From desperados to dreamland in 40 minutes – what a game, what a night, what a turnaround. Wales were gone. They were beaten, battered, bruised and bullied – 16-0 down at half-time. And then they won. George North played a starring role for Wales as they produced an historic comeback in the second-half to beat France The 26-year-old winger (left) produced a Man of the Match performance to help Wales win their opening Six Nations game Warren Gatland's side produced two distinctly different performances in either half as France chucked away a 16-0 lead It is a dream start for Wales as they look to wrestle the Six Nations title out of the hands of Joe Schmidt's Ireland this month Quite how or why or what the hell will be one for the annals. The facts are that Louis Picamoles and Yoann Huget scored first-half tries, Camille Lopez hit a penalty and a drop-goal and this game was over after 40 minutes. But Tomos Williams started it, then George North was gifted the easiest try of his life by the hapless Huget. And when, with 17 minutes left Dan Biggar nudged Wales ahead it was on – the most stunning comeback you are likely to see. They even had to win it twice, behind again with eight to go, North stole an intercept and ran in to raptures. Wales' Liam Williams escapes the clutches of the French rearguard as he scampers clear inside a wet Stade de France Physicality was a key battle that was meant to favour the French but Wales stood up to the test following a shaky first-half They cannot be too many sights scarier in rugby than an incandescent Shaun Edwards, and Wales' defensive guru may just have turned into an erupting volcano at half-time such was the shoddiness of his side's efforts in the first half. France were superb. They beat the Welsh up with their enormous 150st pack, then caused utter chaos out wide with their hot-stepping backs. By the break Wales had to become the history boys; 16-0 down and lucky not to be further back they were staring a thrashing in the face. Wales' biggest comeback was a 13-point deficit back in 1999 when they trailed Argentina 23-10 at the break and won 26-36. On the evidence of the first 40 minutes nil flattered them. It was a perfect start for France and they raced into a 5-0 lead after the first try of the game was scored by Louis Picamoles With France buoyed by their bright start Wales were stunned and their supporters in Paris could not believe the contest It all started so quickly. By the seventh minute France had their first try. Bash, crash, smash through the phases until the opening came, then Camille Lopez, to Maxime Medard who found Louis Picamoles in space. The No 8 stepped off his right foot and eased past Gareth Anscombe to score. Morgan Parra missed the kick and the next penalty from 47 metres out, but no matter the next try was fast approaching. Before it came Anscombe attempted a long penalty and missed by a mile. Then Wales had some hope. Josh Navidi expertly nicked a ball from Picamoles, then carried well after a deft pass from Tomos Williams, charging on. Hadleigh Parkes then found Liam Williams wide and he went in. But on the replay it showed he had lost control of the ball as he slid over. Picamoles disrupting him to make amends. Up the other end, French poetry in the pouring rain. Flanker Arthur Iturria flicked a fabulous left-handed out-the-back-door offload on the wing to Yoann Huget. George North was skinned and the French winger scored before saluting the Stade de France. There was plenty of support inside the Stade de France for Gatland's side with fans showing off daffodils and Welsh flags Morgan Parra impressed for France and it looked to be heading for a disappointing - and bruising - defeat for the visitors At this stage the ball looked covered in Vaseline for Wales, and Velcro for France. Anscombe by now, along with scrum-half Williams on his first Six Nations outing was having a horrendous evening. Another shanked penalty, a kick straight out on the full followed. Then Lopez kicked one from in front of the posts, and almost to take the mickey then slotted an audacious drop-goal right on half time from 40m out with his left foot. Parra had failed to take seven points too – so it could have been far worse. Gatland might have been seen wiping egg from his face in the stands. He predicted before this that if Wales won they would be on to take the title in March – at this rate his swansong Six Nations was looking likely to end in tears. Leaving for the interval there were disappointed reactions etched on the faces of the Wales players with a fight-back needed Gatland pondered his game-plan for the second half as he became drenched returning to the confines of the changing rooms But, his team had not won nine Tests in a row for nothing and Josh Adams lit a small spark in the damp to rekindle the Welsh flame. He jinked through Les Bleus and popped to Tomos Williams on the shoulder, who trotted in for his first Six Nations score. Anscombe – at last – kicked something straight and after 47 minutes, faint Welsh hopes renewed. Then 70-odd thousand had to pick their jaws from the floor. To be frank, they might still be attempting to this morning. A howler to end all howlers from Huget and Wales – incredibly – were back within two. Parkes stabbed a relatively average kick into the French 22, North hared after it – more in hope than anything else – and then, well it could not be more French. Huget spilled it on the line and North had his 35th Welsh try, the easiest of the lot. Out for the second half Wales looked a different proposition and soon wrestled back much-needed momentum in the match Tomos Williams crossed for a try and suddenly the hosts appeared rattled, well aware that Wales were full of confidence again Anscombe's last act was to convert before Biggar came on. France were now nervy, and Lopez missed yet another penalty – 10 points spurned now. Biggar showed him how it was done. From 42m he struck his penalty to put Wales into an unfathomable lead after Demba Bamba stood up in the scrum. Welsh fires now raging. The young pup might have won it – his scrum win bringing a Lopez penalty. But North's last act, nicking a Seb Vahaamahina pass and going clear, took Wales into the heavens. With the score in the visitors favour, France battled hard to take back control but Gatland's men stood up well to the task In the end it proved to be a record turnaround for Wales in Paris and sets their Six Nations campaign off on the right foot All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility