Wales coach Warren Gatland insists his team are on the right track despite seeing their RBS 6 Nations title hopes ended by Grand Slam-chasing France.
Les Bleus' 26-20 victory at the Millennium Stadium last night means they will complete their first championship clean sweep since 2004 by beating Italy and England in Paris next month.
Wales though, are left to reflect on a frustrating Six Nations campaign that could see them hosting Italy in three weeks' time with only last place and the wooden spoon at stake.
Gatland's team once again showed flashes of brilliance - epitomised by wing Shane Williams' magical late score that gave him 50 tries for Wales in his 71st Test and eclipsed Gareth Edwards' Welsh record of 18 career championship touchdowns.
But France had already done the hard work, building a 20-point interval lead through interception tries from wing Alexis Palisson and fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc, while scrum-half Morgan Parra kicked 13 points and Frederic Michalak slotted a late penalty.
‘If we can stop being our own worst enemies and get it right we are not far away from being a very good side,’ claimed Gatland, who saw Williams' fellow wing Leigh Halfpenny also score for the second successive Six Nations game.
‘At no stage did we feel under pressure because I don't think they (France) played a lot of rugby.
‘We could have thrown in the towel at half-time, but we played some fantastic rugby in the second-half and showed some great character and put ourselves in a position to win the game.
‘We were the architects of our own demise. Two intercept tries were really costly. It is hugely frustrating.
‘Our fitness was superb, and we had France on the ropes. They were out on their feet.
‘There was only one team playing rugby, and we had 70% territory and possession in that second-half.’
Centre James Hook gifted France their opening try when an intended pass to his centre partner Jamie Roberts found Palisson instead, then Williams' lobbed ball ricocheted to a grateful Trinh-Duc just before the break.
Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards added: ‘To keep France to no offensive tries was a great effort.
‘But there is no doubt people are doing their homework and have seen they can get intercepts, because more than 30% of our tries conceded over the last 18 months have come from intercepts.’
France coach Marc Lievremont, meanwhile, admitted his heart was in his mouth as Wales launched their comeback.
Wales hit back from 21-9 to snatch a dramatic late victory over Scotland two weeks ago, and they almost managed it against England seven days earlier before they were killed off by yet another interception score.
‘I am very happy to have won three games, but there is still a lot of work to do,’ said Lievremont.
‘We lost a lot of coherence in the second-half. It was like watching the spectre of the Wales-Scotland game appear before us.
‘I am very happy with the win, but that is mixed with relief after that second half.’
