France - 33 Wales - 5 Wales may face an exodus of international players unless the plan for a system of five provincial teams next season is adopted. The former captain Mark Taylor indicated after Paris completed Wales' whitewash that if the present club structure were maintained he would play elsewhere and others would follow.
"Personally I think it would be a disaster if we still had nine clubs next season," said Taylor. "My future will be outside Wales, because (the current system) isn't giving us the intensity to compete with the likes of France and Ireland.
"The speed of the match today was nothing like you experience at club level in Wales. For those boys who are on (international) contracts, there aren't many who would stay in Wales."
With the European Cup organiser ERC stipulating that Wales must tell it the structure of its domestic rugby for next season by this Wednesday, time may be running out for the David Moffett plan, the financial terms of which were rejected by the clubs on Friday.
The frustration among the national team and the coaching staff was revealed after Wales were defeated for the sixth time in a row on Saturday, completing the country's worst run.
"I hope the clubs, administrators and the WRU see the light," said the Wales coach Steve Hansen. "The game's going down the drink while you guys are arguing. It's time everyone chucked their toys out of the cot and got serious. They are letting these players down and they're letting the players of the future down."
Apart from the fluent move which started deep in the Wales half, continued with a sparkling escape from Craig Morgan, had backs and forwards combining seamlessly and ended with Gareth Thomas going over for his 30th international try in the fourth minute, Hansen's team were mainly reduced to aimless kicking in Paris.
With the back row looking particularly fired up, they did at least manage to drive the French back in the tackle, and slowed them at the breakdown much as the Scots had five weeks ago.
But once France regained their concentration and began squeezing Wales for possession after a feverish first 10 minutes, Les Bleus never looked like losing, although they did little to fire the crowd, who booed them resoundingly as they left the field at half-time.
FRANCE: Poitrenaud; Rougerie (Clerc, 20), Castaignede, Traille, Garbajosa; Michalak (Merceron, 77), Yachvili (Elissalde, 77); Crenca, Ibanez (Rue, 77), Marconnet (Milloud, 68), Pelous, Brouzet (Auradou, 60), Betsen, Magne, Harinordoquy (Tabacco, 60). Tries: Castaignede, Clerc, Michalak. Cons: Yachvili 3. Pens: Yachvili 4.
WALES: R Williams; C Morgan, Taylor, Harris (Shanklin, 75), Thomas; S Jones (Llanelli), Peel (Cooper, 54); I Thomas, Davies (G Williams, 67), Jenkins (Madden, 55), Sidoli, Llewellyn, Charvis, M Williams (capt), D Jones (S Williams, 75; G Thomas, 80). Try: G Thomas. Yellow card: Charvis, 66.
Referee: P O'Brien (New Zealand).
