France fear being beaten up by Welsh bodybuilders
If DAN BIGGAR does seek cover in Row Z of the Principality Stadium tonight, there is every chance Jules Plisson will follow the Wales No 10 to the safety of the stands. After france targeted Ireland’s Jonathan Sexton two weeks ago, Wales have suggested hiding Biggar in the crowd could be the only way to avoid a premeditated blitz.
But for all the talk of french intimidation, Plisson, their fly- half, believes it is Wales who are plotting the physical onslaught.
Warren Gatland’s side have been compared to a ‘squadron of bodybuilders’ by the visiting press, with Plisson claiming his last visit to Cardiff was the most painful night of his career.
‘It’s my worst memory,’ said Plisson. ‘There was a dark, rock and roll entrance. It was like a boxing match. The Welsh arrived to flames, lasers, lights — and with a beast, right? A goat! They ran down my channel with guys only over 110kg. They came to me and they hurt me.’
Plisson is bracing himself for more painful collisions tonight. full back Maxime Medard claims the Welsh back line is packed with heavyweights to ‘beat up’ the opposition. The home threequarter line — Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, George North and Alex Cuthbert — weighs in 11st 4lb heavier than their french opposite numbers.
As they did two years ago, Gatland’s ball carriers will target the fly-half channel, while Plisson expects Biggar to receive similar attention from france’s runners. ‘All the No 10s are targets,’ said Plisson. ‘ But we must stop thinking that the word target means to smash the guy opposite.
‘The No 10 is the conductor of the opposition. Sure, if you use a little defence, he will be more tired when running the game.’
france lock Yoann Maestri escaped suspension for a late hit on Sexton in Paris last week, with his shoulder charge deemed ‘just short’ of a red card by the citing officer.
Wales second row Alun-Wyn Jones has backed Wayne Barnes to deal with any cheap shots tonight, but the 30-year-old is wary of the game losing its edge if officials become too strict.
Jones said: ‘Obviously there was a bit of afters, or whatever you want to call it, but we have to be very careful we don’t sanitise it too much or the game will turn into touch rugby.
‘That sort of thing happens sometimes. I’m sure the officials will keep an eye on it — that’s their job — we just have to play the game. You have to be able to hit a ruck to get quick ball.
‘There are always things in vogue — it’s no arms in the tackle and hands on the floor at the minute. We just have to be careful we don’t hold the game back by going too far the other way.’
Wales will seek victory within the boundaries of the law.
They have conceded only one try in their last five Tests against france and, with Shaun Edwards masterminding the defence, there is unlikely to be space for france to play with their traditional flair.
‘You know Shaun Edwards, he’s never happy to concede a try,’ said Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde. ‘But records of the past should stay in the past. We are going to have to step up in attack and defence.
‘france have potent individuals behind the scrum. flair is part of their rugby identity, along with their tighter game. It’s about balancing that tight game with a swing of the hips and some good off-loading.’
Toby faletau is central to Wales’ defensive effort, having made 33 tackles and missed none in the opening ties against Ireland and Scotland. And the No 8 is now hoping to derail france’s Grand Slam bid, ending their honeymoon period under Guy Noves.
Noves has won two from two since taking over and, according to france full back Maxime Medard, they are confident of causing an upset against the team they have not beaten since 2011.
‘What is different from previous years is that the players are really taking responsibility for their roles,’ said Medard. ‘In the past, we let ourselves be carried by the coaches.
‘On top of that, we know we can speak up when something doesn’t seem right to us — there are plenty of exchanges. Nobody expects anything to be handed to them on a silver platter.
‘With two wins, you can’t help but hear some people talking about winning the championship and even the Grand Slam. But the truth is, at the moment we have got nothing.
‘Wales are a very powerful team in both attack and defence and we know this match will be completely different to the first two we played. ‘ We won two matches while struggling. We have nothing to
brag about at the moment.’