WALES Women were put to the sword in Montpellier by last season's Grand Slam winners France as they conceded nine tries in a 52-3 defeat.

It was always going to be a tough night at the office for Carys Phillips' side, but their task wasn't helped by travel plans that were ruined by the adverse weather and meant they had to fly on the morning of the match.

The French came into the side on the back of last season's clean-sweep and an autumn win over New Zealand.

They were ruthless and fluent from start to finish, notching their first try after only five minutes and then scoring their ninth try in the last move of the match.

The champions were quickly into their stride and got off the mark with the first of a hat-trick of tries from hooker Caroline Thomas from a driving line-out that followed two power scrums.

She would repeat that process twice more on a dominant night for the home side as Wales struggled to match their physicality and spent most of the night without the ball.

That lead gradually grew as the pressure mounted. Outside half Camille Imart landed a penalty and then the bonus-point was secured before the break with further tries from the outstanding lock N'Diaye, Thomas again and left wing Lea Murie.

Wales only points in a first-half played totally on the back foot came from a 14th minute penalty from outside half Robyn Wilkins after a great kick-chase from Jazz Joyce and a superb jackal by tighthead prop Amy Evans.

The points continued to flow in the second half for the free-flowing French, who had the stars of the show at No 8 and scrum half in Romane Menager and Pauline Bourdon.

Menager scored twice in the space of 11 minutes at the start of the second half before Thomas completed her hat-trick.

The rout was completed by a cruel interception try from replacement wing Doriane Constanty as she picked off a Wilkins pass five metres from the French line and then Murie bagged her second try of the night on the stroke of time.