A George North try double helped Wales overcome a 16-point first-half deficit to seal a dramatic 24-19 victory over France in the 2019 Six Nations opener and equal their longest winning sequence since 1999.

In an uncharacteristically error-ridden first-half, Wales spilled the ball and conceded turnovers under pressure from a fantastic showing by the home back-row led by ubiquitous No 8 Louis Picamoles.

Despite racing to a 16-0 half-time lead, France were left to rue their woeful goal kicking at the rain-hit Stade de France, Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez combining to miss 13 points with their respective boots.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say that was a relief. Credit to George North and the defence, who came through in the conditions," captain Alun Wyn Jones told BBC.

"We hold our hands up and say we came out a bit cold in the first half but we learnt pretty quickly at the start of the second half as we should have."

France coach Jacques Brunel added: "I don't think it's a mental state of mind, we showed until the end we had the fighting spirit.

"But there was a lack of game management."