Castaignede crosses for his try.

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Wales were landed with the RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon in Paris on Saturday afternoon after being completely out-classed by France.

The Stade de France had been a happy hunting ground for the Welsh over the last four years, winning there in 1999 and 2001 to maintain a 100% record in the new home of French rugby, but there was no such good fortune today.

Defeat meant Wales' first Six Nations whitewash since 1995 as Thomas Castaignede, Vincent Clerc and Frederic Michalak all crossed for France while Gareth Thomas' third-minute try was all the visitors could muster in reply.

Coach Steve Hansen brought in Iestyn Harris, Dwayne Peel, Mefin Davies and Craig Morgan to the side who were edged out 25-24 by Ireland in Cardiff last Saturday.

Victory, combined with any result other than a draw at Murrayfield where Scotland were taking on Italy, would have been enough to lift Wales off the foot of the championship table on points difference.

They made a dream start with former Great Britain rugby league star Harris making the initial break down the left before he was hauled down by a scrambling French defence.

But the ball was quickly recycled to the right flank where France were over-stretched, allowing Gareth Thomas to take the final pass before sprinting in at the corner.

Stephen Jones missed the conversion but he almost set up the next try just two minutes later when his punt down field bounced over the line with the on-rushing Craig Morgan on hand to touch down only for the video official to rule no try.

France then launched an attack of their own with outside centre Castaignede prominent but the ball was spilt over the line just as the Welsh rearguard was about to crack.

Wales were made to pay for Jones' missed 19th-minute penalty as France took the initiative and they could not be denied in the 27th minute when centre Damien Traille fed the omnipresent Castaignede who crossed under the posts, with Dmitri Yachvili adding an easy conversion.

The Biarritz scrum-half then slotted the first penalty of the afternoon to reward the home side's continued dominance, and Jones compounded his side's misery by missing a very kickable three points shortly after.

The second half began as the first had finished with France surging forward, creating a clear chance for Raphael Ibanez but the burley hooker spilled the ball forward right under the posts.

Wales had infringed, however, and Yachvili made no mistake with the penalty, placing his kick neatly between the uprights.

France's lead was extended in the 51st minute when a dashing break from full-back Clement Poitrenaud was completed with a perfectly-timed pass to substitute Clerc who dived over.

The near-touchline conversion was booted by Yachvili to effectively put the game out of Wales' reach, with the visitors looking increasingly ragged in the face of French attacking ambition.

The cutting edge which had been apparent in the first 20 minutes had all but vanished, leaving them struggling to find gaps in the French defence.

Yachvili kicked his third penalty before Michalak crossed in the 66th minute, the France number 10 accepting Olivier Magne's pass before skipping through the Welsh defence.

France continued to search for another try but could not break through for a fourth time, although they had already done more than enough to end Wales' proud record at the Stade de France.

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