Grand Slam in sight but Wales facing a ‘massive challenge’

WAYNE PIVAC accepts that Wales will face ‘a massive challenge’ when they go for the Guinness Six Nations title and Grand Slam against France in Paris on Saturday.

The unbeaten tournament leaders reeled off a third successive bonuspoint victory to increase pressure on their rivals for silverware by crushing Italy in Rome.

And Pivac’s team now head to the French capital knowing that a sixth Six Nations crown and fifth Grand Slam will be secured if they topple Les Bleus.

‘We need to improve, and we are looking to improve each week,’ said Wales head coach Pivac. ‘They (France) are going to be a different proposition. We will review our performance, preview them. We know we’re in for a massive game.

‘The two previous games (against France in the last 12 months), we have been on the receiving end of the result, so it’s a massive challenge.

‘If you asked this side coming out of the autumn whether they would take four (wins) from four heading to Paris for a potential Grand Slam, I think you know the answer.’

Italy’s 31st Six Nations defeat in a row saw them predictably offer little resistance at Stadio Olimpico as Wales tore them apart by scoring seven tries.

Hooker Ken Owens (below) led the way with a try double, while wing Josh Adams and No 8 Taulupe Faletau also touched down during a dominant first-half display that saw Wales secure a bonus point after just 30 minutes.

Centre George North added his 43rd Wales try early in the second period, equalling Shane Williams’ Wales record of 22 Six Nations touchdowns, and there were also scores for fly-half substitute Callum Sheedy and wing star Louis Rees-Zammit.

Sheedy kicked two conversions, with Dan Biggar landing three conversions and also kicking a penalty, while wing Monty Ioane scored a try for Italy that fly-half Paolo Garbisi put over.

The result equalled Wales’ biggest victory over the Azzurri in Rome, and Pivac added: ‘To have the bonus point by half-time gave us the luxury of being able to rest a few (players). We had hoped to get into that position and we achieved that.

‘We scored some good tries, but we were disappointed that we left a few out there as well.’

Wales won just three of their 10 Tests under Pivac last year — his first at the helm after succeeding Warren Gatland — but one more victory would give them a second Grand Slam in three seasons.

Pivac said: ‘We know the pain we went through in the autumn. But we are that much better for the autumn, we’ve got a lot more depth and we are going to have to keep building on that depth.’

Welsh captain Alun Wyn Jones will become the first player to win four Six Nations Grand Slams if his team beat France.

‘I don’t know if it gets easier or harder the more opportunities you get with games like this,’ said Jones.

‘Ultimately, we will rely on, not past experience, but the fact it is another chance and challenge to play for Wales in what is a special week.’