Wales vs France Build up Thread - Teams announced.

by maestegmafia Tue 13 Mar 2012, 12:44 am

First topic message reminder :

Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 17 March Kick-off: 1445 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC One HD, Red Button and online; listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and Radio Wales; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles; watch again on BBC iPlayer

43 games won by each side

Wales have scored one more point against France than France have against Wales.

France

Poitrenaud - Fofana, Rougerie, Fritz, Palisson - Beauxis, Yachvili - Bonnaire, Harinordoquy, (Cap.) Dusautoir - Maestri, Papé - Attoub, Servat, Poux

bench: Szarzewski, Debaty, Pierre, Picamoles, Parra, Trinh-Duc, Buttin

Wales

Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips;
Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (C), Toby Faletau

Replacements:

Ken Owens, Paul James, Luke Charteris, Ryan Jones, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Scott Williams

by maestegmafia Tue 13 Mar 2012, 6:54 pm

Teams to be Announced by France on Wednesday and Wales on Thursday to allow time for Warburton to make a full recovery.

by Knowsit17 Tue 13 Mar 2012, 7:09 pm

Needless to say referees' approaches are often disputed and disagreed with around here but the more I think about it the less I feel this can be an excuse. The players ought to know well enough by now how to not make the same infringements time and time again no matter who's reffing, in other words how to play to the ref's interpretation and not stubbornly try to persist with our own way if the ref doesn't agree.

There's no denying that silly errors were made and did wipe out many potential scores against Italy, such as the constant jumping in from the side. That wasn't Clancy's error, it was the players'. In fact our breakdown was excellent in the first two or three games but was totally neglected in comparison against Italy. Next to no effort to support the man in possession and failure to clear out effectively. That's something that cannot be repeated against France or we'll be turned over all afternoon.

I just still feel that we're perfectly capable of making amateur errors. There's no way we can start talking about being as ruthless as the AB's until we can replicate other aspects they do well to contribute to that clinical edge, in this case namely playing the ref as well as they do. Despite the win, we failed miserably at this against the Azzurri.

by maestegmafia Tue 13 Mar 2012, 7:17 pm

Knowsit17 wrote:Needless to say referees' approaches are often disputed and disagreed with around here but the more I think about it the less I feel this can be an excuse. The players ought to know well enough by now how to not make the same infringements time and time again no matter who's reffing, in other words how to play to the ref's interpretation and not stubbornly try to persist with our own way if the ref doesn't agree.

There's no denying that silly errors were made and did wipe out many potential scores against Italy, such as the constant jumping in from the side. That wasn't Clancy's error, it was the players'. In fact our breakdown was excellent in the first two or three games but was totally neglected in comparison against Italy. Next to no effort to support the man in possession and failure to clear out effectively. That's something that cannot be repeated against France or we'll be turned over all afternoon.

I just still feel that we're perfectly capable of making amateur errors. There's no way we can start talking about being as ruthless as the AB's until we can replicate other aspects they do well to contribute to that clinical edge, in this case namely playing the ref as well as they do. Despite the win, we failed miserably at this against the Azzurri.

i agree with you in part, players do have to learn and adapt as fast as they can to how the ref is interpreting situations, but i felt it was Clancy's timing of calling when there was an impeding offence worth penalising that was inconsistent, if he was up with play it was inevitably very quick, if he wasnt it was slower and the game could flow.

Re watching the match, when wales were in the Italians 22 in the early part of the first half Clancy was giving Wales 2-3 seconds to present the ball. Most games it is more like 5 or 6 some longer.

by TycroesOsprey Tue 13 Mar 2012, 7:49 pm

I dont know why this game fills me with trepidation.

The two packs are pretty evenly matched France should have a clear dominance in the lineout but their scrum was mauled by England on sunday which Im sure would have had Adam et al drooling. The French backrow could well be decimated and whilst they have quality players to come in Oudraogou in paticular, I dont see them having the physical edge or the experience to outplay the welsh breakaway trio. If the French first choice are fit then the backrow will be a real battle. Ithink Warbs will be key to Wales coming out on top.

The halfbacks for Wales have both been targetted in the last two matches and have struggled to impose themselves. If the French defend as they did against England and Scotland then the Priestland will get an easier ride. It does depend on the type of ball he gets from Phillips. If the French are slowing down the ball then Phillips needs to take responsibility and direct the forwards to take it on and attack around the fringes of the ruck and maul. Too often on Saturday and against England we shovelled bad ball out and down the line against a set defence. We need to learn to play it tight sometimes.

The Welsh midfield is better defensively than the French but Fofana and Rougerie are excellent in attack Roberts and JD will have their work cut out to shackle them. The back three has the beating of France espescially with Clerc out but they must recieve the ball in space and must remember to try avoding contact sometimes. They have got hung up on how big they are in the last couple of games and forgotten they have guille as well as power and pace.

My head says Wales should win this one but Like Alyn and England Ive was scarred by successive defeats to the French even in the seventies. Its just a typical scenario for a day of the Gauls playing sublime rugby and blowing us off the park.

by bedfordwelsh Tue 13 Mar 2012, 7:59 pm

Tycroes,

With regards the line out thats why I would love to see Evans and Charteris start, 6ft 8 n 6ft 10 respectively.

by TycroesOsprey Tue 13 Mar 2012, 8:03 pm

Yeah me too Bedford. The strength in depth at lock is great with Bradley and AWJ as well but those two have a really good balance of styles and are both massive lineout specialists.

by maestegmafia Tue 13 Mar 2012, 8:04 pm

Hi Bedford, havent seen you the last few days?

by **Biltong** Tue 13 Mar 2012, 8:07 pm

Tycroes it is only natural to feel tense about the upcoming match.

Contrary to what a number of welsh posters have proclaimed that the Six nations isn't the target but australia is. well it is nonsense, any tournament is important and thus this match is important for many reasons.

As Maesteg said to me the other day, irrispective of the previous two grandslams wales achieved in the last decade, this is the best position wales find themselves in for a very long time.

You have sqaud depth, you have some seriously good young players and if you can get the grnadslam it confirms the first part of the puzzle.

Grandslam done.

If you don;t win the grandslam introspection will follow and Welsh supporters will ask why did they fail to achieve something done twice before with "lesser" teams.

If you do get the grandslam then the process can move up to the next step.

Winning one or two tests in australia.

Wales will be so much more positive and the players will have much higher belief in themselves when they reach australia if they won the grandslam.

by maestegmafia Tue 13 Mar 2012, 8:11 pm

Re the Locks, i really dont know, there is an excellent case for all the candidates. It would be very tough on Ian Evans to drop him.

Chateris looked great when he cam on, AWJ Jones has been getting back to fitness and starting to look his usual useful self. Ryan Jones has been fantastic as a lock and as a backrow.

What do we do.

I would guess that if Warburton is fit Gats will likely start with AWJ and Ian Evans with Ryan Jones covering and no room for Charteris.

Personally I think I would try out AWJ and Evans to start with Charteris and Jones on the bench at the expense of Tuperic.

by TycroesOsprey Tue 13 Mar 2012, 8:14 pm

biltongbek wrote:Tycroes it is only natural to feel tense about the upcoming match.

Contrary to what a number of welsh posters have proclaimed that the Six nations isn't the target but australia is. well it is nonsense, any tournament is important and thus this match is important for many reasons.

As Maesteg said to me the other day, irrispective of the previous two grandslams wales achieved in the last decade, this is the best position wales find themselves in for a very long time.

You have sqaud depth, you have some seriously good young players and if you can get the grnadslam it confirms the first part of the puzzle.

Grandslam done.

If you don;t win the grandslam introspection will follow and Welsh supporters will ask why did they fail to achieve something done twice before with "lesser" teams.

If you do get the grandslam then the process can move up to the next step.

Winning one or two tests in australia.

Wales will be so much more positive and the players will have much higher belief in themselves when they reach australia if they won the grandslam.

Yeah I sort of agree. The problem is that the championship is pretty much ours already which Im sure was the teams stated target before the tournament. However now the Slam is on teh anticlimax if we lost on saturday would be a real blow to their youthful exuberance. Part of me wonders whether losing the slam match might refocus our players a bit. After 08 and 05 the players lost sight of what had won them the matches and believed the hype and got brought down to earth pretty quickly. The last couple of games have worried me that they may be a touch overconfident at the moment.

by maestegmafia Tue 13 Mar 2012, 8:22 pm

Ah...!

Might sound blwdi old but what will be will be and the present is post rationalised in the future as we decide what were the right things that contributed to the good and the wrong to the bad.

You never know whether a grounding bump and a harsh lesson in realism is as useful as ever increasing success until you feel you have ascertained your goals.

I want the lads to win the Grandslam and be harsh on themselves for the mistakes they made, focus in-depthly on what they can do better in the future and focus hard on what they can achieve for the future.

Grandslam or not, the goal is to break in to the top three of the Rankings and rise to the top. THat means winning a series in Australia this summer more than winning a Grandslam.

by samuraidragon Tue 13 Mar 2012, 8:41 pm

No cards please! 4 so far in 4 games.

by TycroesOsprey Tue 13 Mar 2012, 8:43 pm

samuraidragon wrote:No cards please! 4 so far in 4 games.

nobody got a card against Scotland?

by samuraidragon Tue 13 Mar 2012, 8:48 pm

Didn't Gethin get one, admittedly in the last few minutes?

by maestegmafia Tue 13 Mar 2012, 8:49 pm

Wales assistant coach Robin McBryde has revealed that they will tap into the knowledge of the former Grand Slam winners in the side ahead of their showdown with France on Saturday.

http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-2012/rugby/story/161080.html

by maestegmafia Tue 13 Mar 2012, 10:23 pm

The Wales squad will received a combined pay-out of more than £2 million from the Welsh Rugby Union if they complete the Grand Slam by defeating France at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/sixnations/9141590/Six-Nations-2012-2million-payday-awaits-Wales-if-they-can-clinch-the-Grand-Slam-with-win-against-France.html

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 12:30 am

Grand finales have a history of dragons with fabled wings
Down the years these operatic last-act numbers have quite a few times come down to this same fixture: Wales v France

By Frank Keating

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/mar/13/wales-france-grand-slam

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 8:10 am

Gethin Jenkins is determined to savour every minute of Grand Slam week this time around.

By his own admission, the final legs of the 2005 and 2008 Six Nations clean-sweeps went by in a flash.

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/03/14/grand-slam-veteran-gethin-jenkins-determined-to-savour-build-up-91466-30524982/#ixzz1p4oXnfob

by Woodstock Wed 14 Mar 2012, 9:15 am

Well this is something I have found which builds it up quite nicely for me. As a fan of 'The Blims' they have written this, in all fairness one of the better Rugby songs and it's about hope NOT about WHEN we win. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3hFzpUq6w4&feature=share

by whocares Wed 14 Mar 2012, 10:56 am

Gethin Jenkins interview (in french though...)

http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/6-nations/2012/hate-de-me-frotter-a-mas_sto3194236/story.shtml

no breaking news but in a nutshell:
- he's looking forward to go face to face (or ear to ear) with Nicolas Mas
- Left the blues because they couldnt pay him anymore during internatinal duties.
- happy to play in front of a big passionate crowd (toulon) after his experience of the AC final a few years back. unfortunately while there is huge support for the Wales team , the regions get little of that and suffer as a results. he still hopes that many players will still play there though!

by Morgannwg Wed 14 Mar 2012, 1:01 pm

You just know that Gethin is going to be a player given his all on sat. Not impressed with him as captain, he needed to have a word with Clancy about him blowing his whistle non-stop.

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 1:06 pm

Well it was inevitable really.

Let's hope he has international release.

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 1:11 pm

Morgannwg wrote:You just know that Gethin is going to be a player given his all on sat. Not impressed with him as captain, he needed to have a word with Clancy about him blowing his whistle non-stop.

Hopefully higher powers at the IRB have already had a word so that future teams and fans are not subjected to such awful games.

After the game on Saturday we deliberating his performance and none of us could remember a match he had refereed that produdced the flowing and exciting spectacle the IRB are trying so desperately to encourage.

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 10:05 pm

A Welsh win against France on Saturday will not only clinch a Grand Slam, but also start to rectify an appalling recent home record against the French.

The Six Nations-clinching win in 2008 was Wales' only home win against France in the past 10 years, punctuating a miserable run including five defeats.

Stretching back to the Six Nations in 2002, Wales have conceded 149 points against Saturday's opponents, scoring just 127 in reply.

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/03/14/wales-aim-to-improve-poor-millennium-stadium-record-against-france-91466-30529962/#ixzz1p8D1YOrY

by Morgannwg Wed 14 Mar 2012, 10:25 pm

Since 2000, here is the record:

2000: Wales 3 - 36 France
2001: France 35 - 43 Wales
2002: Wales 33 - 37 France
2003: France 33 - 5 Wales
2004: Wales 22 - 29 France
2005: France 18 - 24 Wales
2006: Wales 16 - 21 France
2007: France 32 21 Wales
2007: Wales 7 - 34 France (world cup warm-up)
2008: Wales 29 12 France
2009: France 21 -16 Wales
2010: Wales 20 - 26 France
2011: France 28 - 9 Wales
2011: France 9 -8 Wales (world cup quarter)

Now given how unbelievably, ridiculously bad we were it beggars belief how France didn't put double the amount of points on us. They can be world class, they can close out games but they are not ruthless. I hope this Wales team goes on to get a more ruthless edge and put teams to the sword; starting with these frogs on saturday Smile

.

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 10:28 pm

None of the Wales players who will feature in Saturday's Six Nations encounter with France at the Millennium Stadium was born in the 1970s but three of them have the opportunity to emulate a trio of their peers in that decade, regarded as the golden era of Welsh rugby, by taking part in a third grand slam campaign.
The props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones, along with the back-row Ryan Jones, were involved in the 2005 and 2008 grand slam campaigns. Two other members of the wider Wales squad also were, Stephen Jones and Gavin Henson, but they have not taken the field in this year's Six Nations.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/ms/p/gnm/op/sWGFakgYMzEQPSkOd_cicLg/view.m?id=15&gid=sport/2012/mar/14/six-nations-2012-wales-grand-slam&cat=rugby-union

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 10:30 pm

Morgannwg wrote:Since 2000, here is the record:

2000: Wales 3 - 36 France
2001: France 35 - 43 Wales
2002: Wales 33 - 37 France
2003: France 33 - 5 Wales
2004: Wales 22 - 29 France
2005: France 18 - 24 Wales
2006: Wales 16 - 21 France
2007: France 32 21 Wales
2007: Wales 7 - 34 France (world cup warm-up)
2008: Wales 29 12 France
2009: France 21 -16 Wales
2010: Wales 20 - 26 France
2011: France 28 - 9 Wales
2011: France 9 -8 Wales (world cup quarter)

Now given how unbelievably, ridiculously bad we were it beggars belief how France didn't put double the amount of points on us. They can be world class, they can close out games but they are not ruthless. I hope this Wales team goes on to get a more ruthless edge and put teams to the sword; starting with these frogs on saturday .

Thank God we have a better team now. Scary reading and I'm still not counting my chickens.

by Guest Wed 14 Mar 2012, 10:37 pm

Wales to take the Slam,
as proven in the Ireland game Wales will and can up the intensity for the big teams,
Italy Scotland and England are hardly world class and Wales knew that and viewed them as training sessions.

Only two teams Wales take serious in the sixnations are Ireland and France and Gatland will have the lads ready and raring to take that Slam

by Liam Wed 14 Mar 2012, 10:41 pm

I can't wait, hopefully the roof will be closed, the atmosphere will electric. Get that go compare guy back in with the flag and sing into the face of PSA, the look on his face would be priceless

by mystiroakey Wed 14 Mar 2012, 10:41 pm

Lol view. its almost as if you mean it

by Guest Wed 14 Mar 2012, 10:42 pm

True story

by Guest Wed 14 Mar 2012, 10:43 pm

by Guest Wed 14 Mar 2012, 10:43 pm

by mystiroakey Wed 14 Mar 2012, 10:46 pm

Yeah i might read a beano in aminute.you have wet my appetite

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 11:02 pm

martyr_94 wrote:I can't wait, hopefully the roof will be closed, the atmosphere will electric. Get that go compare guy back in with the flag and sing into the face of PSA, the look on his face would be priceless

Bryn Trefel the Baritone?

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 11:09 pm

So the team is to be announced tomorrow.

Who do you think will be in and who will be out?

Geth
Rees
Adam
AWJ
Evans
Lyds
Warburton
Faletau
Phillips
Priestland
Cuthbert
Roberts
JD2
North
Halfpenny

James
Owens
Charteris
Ryan
Webb
Hook
Scott Williams

by Liam Wed 14 Mar 2012, 11:11 pm

maestegmafia wrote:
martyr_94 wrote:I can't wait, hopefully the roof will be closed, the atmosphere will electric. Get that go compare guy back in with the flag and sing into the face of PSA, the look on his face would be priceless

Bryn Trefel the Baritone?

Wynne Evans I thought it was?

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 11:13 pm

martyr_94 wrote:
maestegmafia wrote:
martyr_94 wrote:I can't wait, hopefully the roof will be closed, the atmosphere will electric. Get that go compare guy back in with the flag and sing into the face of PSA, the look on his face would be priceless

Bryn Trefel the Baritone?

Wynne Evans I thought it was?

Yes thats right, and he looks even more like the guy on the advert than Bryn Trefel. Ha ha ha very good...

by BigTrevsbigmac Wed 14 Mar 2012, 11:13 pm

dragonbreath wrote:
RubyGuby wrote:Bilton/Maesteg - If you look at the Tuilagi try the FB is almost walking across, he definately doesn't want to go and tackle the guy - Compare that to 1/2p the previous week. My wife and I watched that over and over and we couldn't believe it. I remember doing something similar as a FB when I was 12 and this monster from Swansea was bludgeoning his way to the corner. I just would not have expected it from the french in France

Do you know what, I thought that at the time, Rougerie made no real attempt to tackle Tuilagi even when he had chased back and was in a position to do so. He just seemed to try and throw himself under his feet when it would have been easier to tackle him. He just it. basically. He is a big lad but If we run at his inside shoulder I think there are tries there.

Nah - LOL was correct at the time. Manu T intelligently jumped to evade Rougeries tackle. Not giving Manu enough credit there I'm afraid, but guess I didn't expect any.

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 11:15 pm

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:
dragonbreath wrote:
RubyGuby wrote:Bilton/Maesteg - If you look at the Tuilagi try the FB is almost walking across, he definately doesn't want to go and tackle the guy - Compare that to 1/2p the previous week. My wife and I watched that over and over and we couldn't believe it. I remember doing something similar as a FB when I was 12 and this monster from Swansea was bludgeoning his way to the corner. I just would not have expected it from the french in France

Do you know what, I thought that at the time, Rougerie made no real attempt to tackle Tuilagi even when he had chased back and was in a position to do so. He just seemed to try and throw himself under his feet when it would have been easier to tackle him. He just it. basically. He is a big lad but If we run at his inside shoulder I think there are tries there.

Nah - LOL was correct at the time. Manu T intelligently jumped to evade Rougeries tackle. Not giving Manu enough credit there I'm afraid, but guess I didn't expect any.

Rougerie tried to shoulder barge Manus legs from what i remember, awful attempted tackle from an established French player.

The French defence has been awful this championship, lets hope that doesn't change for the weekend.

by BigTrevsbigmac Wed 14 Mar 2012, 11:17 pm

maestegmafia wrote:
BigTrevsbigmac wrote:
dragonbreath wrote:
RubyGuby wrote:Bilton/Maesteg - If you look at the Tuilagi try the FB is almost walking across, he definately doesn't want to go and tackle the guy - Compare that to 1/2p the previous week. My wife and I watched that over and over and we couldn't believe it. I remember doing something similar as a FB when I was 12 and this monster from Swansea was bludgeoning his way to the corner. I just would not have expected it from the french in France

Do you know what, I thought that at the time, Rougerie made no real attempt to tackle Tuilagi even when he had chased back and was in a position to do so. He just seemed to try and throw himself under his feet when it would have been easier to tackle him. He just it. basically. He is a big lad but If we run at his inside shoulder I think there are tries there.

Nah - LOL was correct at the time. Manu T intelligently jumped to evade Rougeries tackle. Not giving Manu enough credit there I'm afraid, but guess I didn't expect any.

Rougerie tried to shoulder barge Manus legs from what i remember, awful attempted tackle from an established French player.

The French defence has been awful this championship, lets hope that doesn't change for the weekend.

Watched it again today (sad I know!) but your wrong.

by mystiroakey Wed 14 Mar 2012, 11:18 pm

Good luck wales anyway. i want u lot to become a good side. its good for nh rugby. however dont make it to unbearable. ok

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 11:41 pm

We are a good side but we can be better.

by maestegmafia Wed 14 Mar 2012, 11:47 pm

Go the Goggs

"The 'sold out' signs are already up at Eirias, Colwyn Bay, ahead of Wales Under 20's final Six Nations match against France on Friday night (KO 7.35pm)."

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/21628.php

by whocares Thu 15 Mar 2012, 9:23 am

French team announced :
Poitrenaud - Fofana, Rougerie, Fritz, Palisson - Beauxis, Yachvili - Bonnaire, Harinordoquy, (Cap.) Dusautoir - Maestri, Papé - Attoub, Servat, Poux

bench: Szarzewski, Debaty, Pierre, Picamoles, Parra, Trinh-Duc, Buttin

water boy : Nicolas Mas

strange team ....so eventually no change in the backrow. Mas must be knackered after playing 4 games in a row and at last Fritz is back !

by BigTrevsbigmac Thu 15 Mar 2012, 9:43 am

So Trinh-duc not starting - I guess France will be tactically kicking & attacking the relatively weak Welsh line out?

by whocares Thu 15 Mar 2012, 10:00 am

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:So Trinh-duc not starting - I guess France will be tactically kicking & attacking the relatively weak Welsh line out?

dont see what else they could do, certainly not go wide or be creative with this kind of midfield. Although I like Fritz he would be better off paired with fofana. My biggest worry is Palisson vs North : George please be nice to the kid and dont hurt him too much...

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 15 Mar 2012, 10:42 am

Not happy to see Florian Fritz there, he tends to play well against us.

by Taffineastbourne Thu 15 Mar 2012, 10:46 am

We need to test Fofana's defence as often as possible.He seems good going forward but a bit shakey in the tackle.I may be wrong-it's happened before!!

by maestegmafia Thu 15 Mar 2012, 10:51 am

By the BBC

Dimitri Yachvili returns at scrum-half as France attempt to halt Grand Slam-chasing Wales on Saturday.
Yachvili's recall after a back injury is one of six changes to the team that lost to England in Paris on Sunday.
But captain Thierry Dusautoir (knee), Imanol Harinordoquy (knee) and Julien Bonnaire (elbow) have all recovered from knocks to start in the back row.
Wesley Fofana moves from centre to wing to replace Vincent Clerc, with Florian Fritz coming into the midfield.
Fofana has scored a try in all four of France's Six Nations games this season, which have yielded two wins, a draw and a defeat.
The other change among the backs for the match in Cardiff sees Alexis Palisson, a try-scorer in this fixture two years ago, take the place of Julien Malzieu on the opposite wing.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS IN THE SIX-NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP
2011: France 28 Wales 9

2010: Wales 20 France 26

2009: France 21 Wales 16

2008: Wales 29 France 12

2007: France 32 Wales 21

In the pack, William Servat is preferred to Dimitri Szarzewski at hooker, with David Attoub taking over from Nicolas Mas as the tight-head prop.
Attoub is now playing again after serving a 70-week ban for eye-gouging Ireland international flanker Stephen Ferris during a Heineken Cup clash between Stade and Ulster.
Yachvili is back after missing the Scotland and Ireland games in February with a back problem. He was replaced by Morgan Parra, who was in turn dropped for last Sunday's match against England as Julien Dupuy took the scrum-half role.
But Dupuy has now been axed after a stuttering display, as has left wing Malzieu, while right wing Clerc is sidelined with the shoulder injury that forced him off against England.
Also excluded are centre Maxime Mermoz and lock Lionel Nallet, who came on as replacements in Paris.
France are already without full-back Maxime Medard who was ruled out for nine months after damaging knee ligaments against Scotland.
Les Bleus have lost only once from six previous visits to the Millennium Stadium in the Six Nations - a 29-12 defeat four years ago when Wales clinched the Grand Slam.

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