Wales finished the game to a cacophony of noise as the packed out stadium rose as one to celebrate as Warren Gatland’s men claimed their third grand slam since 2005.
In what was an emotional afternoon where players and fans alike observed a minute’s silence before the game for Welsh legend Mervyn Davies and ex-All Blacks flanker Jock Hobbs, Wales had to withstand a physical French defence to lift the holy grail.
Wales had to overcome the loss of captain Sam Warburton at halftime with a shoulder injury and dogged opposition but the men in red were worth victors.
The victory, where flanker Dan Lydiate gave a super human performance in the back row, took Wales tally of Grand Slams to 11 and was their first clean sweep since 2008. Wales are not hot on the heals of England who lead the way with 12.
France soaked up the early pressure with Rhys Priestland and Leigh Halfpenny keeping the visitors pegged back with well placed kicks. Mike Phillips was looking dangerous from the base of the scrum and keeping the France back row on red alert.
Against the run of play scrum half Dimitri Yachvili put his side in front with a relatively easy penalty.
The greasy conditions weren’t helping either side with Alex Cuthbert and Halfpenny struggling to stay on their feet when in attacking mode.
Priestland had a chance to level the score in the 16th minute but his shot hit the uprights.
In the 22nd minute Welsh fans finally had something to shout about when lethal finisher Alex Cuthbert once again showed his predatory instincts.
Dan Lydiate created the chance by turning the ball over, before Alun Wyn Jones arrived on the scene to keep the momentum going. Lydiate and Priestland spread the ball down the blind side to send the Blues speedster away. He still had some work to do, but cut inside and beat two defenders with ease to speed clear. Halfpenny reclaimed the kicking duties to slot over the conversion to put Wales 7-3 in front.
France’s selection of Yachvili and Beauxis clearly indicated they were intent on a kicking game but Priestland and Phillips were outplaying them at their own game.
Halfpenny knocked over his second penalty in the 33rd minute after Jonathan Davies harried Beauxis into a mistake where the French compounded the mayhem by going off their feet at the resulting ruck.
The Blues kicker had the opportunity to put Wales further in front but his shot right on the stroke of halftime hit the posts to give Wales a 10-3 lead at the interval.
Beauxis reduced the arrears four minutes after the re-start but fluffed the chance to chip away further moments later when his drop goal floated wide.
Halfpenny rammed over a monster penalty from inside his own half to put Wales 13-6 ahead. The French defence was being made to work overtime as Wales searched for more points.
Wales made a triple change with Ken Owens, Luke Charteris and Lloyd Williams replacing Matthew Rees, Alun Wyn Jones and Phillips respectively to give Wales some fresh legs as France searched vainly to get back into the game.
Yachvili clawed three points back with a penalty with six minutes remaining to leave Welsh fans biting their finger nails. Francois Trinh-Duc then gifted those three points back when he threw the ball away after being tackled into touch.
Halfpenny stepped up to ease those fraying nerves with a coolly taken penalty to extend the lead to seven points again.
Wales’ young guns stood firm as the match entered its final stages to claim revenge on France who dumped them out of the World Cup semi-finals last autumn in emphatic fashion.
Wales: Try: Cuthbert; Con: Halfpenny; Â Pens: Halfpenny (3)
France: Pen: Beauxis, Yachvili (2)
