Six Nations: Wales ready to tough it out for Slam

IF WALES are going to complete a third Six Nations Grand Slam in eight seasons today, they are going to have to do it the hard way.

If Wales triumph, they will match the golden era feat between 1971 and 1978 when players like Barry John, Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies and JPR Williams reigned supreme. It would also be the second Six Nations clean sweep of coach Warren Gatland’s four-year reign.

Gatland has concluded that France’s request for the Millennium Stadium roof to be left open to the forecast rain means that the team picked by his opposite number Philippe Saint-Andre will try to outmuscle rather than outsmart his side. “I think they are going to come and be very physical with us,” Gatland said. “They’ve picked a tough pack, so we are going to have to expect that real physical contribution they are capable of bringing. It is going to be tough up front.”

Stung by their 24-22 defeat against England, France have recalled veteran hooker William Servat for a farewell appearance and beefed up its midfield with centre Florian Fritz. Servat, David Attoub and Jean-Baptiste Poux will be up against a British and Irish Lions front row of Adam Jones, Matthew Rees and Gethin Jenkins.

Wales’ scrum has been a potent weapon in taking the team to the brink of the title, which they are likely to win even if they lose the match, and will be crucial again in Cardiff.

“Having coached against Philippe in the past in the Premiership, he is relatively conservative in the way he approaches the game,” Gatland said. “He is very pragmatic in terms of set pieces and big physical players.

“I don’t think he will care too much about what type of rugby they play. His whole focus is trying to win the match.”

For his part, Saint-Andre did little to contradict the notion that France are coming for a battle. Both teams have to agree to the roof being closed. Wales wanted to keep the turf as dry as possible in an effort to provide good conditions for running rugby, but Saint-Andre refused the home team’s request.

“It will be more a case of putting our helmets on because we’ll be up against a team that is going for the Grand Slam,” Saint-Andre said.

Six of Wales’ eight Grand Slams have been completed against France and the home side have the extra motivation of handing the French some payback for the Rugby World Cup semi-final last year. The French destroyed Wales’ World Cup dream with a 9-8 victory in Auckland but it was only achieved by Les Bleus holding on for the best part of an hour after Wales captain Sam Warburton was sent off following a dangerous tackle on France wing Vincent Clerc.

Warburton today returns from injury in the only change to the side that beat Italy last weekend, and Wales will hope his troublesome knee stands up to a full 80 minutes of intense rugby as there is no specialist openside among the replacements.

Wales were matching France and scores were level at 3-3 in Paris when Warburton went off injured 15 minutes into last year’s Six Nations match between the sides. France went on to win 28-9.