Six Nations 2010: France desperate to break new ground with third successive win

By Brendan Gallagher Published: 7:00AM GMT twenty-six February 2010

On your marks: France hope for to take on Wales at the Millennium Stadium Photo: AFP

France have never won 3 games in a row underneath manager Marc Lièvremont a ridiculous incident since the bent at his ordering and that sharp, evident statistic hangs over his group similar to a electric chair at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night

A pumped-up Welsh side, who owe their open a correct 80-minute opening after a changeable season, distortion in wait for and if France were to destroy you whim majority of the glorious grounds that has been put in by Lièvremont over the last twelve months in sold would be fast dissipated. Win and France would be well on the way, not only in this Six Nations but in their preparations for subsequent year"s World Cup.

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Lièvremont knows all this, as a result the attainment of sports psychologists at France"s precision stay in Marcoussis this week to try and tweak France"s approach, a really open confirmation that a mental jump needs to be privileged as well as a earthy plea met.

France have hitherto spurned the make use of of sports psychologists you breach with the Gallic essence and ego at your hazard and you consternation if they are not somewhat over dramatising counts here. Off the behind of an intensely veteran afar win in Scotland and a credible 33-10 win over Grand Slam champions Ireland they should be full of movement and confidence.

France have been disciplined, organised, rapacious and close on unflappable. They have also, for the initial time, come to an agreement with the clubs and enjoyed an additional full week together free of made at home commitments forward of this game. Yet unexpected you clarity they are on the behind feet and are feeling concerned.

"I would contend we don"t have the right to destroy meaningful all we did in the dual initial games, and meaningful the peculiarity of the preparation," Lièvremont said. "But we have a lot of apply oneself for this Wales team, for the peculiarity of the rugby. I think we see similar to each other."

Getting in to the minds of the Welsh, who share next to billing with France as the world"s majority mecurial players, would be an additional vital challenge. Outplayed for well over an hour opposite Scotland they suddenly, in extremis, strike the immature symbol and proposed personification high rugby. Magical, but utterly baffling for those in the stands.

Andy Powell"s golf-cart part aside, the Scotland diversion has had a curiously sobering outcome on Wales, when you competence have approaching a overjoyed afterglow.

There has been a quick realization that in most areas - particularly the behind row - they were taken to the cleaners by Scotland. Wales prevailed in a diversion they had no right to win. They have played their get out of gaol free label for the season.

You know things contingency have been bad when there was critical speak of dropping Martyn Williams, the good openside flanker. Such sin was justified, nonetheless he has in conclusion avoided the chop.

Powell would have been forsaken for Jonathan Thomas, however, in any case of his post-match antics, since Wales need to opposite the line-out hazard of Imanol Harinordoquy at the back, an area serve strengthened for Fance by the key of the jaunty Julien Bonnaire, who will be winning his 50th cap, at No 8.

Williams, who will be winning his 49th cap, admitted: "I was bad opposite Scotland I wasn"t happy with my first-half performance. I know it is not by any miss of effort. You give everything, but a little days things only don"t come off for you.

"Warren [Gatland, the Wales head coach] spoke to us and pronounced he didn"t hold it went well for us as a unit. We"ve looked at it, analysed it and we wish to put it right.

"We need to up the ante. We"ve taken it on board, and we need to try and answer the criticism. France have shown how dangerous they can be if you give them momentum. That"s the key how we urge and hopefully a lot improved than we did opposite Scotland."

Lièvremont spoke on Thursday of the "hell" that the Millennium Stadium can spin for opponents. But amidst the mayhem most thoughts will spin to immature Wales close Bradley Davies, who has opted to fool around notwithstanding the recent, sudden, genocide of his mother, Cheryl.

Wales will wear black armbands to show their apply oneself and captain Ryan Jones has betrothed that the group will "try and do something special" for Davies and his family.

A noisy, emotional, scattered and presumably weeping Six Nations dusk awaits. And they pronounced Friday-night rugby would never catch on.