NO RESPECT? SCRUM OFF IT
Skipper Wyn Jones insists Wales jibes meant no offence to the French pack but now he wants to do his talking on the pitch
ALUN WYN JONES believes Wales have not offended France, but insists it is time for his team to do their talking on the field rather than off it.
Wayne Pivac’s side claimed Les Bleus scrummage illegally ahead of today’s Six Nations clash at the Principality Stadium.
France hit back by accusing Jones and Co of being disrespectful and the verbal barrage has added extra spice to their Cardiff clash. “They were not my words, but if anything they were born out of respect for what French rugby has been about for many years,” said Wales skipper Jones of his team’s cheating claims.
“That is a dominant pack and flair behind. I think the tone, context and language used can sometimes be illperceived.
“It may have fuelled the fire, but we just want to conform to the laws. I didn’t want this to be a talking point. The talking point should be the rugby, the game as a whole and the Six Nations. Hopefully the game and occasion is what we’re talking about after the game.”
Wales will boast the most experienced starting XV in Six Nations history against France with 859 caps.
Pivac (above, right) makes two changes to the side beaten by Ireland, with flanker Ross Moriarty and scrum-half Gareth Davies drafted in.
Outside-half Dan Biggar and prolific try scorer Josh
Adams have been passed fit after Wales brought in a “globally renowned concussion expert” to give Biggar the green light to play. Try machine Adams (left) insists Wales are ready to get back to winning ways against Grand Slam-chasing France.
“I have never lost in Cardiff. That’s pretty good. France will be my 24th cap and I have never lost at home. I definitely don’t want to know what that feels like,” said Adams. “There is always a reaction the next time good teams play after a loss.
“Tuesday was the best training day we have had as a squad since we have come in.
“There was a bit of brutality there, we were getting stuck into each other and it had a real feel of ‘we need to put things right on Saturday’.
“We need a step up in performance. We are at home and Cardiff rocks when there’s everybody in there. We need to deliver a top performance to get the win.”