AT the conclusion of a workaday Six Nations it was fitting France as the new champions had to slog like crazy to reach their goal. Wales had long since relinquished their trophy in this season of injuries and off-the-field rancour. But they raged against the ultimate dying of their Grand Slam light. They were driven from scrum-half almost superhumanly by Mike Phillips, and held the lead going into the last quarter, only to be overhauled by a try from the French centre, Florian Fritz. When blue-jerseyed arms were held aloft at the final whistle it was with as much relief as exultation.

The mathematical conundrum engendered by yesterday's staggered kick-offs meant that Jean-Baptiste Elissalde's hoof of the ball into touch at the end here was only the start of two hours' wait for France to be able to confirm their third Championship in five years. Still, they knew it was theirs. Fabien Pelous, strain and pleasure etched across his yeoman's face, said:

"We waited and waited and knew it would come good for us. It was very hard but we always had confidence. We are very happy."

There was controversy over a Welsh try that never was.

With 69 minutes gone, Frederic Michalak dived over a loose ball in the French ingoal, with Shane Williams subsequently grounding it. The video referee judged that Michalak had made the necessary contact with his body.

Wales argued he had not.

Within three minutes Michalak kicked deep into Welsh territory and Robert Sidoli hacked into touch. From the line-out France scored the crucial try. Jerome Thion palmed to Yannick Nyanga, it came out to Michalak and his chip over the cover was roared onto by Fritz. Elissalde converted and later added a penalty from a line-out on Wales's 10 metre line. Wales had one more threatening attack . . . the Williamses, Martyn and Shane, unsurprisingly to the fore . . . but the unlikeliest of wins was beyond them.

The stadium roof was closed to keep the worst of the arctic elements at bay.

And Wales lit a fire under France by trusting to their old instincts. Stephen Jones . . .

in the mood to show how much he has learned playing for a French club . . . kicked two penalties to one by Dimitri Yachvili.

In the 25th minute Raphael Ibanez went to the sin-bin and while France were down to 14 men, Wales's persistent use of their threequarters paid off. The ball flashed from right to left and, despite a momentary hesitation when it bounced to ground, it was recycled for Luscombe to steal away close to the touchline and pass inside to the supporting Shane Williams. It looked as if the little Osprey would flutter all the way to the posts. He was in fact brilliantly dragged down by the jersey by Julien Bonnaire but, just as cleverly, managed to get away a scoring pass to Luscombe over his left shoulder. Stephen Jones converted for a Wales lead of 13-3.

Yachvili replied in first-half added time with a straightforward penalty for France.

It did not take them long to gain a foothold in the second half. Dafydd James was tackled into touch by Fritz and a ruthless short-side line-out drive ended with Dimitri Szarzeswki scoring only a few minutes after his arrival.

It was 13-11 with Elissalde failing to convert and a bit of French discipline disappeared up the Taff. All their line-out gains at Wales's expense seemed to be counting for little. There was a dash of 2005 when Gavin Henson entered the fray for Wales and booted over a 56th-minute penalty from close to the halfway line.

Wales's Australian skills coach, Scott Johnson, watched it all in relative calm from the touchline. It is thought likely he will announce the decision over his future this week, with the WRU saying yesterday the vacant post of head coach would be subject to interview in April. Funnily enough, it looks an attractive job all over again.

WALES L Byrne, D James, H Luscombe, M Watkins, S Williams, S Jones, M Phillips, D Jones, R Thomas, A Jones, I Gough, R Sidoli, M Owen, M Williams, A Popham Subs G Henson for Byrne, h-t; M Davies for R Thomas, 42 mins; G Jenkins for Du Jones, 52 mins; Da Jones for Popham, 68 mins; J Thomas for Sidoli, 75 mins Scorers Luscombe try; S Jones 2 pens, con; Henson pen FRANCE T Castaignede, A Rougerie, F Fritz, D Traille, C Dominici, F Michalak, D Yachvili, S Marconnet, R Ibanez, P De Villiers, F Pelous, J Thion, Y Nyanga, J Bonnaire, T Lievremont Subs D Szarzewski for Lievremont, 26-34, 43 mins; C Heymans for Castaignede, h-t; J-B Elissalde for Yachvili, 43 mins; O Magne for Lievremont, 49 mins; L Nallet for Bonnaire, 55 mins Scorers Szarzewski, Fritz try each;

Yachvili 2 pens; Elissalde pen, con Referee Chris White (RFU)