The French arrived in Cardiff on the back of successive victories over England and, despite making 11 changes and experimenting with three players out of position, proved too strong for the best in Wales.

France eased into a 17-0 lead with tries from lock Jerome Thion and scrum-half Pierre Mignoni before Wales had even managed to encroach on their 22.

Fly-half James Hook kept faint Welsh hopes alive with a confident score on the stroke of half-time - but a raft of substitutions at the interval only served to make France stronger.

And where Wales struggled for accuracy in their finishing, Les Bleus were razor sharp as Aurelien Rougerie's try 16 minutes into the second half sealed the win.

Sale hooker Sebastien Bruno, on has a half-time replacement, rounded off a thoroughly convincing afternoon for France with their fourth try in the final minute.

Wales coach Gareth Jenkins previewed the game yesterday with a prediction that France's strength in depth made them genuine World Cup contenders. Their second-string did nothing to dispel that theory today.

Jenkins maintains Wales have the squad to reach at least the semi-finals and he demanded his side make a statement of intent just a fortnight before their campaign opens against Canada.

It was not all bad for the Welsh. There was, for example, a marked improvement in the lineout which has been a major area of concern.

But they failed to prove that potential against a French side who forced them onto the back foot for much of the game.

Against the experimental French, Jenkins named his strongest available side and delighted in the return of Shane Williams on the wing.

Only the injured Tom Shanklin and Stephen Jones were missing from the equation.

But they were immediately on the back foot as France punctured holes in the Welsh defence right from kick-off, with Serge Betsen and Cedric Heymans particularly destructive.

Fly-half Lionel Beauxis slotted a simple penalty and before long France scored the opening try.

The powerful Rougerie made the first charge and was held up on the line by Martyn Williams.

But Thion, who was only confirmed in the side late last night, powered through Hook's attempted tackle to touch down.

Wales resorted to a tight pick and drive game to build momentum in midfield and they succeeded in making some good ground until Betsen was penalised for lying on top of the ball.

Hook's kick moved Wales to the French 22, they attacked from clean lineout ball and for a moment it looked promising.

But the French snuffed out the opportunity and then surged down field, forcing Wales into some last ditch defence.

Wingers Vincent Clerc chased down his own grubber kick, re-gathered and was attempting to ground the ball when Martyn Williams extended a desperate hand to dislodge the ball from his grasp.

Wales conceded a free-kick from the resulting scrum, Mignoni darted for the line and Remy Martin followed up but the giant flanker was held just shy of the line.

But Wales did not survive for long.

A huge effort from the Welsh pack forced a turnover at the next five metre scrum but Dwayne Peel's attempted clearance was blocked by number eight Imanol Harinordoquy and Mignoni scooped up the loose ball to score.

Wales needed a spark - their best moment so far had resulted in a try for France - and it came from Hook.

His chip forward thrust Wales onto the front foot for the first time in the match.

Martyn Williams held off de Villiers and slipped the offload to Hook, who opted against feeding Shane Williams on the outside and charged head down for the line.

Hook was stopped short and did well to ground the ball - but there was no way back for Wales.

France attacked off a lineout on the Wales 22 after some excellent defensive work from Wales' replacement scrum-half Mike Phillips and Rougerie burst onto Beauxis' inside ball to score under the posts.

Alix Popham continued to throw himself around for the cause and the Llanelli number eight burst through the French line as Wales kept pushing to the last.

Ceri Sweeney was also sent clear but lost his footing with just one man to beat.

Gareth Thomas was carried off in the closing minutes after colliding with Thierry Dusautoir and his departure left Wales with just 14 men on the field.

The match ended in uncontested scrums after loose-head Duncan Jones was replaced by hooker Matthew Rees.

France rounded off a thoroughly dominant performance with a try in the final minute from Bruno, who drove from close range through Rees and Ian Gough.

Wales: Tries: Hook. Cons: Hook.

Wales: Morgan, M. Jones, Robinson, G. Thomas, S. Williams, Hook, Peel, D. Jones, Rees, Horsman, Gough, A. Jones, J. Thomas, M. Williams, Popham.

Replacements: Parker for Morgan (61), Sweeney for Hook (70), Phillips for Peel (41), Jenkins for D. Jones (41), R. Thomas for Rees (46), W. James for A. Jones (63),
Charvis for M. Williams (51).

France: Tries: Thion, Mignoni, Rougerie, Bruno. Cons: Beauxis 4. Pens: Beauxis 2.

France: Heymans, Rougerie, Jauzion, Skrela, Clerc, Beauxis, Mignoni, Mas, Szarzewski, De Villiers, Chabal, Thion, Betsen, Martin, Harinordoquy.

Replacements: Dominici for Rougerie (73), Traille for Skrela (63), Elissalde for Mignoni (41),
Bruno for Szarzewski (41), Poux for De Villiers (54), Pelous for Thion (41), Dusautoir for Harinordoquy (48).

Att: 49,655

Ref: Wayne Barnes (England).