George North was gifted a second-half double as Wales fought back to beat fragile France 24-19 in the Six Nations opener on a miserable Friday in Paris.
A 10th successive victory looked unlikely for Warren Gatland's side when Les Bleus went in at halftime with a 16-0 lead following tries from Louis Picamoles and Yoann Huget, with Camille Lopez slotting over a penalty and a drop goal.
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Wales looked flat in the first half and made far too many errors in difficult conditions, with the rain driving down at Stade de France, but Jacques Brunel's side capitulated after the break.
Tomos Williams got Wales back in it on his Six Nations debut and a Huget howler put a try on a plate for North, who then intercepted a dreadful pass from Sebastien Vahaamahina to put Wales in front eight minutes from time.
Dan Biggar had come off the bench to put Warren Gatland's men in front for the first time before Lopez gave France a one-point advantage, but the second score from North was decisive.
France suffered heartbreak when Johnny Sexton booted a last-gasp drop goal in their first match of the tournament last year and it only had itself to blame for another shattering loss, while North became the fourth-highest scorer in Six Nations history in what was his country's biggest second-half comeback in the competition.
16 - @WelshRugbyUnion have recorded the biggest ever half-time turnaround in a @SixNationsRugby match as well as their biggest ever half-time comeback in any competition. Contrast. pic.twitter.com/lwh6xXKWTU
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) February 1, 2019
Les Bleus made a bright start and they were rewarded when Picamoles took a pass from Maxime Medard and bulldozed his way over after the vibrant Morgan Parra got quick ball just six minutes in.
Parra was unable to add the extras and Gareth Anscombe was short with a long-range penalty attempt before Liam Williams had a try ruled out when he knocked on while sliding over.
France's handling was much more impressive with the rain teeming down and it doubled its lead in style after 23 minutes, Huget racing away to finish on the left flank after Arthur Iturria set him up with a sublime one-handed offload.
Anscombe was off target from the tee again, but Lopez made no mistake from in front of the posts and slotted over a drop goal on the stroke of halftime to give his side a healthy 16-0 lead.
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Wales was in desperate need of a strong start to the second half and got back in it when Josh Adams made an incisive break and set up the supporting Tomos Williams for a simple finish.
Having been in command, France found itself only two points in front 12 minutes into the second half after Huget spilled the ball when sliding toward his own line to gift North a try.
Wales thought it should have been in front when Ross Moriarty had a five-pointer ruled out as Alun Wyn Jones was adjudged to have obstructed Picamoles, before Lopez missed from the tee.
Biggar put resurgent Wales in front for the first time with a penalty after he and Gareth Davies replaced Anscombe and Tomos Williams.
Another penalty from Lopez edged France back into the lead but it self-destructed yet again, Vahaamahina looping a dreadful pass which North saw coming, the alert wing darting away to cross again.
Biggar converted and France was unable to recover as it let victory slip through its fingers.