Wales v France: how it unfolded

Matthew Rees, the hooker, who won his 50th cap for Wales today: “It’s amazing, fair play to the boys - we had a great win in Ireland. It was unforunated for Huw [Bennett] not to be inolved. It’s my second grand slam and 50th cap - we’ll do some partying tonight. These players are working hard and I’m sure there will be more success in the future. We’re still a young side, there is plenty more to achieve and we’re looking forward to the World Cup in 2015.

Ryan Jones: “We came in as favourites with a goal, everyone has contributed.”

Gethin Jenkins: “It wasn’t the best of games, there was a lot of kicking but we managed to grind out a win. The occasion didn’t get to us as they might have hoped. The coaches give us freedom to play. The World Cup brought us tighter together with losing to France.”

4.42pm: Owen Slot, chief sports reporter, tweets: “Noise, passion, celebration here in Cardiff. Millennium Stadium a great place to be and a privilege to be a witness”

4.40pm: Sam Warburton, the Wales captain, lifts the Six Nations trophy for Wales but has to do so with his left hand after injuring his right shoulder in the first half.

4.29pm: FULL TIME - Wales are the Six Nations champions, and the grand slam winners for a third time in seven years.

4.27pm: Preistland misses with a drop goal attempt, bit ambitious.

4.24pm: PENALTY GOAL Wales 16-9 France Halfpenny stretches the margin to seven after Trinh-Duc was pinged for chucking the ball away. France may regret not running that last penalty.

4.23pm: PENALTY GOAL Wales 13-9 France Yachvili does the honours from close range

4.22pm: Penalty to France, eight minutes to go, and they opt to kick to reduce the deficit to four.

4.21pm: France replace Beauxis with Morgan Parra.

4.16pm: Wales are still bossing this, France have occasionally threatened but not often enough to win this game. Huge hits going in on both sides.

4.10pm: Now Wales ring the changes. On have come Ken Owens, Luke Charteris and Lloyd Williams, off have gone Matt Rees, Mike Phillips and Alun Wyn Jones.

4.08pm: More changes by Philippe Saint-Andre. Alexis Palisson, the wing, comes off for Francois Trinh-Duc; Julien Bonnaire is off and Louis Picamoles replaces him.

4.02pm: Wales have possession in the French half and are slowing the game right down. 22 minutes left.

3.57pm: PENALTY GOAL Wales 13-6 France Halfpenny nails a huge penalty from inside his own half - 52 metres - to give Wales breathing space.

3.55pm: Quick news on replacements - Warburton was replaced at half-time by Ryan Jones, while for France Dimitri Szarzewski and Vincent Debaty are on for William Servat and Jean-Baptiste Poux, the front rows.

3.54pm: Alex Cuthbert writhing in pain after taking a knee to his particulars when trying to charge down Palisson.

3.52pm: Drop goal attempt from Beauxis from 35 metres (ish), just drifts wide but it had the legs. Still 10-6.

3.48pm: PENALTY GOAL Wales 10-6 France Lionel Beauxis kicks the three points after Gethin Jenkins was penalised for holding the ball on the ground, five metres from his own line. Came from a kick and chase from France from inside their own half.

3.46pm: Pass looked forward from Cuthbert to Faletau, again missed by referee Craig Joubert. The kick ahead goes dead anyway.

3.45pm: Owen Slot’s verdict on the first half, via Twitter: “Wales controlling territory, possession and the smarter rugby. Loving Lydiate. Roberts much more than a bludgeon. Should be over 7pt lead”

3.43pm: Both teams have emerged for the second half - France first. Wales to kick off, defending a 10-3 lead.

3.31pm: Halfpenny’s kick drifts wide and hits the near post! Cannons out, France win a scrum and the half-time whistle blows. Wales will be Six Nations champions barring an incredible turnaround in the second half.

3.27pm: Penalty to Wales, stemming from a charge-down of Yachvili’s box kick by Ian Evans. Wales turned over from the ensuing ruck and French infringment gives Halfpenny another chance for three, similar position to his last on the 22.

3.26pm: France have made a substitution by the way, with Jean-Marcel Buttin coming on for Clement Poitrenaud who is injured. Poitrenaud was poor against England so this might be a blessing for France.

3.25pm: More turnover ball for Wales in midfield but it gets knocked on by Jamie Roberts, even though the referee decides otherwise and allows play to go on. France win it back anyway.

3.22pm: PENALTY GOAL Wales 10-3 France Halfpenny strokes the kick over from midway to the touchline on the 22 and Wales are in a healthy position.

3.21pm: France off their feet at the ruck after good work from Jon Davies, and it’s a kickable penalty for Halfpenny.

3.17pm: Not sure if I’d tell him this to his face but that was an atrocious pass by Imanol Harinordoquy. Flung it too far in front of the backs outside him, the ball goes out of play and a promising French counter attack grinds to a halt. Rubbish.

3.13pm: Bit of a recap on that try for you. Cuthbert, the wing, was the scorer but it came from turnover ball in the French half, and as a result the France defence was not organised, coming up from an attacking formation to a flat line, and once he’d evaded the first tackle, Cuthbert easily stepped his way to the line.

3.11pm: TRY - Wales 7-3 France - Alex Cuthbert swerves his way through. Easy conversion for Leigh Halfpenny.

3.05pm: No sooner has Yachvili put France ahead then he gets caught on the wrong side of a ruck and Wales have a penalty. But it cannons back off the post from Priestland and France escape.

3.01pm: Wales 0-3 France Dmitri Yachvili puts France ahead with a penalty goal after Wales were penalised at the breakdown in their own 22.

2.55pm: Grubber kick through from Rhys Priestland gets the home fans on their feet but he knocks it too far and France clear up with a 22 dropout. Wales then give away a penalty on the France 22 for holding on. Even Stevens so far.

2.48pm: We’re under way in Cardiff. Avoid a heavy defeat and Wales are Six Nations champions. Win and it’s the grand slam.

2.47pm: Two absolutely cracking anthems there, the French first with La Marseillaise and the Welsh following with Land of My Fathers. Both sung with the level of passion you’d expect on an occasion like this.

2.40pm: Owen Slot, chief sports reporter, is in Cardiff for The Times. He tweets: “Love the Western Mail today: Wales 1978 v 2012, one team picked from the two. Gareth Edwards gets the nod at no9, can you believe it. Feel sorry for Alex Cuthbert going up against Gerald Davies... Faletau gets the nod at no8 vs Derek Quinnell.”

2.30pm: Fifteen minutes from kick-off at the Millennium Stadium. Can Wales complete the grand slam? Stay with us to find out.