Scrum claim borne out of respect, argues Alun Wyn

ALUN Wyn Jones has hit back at France’s claims Wales have been disrespectful in the build-up to this weekend’s Six Nations encounter.

A pre-match war of words erupted after Welsh prop Wyn Jones said the visiting scrum would ‘cheat,’ a comment which France coach Fabien Galthie angrily dubbed as “disrespectful to French rugby.”

But skipper Alun Wyn tried to diffuse the row at his Captain’s Run yesterday morning by insisting any comments made were in fact borne out of respect. Addressing France’s angry response, he said: “They’re not my words.

“If anything, it’s completely the other way, the words were born out of respect for what French rugby has been about for many, many years, which is a dominant pack, flair behind.

“It’s probably borne more out of respect than a lack of it, but that’s my perception.”

The 34-year-old admits the pre-match war of words may have fired things up for some, but is hoping the rugby itself will be the talking point after today’s game comes to an end.

“I wasn’t at the press conference, but I think it may have fuelled the fire for some,” continued Jones.

During Tuesday’s press conference, Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys had also criticised Ireland’s tactics at the scrum during their defeat in Dublin.

“Ultimately, we just want to conform to the laws and they’re adjudicated accordingly,” said Jones.

“I’m just there to facilitate to make the job as easy as possible for the ref.

“I didn’t want this to be a talking point; the talking point should be about the rugby and the game as a whole and the Six Nations and not necessarily about the intricacies.

“Because we could go on to the tackle laws, we could go on to the ruck laws and could be here for another two hours and I could miss the team run.

“But hopefully the game and the occasion is what we’re talking about after the game.” Loose-head prop Jones said earlier this week he expects

France, like Ireland, to work outside the laws when it comes to the setpiece.

“We know they’ll hit and chase and cheat,” said Jones. “That’s something we’re fully aware of and something we’ve got to combat on the day.”

The comments had left France furious, with head coach Galthie claiming they are not in keeping with the spirit of the Six Nations.

“It’s a lack of respect for our scrum, a lack of respect for our team, a lack of respect for French rugby, but also for our nation,” he responded.

Former France hooker Raphael Ibanez, the team manager, called prop Jones’ remarks “rude.”

“To see them crying like this makes us smile,” he added. But at yesterday’s pre-match press briefing, Ibanez was keen to draw a line under the war of words.

“I’ve explained that we replied to that yesterday, so no more comment,” Ibanez said.

“I have already replied yesterday. I don’t want to make any more comments about that. Everyone is free to express what they want to express. We just focus on the game now.”

Jones will lead out a team boasting a Six Nations record 859 caps this weekend, and it is a game Wales must win to keep alive title hopes.

France and Ireland are the only remaining unbeaten teams left in this season’s competition, but Les Bleus have not win a Six Nations game in Cardiff since 2010.