The scrum-half scored 24 points for Les Bleus, with flanker Imanol Harinordoquy also weighing in with a try as the Welsh failed to get going in the second half until it was too late.

Steve Hansens side found themselves trailing early on through RBS man-of the-match Elissalde's penalty after Wales were caught offside.

France then thought they were on for a breakaway try when Stephen Jones saw his long pass intercepted but referee Stuart Dickinson called play back for a penalty which Stephen Jones successfully converted right on the halfway line.

Wales were committing too many errors and after temporarily losing skipper Colin Charvis it was no surprise when Elissalde kicked his second penalty after 15 minutes.

But Wales again quickly levelled through the boot of Jones. The outside half then gave his side the lead with another penalty following their most sustained period of pressure in the match.

It was the French, who knew victory would give them the outright lead in the championship, who were now committing the errors and Jones punished them with his fourth successful kick.

The Llanelli mans penalty took him to second in the all-time Welsh points list with 305 points - one ahead of Paul Thorburn.

On the stroke of half-time the Welsh defence was finally pierced. Outside half Frederic Michalak made the initial break before finding Vincent Clerc who sent flanker Harinordoquy over in the corner.

Elissalde converted to give France a narrow one-point advantage at the break.

After the break Elissalde extended the lead with a penalty as Charvis - who had twice gone off for treatment in the first half - received touchline repairs to a facial injury.

Elissalde hit a fourth penalty soon after as half back partner Michalak began to cause havoc in the Welsh defence with his mazy running.

Wales desperately needed to score but Jones missed a relatively simple chance to reduce the deficit before converting from in front of the posts on 55 minutes to bring Wales within four points.

But Welsh hopes suffered a huge blow on the hour mark when French flanker Serge Betsen made ground before finding a superb pass when being tackled for Elissalde who streaked away from 40 metres out to grab a crucial try.

The scrum-half added a conversion to take his haul for the afternoon to 21 points to equal the record for a Frenchman against Wales set by Christophe Lamaison four years ago.

He broke that landmark as he added yet another penalty with 11 minutes to go.

The hosts hopes of snatching a draw were briefly lifted when Ceri Sweeneys pass sent Martyn Williams over but the equalising try eluded them.

Wales: G Thomas, R Williams, Taylor, Harris, S Williams, S Jones, Cooper, I Thomas, Davies, Jenkins, Cockbain, Owen, J Thomas, Charvis, D Jones
Replacements: M Williams for Charvis 14+28, M Williams for D Jones 22, Charvis for M Williams 21+34 Peel for Cooper 50, Evans for I Thomas 62, Shanklin for Taylor 63, Llewellyn for Cockbain 66, I Thomas for Jenkins 76, Sweeney for Harris 76, Bennett for Davies 84

France: Brusque, Clerc, Jauzion, Traille, Dominici, Michalak, Elissalde, Marconnet, Servat, De Villiers, Pelous, Pape, Betsen, Harinordoquy, Lievremont
Replacements: Heymans for Michalak 45, Crenca for Marconnet 60, Bru for Servat 70, Magne for Lievremont 61, Yachvili for Elissalde 78
Not Used: Rougerie, Liebenberg, Auradou