France edge out Wales with a 20-18 win after 20 minutes of added time

France 20-18 Wales, Stade de France
Scorecard

Damien Chouly scored the decisive try for France in the 20th minute of added time as France managed to edge out Wales by 20-18 in their Six Nations encounter at Stade de France on Saturday.

France had to overcome Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny, who scored all the points for the visitors with his six penalty kicks as the game ticked past 100 minutes with the additional barrage.

Guy Noves' men started the game well when Remi Lamerat capitalised on a kick from fly-half Camille Lopez to send one across the post in the sixth minute. Lopez's conversion stretched their lead to seven points.

A successful penalty kick from Lopez saw France increase their lead to 10-0 following which their wing Virimi Vakatawa was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on. Halfpenny allowed Wales to comeback with three penalty kicks before half-time as they trailed by just one point heading into the second half.

Two more penalties from Halfpenny in the second half took Wales to a five point lead following which he and Lopez exchanged penalties. Wales were five points ahead when the game entered the added minutes but Rob Howley's men suffered a major setback when Samson Lee was sin-binned in the 82nd minute while France replaced Uini Atonio, who underwent a Head Injury Assessment.

Even though, Lee returned back to make Wales full strength, Chouly crossed over in the 99th minute to level the scores 18-18 following which Lopez kicked a successful conversion to seal a two point win for the hosts. The win has also ensured a third spot finish for France this season while Wale slipped to fifth.