Wales 8-9 France

Warburton’s tackle on Vincent Clerc changed the context of the match

Wales’s World Cup campaign ended in controversial fashion as France edged a nail-biting semi-final in Auckland.

Wales took an early lead with a James Hook penalty but had captain Sam Warburton sent off for a dangerous tackle on France wing Vincent Clerc.

Morgan Parra kicked three penalties to put Les Bleus ‘ 9-3 up but Mike Phillips gave Wales hope with a try.

But replacement Stephen Jones missed the conversion, one of four missed kicks at goal that cost Wales dear.

More to follow.

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; James Hook, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (capt), Toby Faletau.

Replacements: Paul James (for A Jones, 10), Stephen Jones (for Hook, 46), Ryan Jones (for Lydiate, 55), Bradley Davies (for AW Jones, 61), Lloyd Burns, Lloyd Williams, Scott Williams.

France: Maxime Medard; Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson; Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili; Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Nicolas Mas, Pascal Pape, Lionel Nallet, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Julien Bonnaire, Imanol Harinordoquy.

Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski (for Servat, 44), Fabien Barcella (for Poux, 44), Julien Pierre (for Pape, 61), Fulgence Ouedraogo (for Bonnaire, 75), Francois Trinh-Duc, Jean-Marc Doussain, Cedric Heymans.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

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