes, with Ntamack intercepting Nick Tompkins’ pass and sprinting 60 metres to score before converting his try.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">â¯ï¸ With perseverance aplenty, the unshakable Dan Biggar scored this try to get Wales back in the game late on in Cardiff. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WALvFRA?src=hash&;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WALvFRA</a> <a href="https://t.co/gG2IUgcLbn">pic.twitter.com/gG2IUgcLbn</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Welsh Rugby Union ð (@WelshRugbyUnion) <a href="https://twitter.com/WelshRugbyUnion/status/1231292855395737602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>It was a savage blow for Wales to absorb, and a 64th-minute Ntamack penalty gave France a double figures advantage as their sizeable travelling support belted out the French national anthem.</p>
<p>Wales went close to a second try 15 minutes from time, but hooker Ken Owens’ pass to wing an unmarked Josh Adams was interrupted by Willemse, whose knock-down conceded a penalty, yet saw him avoid a yellow card.</p>
<p>Prop Mohamed Haouas was sin-binned, though, for a technical infringement as Wales began to pile on pressure, but their scrum folded under pressure and Les Bleus cleared.</p>
<p>Biggar’s try, that he also converted, set up a grandstand finish, but France closed out the game amid a late skirmish involving both packs, to claim a famous win.</p>
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