GRAND SLAM GLORY FOR WALES
Wales secured a third RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam in eight seasons as Alex Cuthbert's first-half try saw them battle their way past France at a jubilant Millennium Stadium.
Wales had trailed to an early Dimitri Yachvili penalty when giant three-quarter Cuthbert stepped inside and beat four defenders on his way to the line for a sensational solo score.
Leigh Halfpenny added the conversion and three penalties to seal the win, meaning further three-pointers from Yachvili and Lionel Beauxis were not enough for France.
The victory served as a fitting tribute to former Wales captain Mervyn Davies. A minute's silence was held in memory of the 1976 Grand Slam skipper before kick-off following his death on Thursday.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland heaped praise on his RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam winners, but refused to be drawn on whether he is set to coach the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia next year.
When asked to sum up his side's key virtues, the New Zealander said: "Honesty and hard work.
"These guys have been a real credit to themselves, Wales and Welsh rugby in how they have prepared themselves.
"They are excellent professionals and they make our job as coaches easy as they do more than what we expect and what is required, and when you have players doing that and looking after themselves and doing all the extras it goes a long way to making us coaches look good."
Wales' win marked a fitting tribute to 1976 Grand Slam-winning skipper Mervyn Davies, who died on Thursday after a battle with cancer.
The Grand Slam, Gatland's second since arriving in the principality in 2008, makes him the outstanding candidate to lead the Lions Down Under in the summer of 2013.
The Lions want their coach for that venture to have a clear 12-month window to prepare for the tour, meaning if Gatland were to take the role one of his backroom staff, possibly attack coach Rob Howley, would take the reins for next season.
But Gatland would not discuss the post, and even joked that the Lions may not be able to meet his financial demands.
"Perhaps I can think about that tomorrow. I know I am in the frame and the union have given me support for that," he said.
"If the offer came along I have said it would be a huge honour, but there are a lot of things to put in place before that and we don't know what their requirements are and I'm not sure whether they can afford me either."
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre cut a dejected figure after seeing his side end the tournament in fourth place after picking up one draw and two defeats from their final three matches.
That left Les Bleus, who registered penalties through Lionel Beauxis and Dimitri Yachvilie (2) as Wales' tryline was not breached for the third straight game, with their worst record in the championship since 2001.
But the former Gloucester and Sale boss was magnanimous in his praise of Wales.
He said: "Congratulations to Wales they deserve it, it was a very tough game but we know to win the Grand Slam is not easy and they did it.
"Today was a very big contest but they won so congratulations to them.
"They have a young generation of players and a good staff and I think they deserve it and it's good for the pubs of Cardiff because their fans will drink a lot of beer.
"They are the winners and in sport you only remember the winner, not the ones who finish second.
"We are sad and disappointed as it was not a bad performance but we finished fourth in the Six Nations."
Wales secured a third RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam in eight seasons as Alex Cuthbert's first-half try saw them battle their way past France at a jubilant Millennium Stadium.
Wales had trailed to an early Dimitri Yachvili penalty when giant three-quarter Cuthbert stepped inside and beat four defenders on his way to the line for a sensational solo score.
Leigh Halfpenny added the conversion and three penalties to seal the win, meaning further three-pointers from Yachvili and Lionel Beauxis were not enough for France.
The victory served as a fitting tribute to former Wales captain Mervyn Davies. A minute's silence was held in memory of the 1976 Grand Slam skipper before kick-off following his death on Thursday.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland heaped praise on his RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam winners, but refused to be drawn on whether he is set to coach the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia next year.
When asked to sum up his side's key virtues, the New Zealander said: "Honesty and hard work.
"These guys have been a real credit to themselves, Wales and Welsh rugby in how they have prepared themselves.
"They are excellent professionals and they make our job as coaches easy as they do more than what we expect and what is required, and when you have players doing that and looking after themselves and doing all the extras it goes a long way to making us coaches look good."
Wales' win marked a fitting tribute to 1976 Grand Slam-winning skipper Mervyn Davies, who died on Thursday after a battle with cancer.
The Grand Slam, Gatland's second since arriving in the principality in 2008, makes him the outstanding candidate to lead the Lions Down Under in the summer of 2013.
The Lions want their coach for that venture to have a clear 12-month window to prepare for the tour, meaning if Gatland were to take the role one of his backroom staff, possibly attack coach Rob Howley, would take the reins for next season.
But Gatland would not discuss the post, and even joked that the Lions may not be able to meet his financial demands.
"Perhaps I can think about that tomorrow. I know I am in the frame and the union have given me support for that," he said.
"If the offer came along I have said it would be a huge honour, but there are a lot of things to put in place before that and we don't know what their requirements are and I'm not sure whether they can afford me either."
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre cut a dejected figure after seeing his side end the tournament in fourth place after picking up one draw and two defeats from their final three matches.
That left Les Bleus, who registered penalties through Lionel Beauxis and Dimitri Yachvilie (2) as Wales' tryline was not breached for the third straight game, with their worst record in the championship since 2001.
But the former Gloucester and Sale boss was magnanimous in his praise of Wales.
He said: "Congratulations to Wales they deserve it, it was a very tough game but we know to win the Grand Slam is not easy and they did it.
"Today was a very big contest but they won so congratulations to them.
"They have a young generation of players and a good staff and I think they deserve it and it's good for the pubs of Cardiff because their fans will drink a lot of beer.
"They are the winners and in sport you only remember the winner, not the ones who finish second.
"We are sad and disappointed as it was not a bad performance but we finished fourth in the Six Nations."