Wales claim Grand Slam glory

Wing wizard Williams' 60th-minute touchdown was his 41st for Wales, putting him above Gareth Thomas as his country's all-time highest Test try scorer.

And it made a telling difference in an attritional contest dominated by kickers and defences, before flanker Martyn Williams added a late try.

James Hook, preferred to Stephen Jones scored two early penalties before untidy breakdown work gifted Jean-Baptiste Elissalde a simple shot at goal, which he accepted, but Hook slotted his third penalty to open Wales a 9-3 lead after the first quarter.

France hammered away at the Welsh defensive line and Elissalde slotted a second penalty after Gavin Henson was sin-binned for a high tackle on flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo.

By the time Henson returned France had drawn level, with a third penalty from Elissalde, after Hook had pulled an attempt wide of the posts.

With half an hour remaining Welsh coach Warren Gatland introduced the more steady, controlling hand of Stephen Jones at fly-half - but it predictably it was Shane Williams who conjured up the match-winning moment.

Yannick Jauzion spilled the ball under pressure from Tom Shanklin and Williams pounced, hacking the ball forward twice before diving on it under the posts. Stephen Jones converted and then landed a penalty to move Wales two scores clear.

Dimitri Yachvili caused a few nervous moments by pulling a penalty back for France but Jones slotted a second shot and the party began.

And to top it all off, after Mark Jones had made a searing 80-metre break, Martyn Williams scored under the posts to send the Millennium Stadium into raptures.