France led 16-0 at half-time in the driving rain in Paris, but they fell apart in the second half to start the Six Nations with a defeat.
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 half-time with a 16-0 lead following tries from Louis Picamoles and Yoann Huget, with Camille Lopez slotting over a penalty and a drop goal.
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 they only had themselves 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.
