Wales clinched their third RBS Six Nations Grand Slam in eight years with a nervy 16-9 victory over France at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Alex Cuthbert's first-half try proved the difference between the two nations as Warren Gatland's side completed a clean sweep in this year's tournament.
The victory avenged their World Cup semi-final loss to the same opponents five months ago, while it also served as a fitting tribute to the legendary Mervyn Davies, the 1976 Slam skipper having passed away on Thursday.
France did threaten to spoil the home side's party but could only muster a pair of penalties from Dimitri Yachvili and three points from Lionel Beauxis' boot.
Sam Warburton - the man who had been left in tears after seeing red in the 9-8 defeat at Eden Park last October - was left with much different emotions as he held the trophy aloft, though a shoulder injury had forced him off at half-time.
Any concerns about Wales being overawed by the occasion, with not even a pre-match deluge managing to quell the expectant crowd, were soon dismissed when they made a fast-paced start to proceedings.
The opening quarter was almost exclusively played in France's half, though for all their efforts the home side were simply unable to find a way through.
France, in contrast, seemed more than happy to kick the ball away and defend, Lionel Beauxis showing the full extent of their aspirations in the opening seconds with a dreadful drop-goal attempt from a long way out that did nothing but skim the grass.
Yet, despite barely posing a threat to their opponents, France took the lead with their first real foray forward, Yachvili's left boot putting the visitors 3-0 up with an 11th-minute penalty.
Wales, however, did not panic. Choosing to play the territory game themselves, they saw a Rhys Priestland penalty come back off an upright before turnover ball led to a try.
Dan Lydiate's tackle caught Thierry Dusautoir all alone and once Alun Wyn Jones had recycled it backwards, the ball was worked wide to Cuthbert. A left-foot step took the winger away from Imanol Harinordoquy and gave him a free run to the line.
Halfpenny slotted over the conversion and also added three more points shortly after the half-hour mark, again Wales turning a turnover into points. Had the woodwork not denied them a second time, they would have held a comfortable 10-point cushion at the break.
The miss left Les Bleus within touch and nerves were jangling in the stands when Beauxis' 45th-minute penalty cut the deficit down to four points.
Halfpenny responded with a penalty of his own to give Wales some breathing space, though it must've felt like water-torture as the clock slowly ticked by.
The final 10 minutes saw France kick a penalty to increase the tension - only to then hand te three points straight back when sub Francois Trinh-Duc threw the ball away after being bundled into touch.
Halfpenny gleefully accepted the gift and although Priestland missed a drop goal attempt with two minutes to play that would have made absolutely sure, there was simply not enough time for France to respond.
