Six Nations: Wales v France – in pictures

There's a lot of hope and expectation in Wales today, as well as "funny" headgear Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer The teams and the fans pay their respects during the minute's silence for the former Wales captain Mervyn Davies who died last week Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer France have insisted that the roof remain open for the game with showers predicted, hoping to unsettle the home side. It will take more than a few spots of rain to disrupt the Welsh players and the choirs that sing on the pitch before the game ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer The singing isn't restricted to the pitch. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer It's a bright start from Wales as Jonathan Davies picks up a flat pass from Rhys Priestland and gains ground on the left touchline. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Dimitri Yachvili, here kicking as Alun Wyn Jones attempts to block, scores the first points of the game with a penalty in the 11th minute. Wales 0-3 France. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Midway through the first half Wales get their first points on the board courtesy of a brilliant try by Alex Cuthbert. Dan Lydiate and Alun Wyn Jones stop Thierry Dusautoir in his tracks and weasel the ball back into Welsh hands. They work it via Priestland to the winger on the right who weaves inside off the flank, surging past flailing French tackles ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer ... Before charging over the line to send the Millennium Stadium wild. Leigh Halfpenny makes no mistake with the conversion. Wales 7-3 France. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer George North tries to hand off Imanol Harinordoquy and Yachvili. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Leigh Halfpenny tries to go past David Attoub, front, and Thierry Dusautoir ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer But is brought down to earth by Dusautoir. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer The 74,178 spectators packed inside the Millennium Stadium see Wales go in at half-time 10-3 up. The first half has been a scrappy affair with Wales the better of the two sides. Early in the second half Beauxis scores a penalty for the French. Just four points separate the teams. Wales 10-6 France. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer This time Cuthbert finds the French defence a bit better organised as he is brought down by Florian Fritz and Aurélien Rougerie. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer France give away a penalty just inside the Wales half and Leigh Halfpenny decides to have a go. He larrups the ball and it clears the post by some distance. It's a huge kick in every sense of the word as it re-establishes Wales's seven-point advantage at a time when they were coming under intense pressure from a French side who have started the second half a lot stronger. Wales 13-6 France Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Wesley Fofana catches under pressure from George North Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer A penalty from Yachvili makes it 13-9. The French obviously believe they have another try in them. That means a worrying seven minutes for the Wales coach Warren Gatland. It doesn't matter how many times you look up at the clock, Warren, it won't make the time go any quicker. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Leigh Halfpenny eases his coach's nerves when he slides a penalty through the posts. There's five minutes to go and once again a converted try stands between the sides. Wales 16-9 France Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer The final whistle goes and Wales have won the Grand Slam, their third in eight years. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer There are smiles all round as Sam Warburton hoists the Six Nations trophy high. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Cue the celebrations and the champagne. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer It's thirsty work winning the Grand Slam. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer