Sam Warburton led from the front to score his third Test try in the second half while George North gave Wales the perfect start by pouncing to score in the second minute. From there the defending champions never released their grip on proceedings.
Gethin Jenkins had an outstanding match in the Welsh front row to deservedly pick up the man of the match aware but he would have been pushed close by several other contenders including Rhys Webb, North, Jamie Roberts and Jake Ball to name a few.
Wales began the match, forced into a late change with Alun Wyn Jones withdrawing through a foot infection. Ball earned his first start for Wales with Andrew Coombs joining the bench.
The game wasn’t two minutes old before Halfpenny has a chance to open the scoring with a long range penalty attempt. His radar was spot on from the outset to give Wales an early 3-0 lead.
The roof nearly lifted off its hinges only moments later when Halfpenny’s chip ahead caused mayhem in the French defence with full back Brice Dulin and scrum half Jean-Marc Doussain making a hash of the bobbling ball. George North pounced to give Wales a dream start.
France captain Pascal Pape was then penalised at a ruck and Halfpenny’s unerring boot – from near halfway – put Wales further ahead after nine minutes.
France thought they had hit back through winger Yoann Huget but referee Alain Rolland disallowed the try because he deemed Pape had knocked the ball forward in tackling Rhys Priestland which dislodged the ball from the Wales fly half. To say Pape was incensed would be an under-statement.
Doussain pegged back three points after Adam Jones was penalised at a scrum but the tables were soon turned when the French front row went down and Halfpenny made them pay the price with his third penalty to give Wales a 14-3 lead after 20 minutes.
Nicolas Mas then chugged his way into Welsh territory to set up the French but a promising attack was brought to end when the Welsh backs were caught off-side. Doussain however sent a straight forward shot at goal wide.
Jules Plisson took over the kicking responsibilities for France – the fly half succeeded with his first kick of the evening from 40m to bring the score to 14-6 with eight minutes remaining of the first spell.
Halfpenny replied immediately with a gift straight in front of the posts and when he added another notch to his belt with the last kick of the half, Wales were in control, 20-6 at the break.
Plisson had an early opportunity to reduce the deficit but his long range penalty failed to hit the mark as Les Bleus sought a way back into the game.
The referee lost patience at scrum time when he sent both Gethin Jenkins and Mas to the sin bin in the 52nd minute. Halfpenny missed a chance to increase Wales’ stranglehold when he sent a penalty wide.
Louis Picamoles became the third player to see yellow in the 63rd minute and Wales looked to turn the screw immediately. Sam Warburton burst clear and stretched every sinew in his body to score his third Test try. With Halfpenny’s trusty boot, Wales had bolted out to a comfortable 27-6 advantage.
With 10 minutes remaining Wales had the luxury of making a raft of changes with James Hook, Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips, Andrew Coombs, Rhodri Jones, Paul James and Justin Tipuric all getting a taste of the action.
France never posed a serious threat in the final stages as Wales held on to win three in a row against Les Bleus for the first time since 1972.
Scorers:
Wales: Tries: North, Warburton; Con: Halfpenny; Pen: Halfpenny (5)
France: Pens: Doussain, Plisson.
