Kicking game is key for shock Wales win
WALES will not make the same mistake as Scotland and kick aimlessly to France in Cardiff on Friday night when the Six Nations leaders will be looking to complete the fourth leg of a first Grand Slam since 2010.
France scored their second highest number of points at Murrayfield last weekend, 36, with several of their six tries the product of counter-attacks and turnovers rather than sustained pressure.
“We cannot give them the opportunity to run at us,” said Tomos Williams, who will be up against Antoine Dupont at scrumhalf. “We have to be on the money with our kicking and make sure we stay in the battle.
“France are confident in their defence and they have got threats across the park in attack. They are confident both sides of the ball and they play a good power game. We are going to have to be on it at the breakdown.”
Wales’ title defence is all but over after defeats to Ireland and England, but with two home matches left they are looking for a top half finish and feel they owe France after losing the last two games between the sides narrowly.
“We are looking to play with the ball in our hands and show what we can do,” said Williams. “We know we have a lot to work on, but we are enjoying our rugby.
“We finished well at Twickenham, but we gave England a 12-point start in the first-half and conceded a try early in the second to go 17-0 down. You cannot do that against them there and expect to win.”
Williams said Dupont was one of the players who puts the oil in France’s engine, but he does not expect to be indulging in sledging with the World Player of the Year for 2021.
“My French is not great,” he said. “Dupont is a big threat on both sides of the ball and we have to give him as few opportunities as possible. He has been outstanding in the last couple of seasons, a player who is confident that he can do a job.”
Williams helped spearhead Wales’ comeback at Twickenham with a pass to Josh Adams for their first try that took out two defenders. “Josh kept his width well and I am enjoying being in the side. We know the size of the task against France but we owe them from last year, and a Friday night in Cardiff is always good.”