Alun Wyn: No panic, we knew what we had to do

WALES captain Alun Wyn Jones revealed a half-time decision to go back to basics prompted his side’s dramatic opening night win over France in Paris.

Wales trailed by 16 points at half-time to their dominant hosts but the second period was a vastly different affair, with Warren Gatland’s men roaring back to win 24-19.

And despite their poor start, Jones claimed the visitors were always confident of overturning the deficit as long as they focused on the fundamentals.

“We were well aware of what we hadn’t done in the first half,” he said. “We probably realised that we were going to have to start playing without the ball – we did that and got opportunities from the pressure we were putting on.

“In both halves we were pretty pleased as a forward pack with the platform – it was just the errors off that compounding the frustration.

“We knew we had 40 minutes to put that right. Had we not taken the opportunity early in the second half, we probably would have felt the fear a bit but we are very fortunate that we put the pressure on and got that.”

Jones added: “A 16-point swing doesn’t usually happen in international rugby but we were able to get that snowball effect and chase down the deficit.

“It’s a cliché that we were always going to win but we were well aware that if we got the opportunity we were going to get close enough.”

Meanwhile French hooker Julien Marchand tore knee ligaments after coming on in the second half and will miss the rest of the season.He suffered the injury in the final seconds as France tried desperately to rescue a result.

The injury is a blow not only for France but for Top 14 leaders Toulouse, where Marchand is the captain. It could also harm his chances of playing in the World Cup.

Centre Wesley Fofana (thigh), prop Uini Atonio (knee) and three-quarter Damian Penaud were also hurt on Friday night and are all doubts for the game against England.