Wales look to future to continue dominance of France

Wales have reeled off four successive victories against their Six Nations title rivals, and only conceded one try in the past five Tests between the countries.

Such one-sided statistics have contributed to Wales’ status as firm favourites under a closed Principality Stadium roof tonight, when victory would take them top of the table before unbeaten England host Ireland less than 24 hours later.

“You can never take a French team too lightly, especially with an experienced coach like Guy Noves in charge and the success he has had with Toulouse over the years, especially in the European Cup,” said Wales assistant coach McBryde.

“If you create an identity in your team and everybody buys into that team, and then you match that ambition with the way you train and play, you are going to be a handful for any team.

“They are two (wins) out of two, so we can’t take this challenge too lightly. The records of the past should stay in the past tomorrow night. We are going to have to step up in our defence and attack.

“If we have got any ambition to get anything out of this championship, we have got to win tomorrow night.”

France have not beaten Wales in Cardiff since 2010 – that game was also on a Friday night – and while they are undefeated after two games of this season’s Six Nations, home wins against Italy and Ireland were achieved by a combined margin of just three points. McBryde added: “It’s getting the balance of that style of play with the swinging of the hips and the off-loading game they’ve got. They have potent individuals behind the scrum.”