'We know what he likes to bring in defence' - Wales hope inside information on Shaun Edwards will be to their advantage
Wales hope their home comforts can help make life unbearable for France in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash at the Principality Stadium.
Les Bleus will arrive in Cardiff on the crest of a wave after starting this season’s tournament with victories over England and Italy.
France and Ireland are the only two countries still harbouring Grand Slam hopes – but a quick glance at Six Nations history might stop Fabien Galthie’s men firmly in their tracks.
France have lost their last four Six Nations games in the Welsh capital, not toppling Wales since winning 26-20, 10 years ago.
And Wales’ overall home Six Nations record in recent seasons makes for impressive reading.
They have won seven games on the bounce and lost only three of their last 22, with England the solitary side to post Six Nations away wins against them since mid-2013.
“You take massive pride from playing at home,” said Wales lock Jake Ball, who is set to win his 45th cap this weekend.
“Every time you pull on the shirt you feel proud, and you also know what it’s like when you lose a game – you don’t want to leave the house.
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“So just that feeling you have of winning and of the pleasure you take from it is a massive part of why I play the game.
“It (Principality Stadium) is a great place to play, but it can be pretty hostile as well, and we can use that to our advantage.
“They’ve had two home games, two wins, but this is their first away game, so it’s an opportunity for us to put them under pressure.
“When you are on the field you don’t tend to hear a massive amount.
“But sometimes in those key moments of the game when there might be a stoppage in play or maybe a penalty kick to the corner, you do hear it and you do feel that energy. There is no doubt that it is an advantage.”
Wales find themselves not only tackling an unbeaten French team, but also facing a familiar face.
Former Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards filled that role for 12 Six Nations campaigns as part of Warren Gatland’s support team.
But Edwards now holds that integral position with France, and he made an immediate impact by masterminding a huge defensive effort when Les Bleus beat England on the tournament’s opening weekend.
“He has done a great job, hasn’t he,” Ball added. “They are two (wins) from two, the defence has been good.
“Obviously, we know Shaun pretty well, we know what he likes to bring in defence, so potentially that could give us a bit of an advantage.
“You can see what he has done for them in the first couple of games, but from our point of view we have a new defensive team in as well.
“All of the teams seem pretty close and are competitive, so it probably will be one of those years when it comes down to the final week. It’s going to be interesting.”
And Ball is relishing going again following a fallow weekend after the rigours of opening matches on successive weekends against Italy and Ireland.
“You play two Test matches back to back and it takes its toll on your body, so that time off is needed,” he said.
“I like fallow weeks, personally, as it gives me an opportunity to let my body get back to where it should be.
“To be honest, that is where the game has changed. You finish a game and it does take you two to three days to get back to feeling yourself.”
Brian O’Driscoll says Eddie Jones crosses the line:
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments