GEORGE North claimed Wales were right back in the hunt for the RBS 6 Nations title after a 20-13 win over France in Paris.

Dan Biggar's second-half try and five penalties from the boot of Leigh Halfpenny earned the Welsh their second win from three games after losing to England.

"We are still alive and still in the hunt for the championship," North said. "It's quite exciting."

The win was Wales' fourth consecutive success over France, a record North hailed as "excep-tional".

North missed the win over Scotland last time out due to head injury protocol. Asked if he had been angry to miss the match at Murrayfield, North said: "I think angry was a bit of an understatement. The pride in the jersey is massive for the boys and myself included. It's nice to be back in a Welsh jersey and be part of a great win."

Wales boss Warren Gatland felt his side were well worth their win.

"I thought the boys were outstanding," he said. "We deserved to win."

France delivered a 68th-minute try for full-back Brice Dulin, with fly-half Camille Lopez kicking a conversion and two penalties, but hopes of Six Nations silverware fell before a fine Welsh performance.

Claiming their third Six Nations title in four years is still out of Wales' hands, but successive wins against Scotland and France have put them in the mix, setting them up nicely for appointments with Ireland and Italy.

Captain Sam Warburton led his team superbly, and there were a number of admirable displays alongside him, with the likes of lock Alun-Wyn Jones, flanker Dan Lydiate and scrum-half Rhys Webb also playing starring roles.

France dominated early territory and their fired-up approach was underlined through a crunching tackle by wing Yoann Huget on his opposite number Liam Williams.

Wales soon settled, though, and, after moving smoothly through the phases, they went ahead in the seventh minute when Halfpenny landed an opening penalty.

Given that it was a win-or-bust game for both teams, with the losers knowing they would no longer be in Six Nations title contention, there was plenty of admirable attacking adventure.

Lopez looked to unlock the Wales defence by mixing his kicking and running approach, yet the visitors, having not conceded a try against Les Bleus in the countries' last four meetings, held firm through impressive organisation.

Lopez then drew France level through a short-range penalty, and there was an early introduction off the bench for powerhouse centre Mathieu Bastareaud as the opening quarter ended 3-3.

Clermont Auvergne No 10 Lopez missed a chance to put France ahead when he rifled a 24th-minute penalty attempt wide, and there remained little to choose between the teams as Wales burst into Les Bleus' 22 following centre Jonathan Davies' kick and chase that had the home side back-pedalling.

It gave Wales an attacking scrum and they used possession well, spinning it wide in an attempt to free North, but France infringed and Halfpenny kicked the resulting penalty to take him past 450 points for Wales.

Wales were well and truly into their stride, with their forwards securing plenty of front-foot ball for Webb to utilise, but France came storming back as Huget powered over the try-line. However, referee Jaco Peyper correctly ruled a forward pass during build-up play.

France changed their goal kicker at the start of the second period, with Parra taking over from Lopez, but he also failed to find the target and Wales preserved their three-point advantage.

Lopez then regained the job seven minutes later, and he hauled France level, only for Wales to edge back in front when Halfpenny completed his penalty hat-trick.

It was a real nip-and-tuck contest, with neither side able to break clear on the scoreboard, but the Wales pack - roundly criticised after the defeat against England three weeks ago - began to take charge.

The Wales scrum consistently held up well and attacking opport- unities began to increase on the back of that set-piece solidity, but it remained 9-6 heading into the final quarter.

Wales then stunned France by scoring the opening try with 20 minutes left, and it came from a trademark Webb break.

The Ospreys No 9 burst clear into space, found Lydiate in support and his pass sent Biggar scampering clear to touch down in the corner. Halfpenny failed to land the difficult conversion attempt, but he was back on target just five minutes later, kicking a fourth successful penalty as Wales opened up a 17-6 advantage.

Despite Dulin's converted try, France's first against Wales in five tests, the French could not recover as Halfpenny's fifth penalty sealed matters.

France: Dulin; Huget; Lamerat; Fofana; Guitoune; Lopez; Parra; Ben Arous; Guirado; Slimani; Taofifenua; Maestri; Dusautoir; Le Roux; Chouly. Replacements: Bastareaud for Lamerat (17); Tales for Fofana (70); Tillous-Borde for Parra (52); Debaty for Ben Arous (52); Kayser for Guirado (52);

Atonio for Slimani (52); Suta for Taofifenua (61); Goujon for Chouly (74).

Wales: Halfpenny; North; J. Davies; Roberts; L. Williams;

Biggar; Webb; Jenkins; Baldwin; Lee; Charteris; Jones; Lydiate; Warburton; Faletau. Replacements: Priestland for Biggar (74); James for Jenkins (71); Hibbard for Baldwin (70);

Jarvis for Lee (79); B. Davies for Charteris (70); Tipuric for Lydiate (70).

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa).

Attendance: 80,000.