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It was the sort of saga that you felt might never end.

As Wales attempted to repel a French surge while leading 18-13 in Paris with 79 minutes on the clock, little could they have known it would be more than 20 minutes before they left the pitch.

So just what happened in that period to provide us with such an absurd ending to the game?

Here we give you precisely how events unfolded to end all the confusion.

And it’s a quite remarkable little episode in the history of the Six Nations....

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79.02 mins - The saga actually begins BEFORE the end of normal time when referee Wayne Barnes penalises Wales for killing the ball as France launch a desperate series of raids at the try-line with the visitors ahead 18-13.

79.23 - Not surprisingly, having dominated this facet of the game, France opt for the scrum. Welsh players yell encouragement at one another for what they think is one final push.

79.28 - Barnes awards France a free-kick almost as soon as the scrum goes down because he says Wales didn’t ‘hold their weight’ for long enough at the engagement. It’s obvious Les Bleus will just go for the scrum again, and they do.

79.44 - The scrum goes to ground and Barnes calls for a reset. He says the set-piece is ‘fine’ on the side of Rob Evans. It’s Samson Lee Barnes has the problem with, telling him to adopt a higher position.

79.47 - The two packs are just about to engage again when Barnes stops the action and asks replacement French tighthead Uini Atonio if he is injured. No says Atonio, so Barnes says ‘OK let’s go’.

The big moment of controversy

80.03 - Yet again the scrum collapses. Barnes blows as we finally enter injury time and tells the two front rows: “I need you higher and I need the space”. Then there is a new development.

It seems prop Atonio isn’t actually fit enough to go on after all and from nowhere there is a French medic on the pitch. Atonio is shepherded off the field holding the area near his belly button.

On comes starting tighthead Rabah Slimini to take his place. “It’s one of those,” says commentator Eddie Butler, “have they sent for a specialist prop?”

Butler’s sidekick Brian Moore smells a rat. “That is just an amazing coincidence,” exclaims the former England hooker.

Suddenly, Barnes is in discussion with the medic who has entered the field of play.

The medic is jabbering away trying to justify the change before Barnes says: “Just hold on a minute, do you think he (Atonio) needs a head assessment?”

“Yes,” is the reply. “OK, as a doctor you have said he needs a head assessment.”

The doctor walks away and Wales prop Rob Evans appears on Barnes’ shoulder and says: “Wayne, we’re happy whatever.”

Moore isn’t impressed. “I suppose it depends how cynical you are about this,” he says, “ far be it from me to say that was cheating”.

Atonio walks down the tunnel alone.

Wales later claim the doctor came on the pitch at the instruction of a member of the French management who left the technical area and it is therefore against the rules of the game.

80.04 - Mercifully, the ball emerges from the scrum when play restarts and France hammer away at the Welsh line.

81.14 - France are held up over the line but Barnes has seen something he doesn’t like in the melee of players and awards France a penalty advantage. That penalty is duly given when France are again held up over the line.

81.47 - It’s obvious a Welsh player is going in the sin-bin and it’s tighthead prop Samson Lee. “You clearly killed the ball,” Barnes tells him as the Scarlets man trudges off. Guess what? France opt for the scrum.

82.04 - With Lee off there is a problem with the scrum and Barnes announces that the next set-piece will be uncontested, which would evidently be to Wales’ advantage.

But there is confusion. As the clock ticks Barnes asks if Tomas Francis is going to come back on for Lee for the scrum. “Is Francis injured or was he a replacement?” Barnes asks his assistants.

Butler says it looks as though Scott Baldwin is coming on, “in which case the scrum will be uncontested” Moore interjects, a reference to any tighthead replacement needing to be a tighthead because of safety considerations.

Barnes is still trying to ascertain from the fourth official – who appears not to understand the Englishman – whether Francis is injured or was just replaced.

Moore, ever the wit, says: “I think he was replaced, but he might need a sudden head injury assessment! Quick, someone whack him!”

For the first time we are told Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards has lost his cool over the situation.

84.01 - Francis enters the fray again more than two minutes after Lee was binned in what are increasingly bizarre scenes. Wales have not resorted to a claim the Exeter man is unable to go back on in order to have uncontested scrums.

By now Rob Howley is pitchside, arms folded, pacing about and looking distinctly unimpressed.

The delay continues though, as Barnes asks which Wales player is going off for Francis who, don’t forget, has replaced the yellow-carded Lee.

Eventually Leigh Halfpenny is withdrawn.

86.01 - At last, the game resumes with four minutes having been wasted faffing about. At least for Wales a large chunk of Lee’s 10-minute banishment has been eaten up.

86.17 - Surprise, surprise, Barnes blows for a penalty to France at the scrum, saying Wales again were exerting too much weight too soon. Les Bleus opt for the scrum.

87.06 - The scrum collapses and Barnes resets with exasperation levels rising. “Who wouldn’t pay £84 to watch this?” quips Moore.

87.40 - The next scrum goes down too. Barnes calls a reset. Someone in the Welsh pack shouts: “Come on, let’s f******g do it!”

88.31 - The scrum wheels and collapses. Barnes awards a penalty to France, but just when everyone expects another scrum No.8 Louis Picamoles takes it quickly and charges at the line before being hauled down and held up short. “Not 10, not 10” Barnes shouts, awarding France yet another penalty advantage.

The biting accusation

89.00 - France finally spread the ball towards their left wing as the Welsh defensive line, or what’s left of it in Halfpenny’s absence, charge out at them. Jonathan Davies grabs a blue jersey and the move ends with Barnes going back for the penalty as George North grapples on the floor with a clutch of French attackers.

It’s the start of another sub-plot as North gets off the deck clearly annoyed at something and remonstrating with the touch judge as France choose a scrum penalty and play prepares to resume.

90.51 - After some fussing around before engagement, the scrum goes down and France move the ball left to attack. Wales are frantic in defence and Rhys Webb is penalised for holding on in the tackle right underneath the Welsh posts. It’s another penalty advantage but the attack continues through the phases. Barnes plays a long advantage before bringing play back for the scrum penalty.

He calls over Sam Warburton, captain with Alun Wyn Jones off the field, and warns him that with the penalty count mounting Wales are in danger of going down to 13 men.

But by this time, incredibly, Samson Lee only has another 45 seconds before he can make the most improbable return to duty in the game’s history.

91.50 - As Barnes is talking, North makes his first approach to the official holding his arm and appearing to make an accusation that he has been bitten. North’s team mates urge him to make his case to Barnes more forcibly.

92.10 - Lee comes back on despite having been binned in injury time. Incredible. Leigh Halfpenny joins him and Wales are back up to the full compliment. Meanwhile Rhys Webb is making representations to Barnes about the alleged biting incident. “Captain is Sam now,” says Barnes, dismissing him.

So Warburton duly approaches Barnes. “Sorry, Warby?” Barnes greets him. Warburton relays the North accusation to him.

Barnes says: “You’re making it clear there’s been a bite, we don’t know when it is we don’t know where it is.” Warburton asks Barnes to go to the TMO.

Barnes calls stand-in French captain Yohan Maestri and says “there’s been an accusation of a bite and there’s clearly a mark. He says it’s at the last phase so we know where it might be. So we’re going to have a look at that with the TMO. If he’s done it himself (North) we will deal with it”.

Butler and Moore meanwhile are incredulous. “A self-inflicted bite,” Butler says, “that would sum up the day!”

Barnes, finally, refers the ‘bite’ incident to TMO Peter Fitzgibbon. “Just so you know, there is clearly a bite mark on his arm,” Barnes adds.

Moore says: “Jonathan Davies (Jiffy) has just written the word ‘shambles’ down, which is fair.”

Jiffy had to put down his mic early in the game when his half-lost voice reached levels of pitch that left him no choice.

94.52 - With the clock taking on an outrageous look, Barnes says anxiously: “Fitzy, how you getting on?”

“Still checking Wayne,” comes the reply...followed by “Wayne, no conclusive footage, play on!” Barnes informs both skippers and play starts again with, shock horror, a scrum.

96.02 - France drive forward in the scrum and win another penalty within eight seconds of the restart. So there will be another scrum. French players are beginning to ask when there will be another yellow card.

96.58 - Barnes blows for another stoppage. This time it’s some issue with the fourth official. He walks across the pitch. “There is an issue or not?” he asks.

It seems there is no issue after all, and back Barnes goes.

97.58 - Back goes the scrum Wales’ way and it’s yet another penalty to the French. How much more of this can we take?

French players want a penalty try. “I need a bit more for a penalty try,” Barnes tells them, at the same time warning Wales that another infringement will see him reaching for his card again. “Next one goes,” he says.

99.00 - France break off the scrum and get another penalty advantage. But France continue and are desperately close to a try.

Then Barnes says: “If necessary we come back and Dan Biggar goes to the bin for kicking the ball on the floor.” There’s a sinking feeling for Welsh fans.

99.55 - France finally get over the line, claim the try and Barnes, while 99 out of 100 refs would have consulted the TMO to make certain, awards it, probably realising that unless he does the floodlights are in danger of failing. It’s unclear who’s scored but later it emerges it’s back rower Damian Chouly.

Camille Lopez converts from an easy spot and France win.