Because the mud settled on Wales’ slim defeat to England at Twickenham final week, there was an inescapable feeling that neither staff have been on the identical stage as table-topping France.
Eddie Jones appeared to assume otherwise, after all.
“There are three groups that may win it now and we’re a type of three groups,” he mentioned afterwards.
“So we have got much more perception than the three groups that may’t win it. We’re in place. We’re answerable for our personal future.”
However these in attendance at HQ possible would not be dashing to place Jones’ ‘new England’ – which thus far appears lower than the sum of its components in assault – in the identical bracket as France, and even Eire within the prime tier of the Six Nations.
So, to say Wales face a step-up in high quality after they welcome France to Cardiff subsequent week could be one thing of a blindingly apparent assertion.
Undoubtedly, the necessity to construct upon the second-half enhancements at Twickenham can’t be understated.
“You possibly can’t in Take a look at match rugby give groups a 17-point head begin,” mentioned Wales centre Jonathan Davies this week.
“It value us and there may be big frustration about that. It is one thing that has been highlighted. We have given ourselves an excessive amount of to do later in video games.”
However, for durations in opposition to England, Wales’ assault seemed to be operating easily. The query is how they flip that into an 80-minute efficiency in opposition to the French?
To place it bluntly, if they begin as slowly as they did at Twickenham, the scoreline can be significantly worse than simply 17-0.
“We need to play with tempo and velocity,” added Davies. “With that, you must be correct. There have been durations the place we managed the ball and it was fairly constructive. We did some good things, nevertheless it’s a results-based sport and finally we did not get the consequence.
“It is nice. It is excessive tempo, ball in our arms. The ball is an important factor. That is all we have wished to do since youngsters. Nobody actually needs to defend.
“It’s good enjoyable, however like I mentioned, it is about accuracy and successful video games. We won’t go operating up blind alleys. We’ve got to execute what we have to.”
So accuracy from the primary whistle is a giant crucial.
If we return to Wales’ final assembly with France, we will see what was – and doubtless nonetheless is – the defining efficiency of Wayne Pivac’s time in cost.
A squad brimming with confidence heading for a Grand Slam, all pulling collectively in clearly outlined roles in an attacking form extra subtle than some would give it credit score for on the time.
Little marvel then that Wales went toe-to-toe with France in Paris final 12 months, even pulling away at one level earlier than a French pink card and Wales’ personal indiscipline noticed the house staff lean into the erratic facet of their sport to sneak a last-gasp victory.
Heartbreaking defeat apart, there was lots to love from that efficiency.
All of the issues we have solely briefly seen glimpses off in latest weeks have been a continuing.
Dan Biggar was taking the ball in movement and being hidden often by his pack, whereas the clearout was fast and efficient, that means they saved maintain of possession and retained numbers on their ft.
In case you watch the 14-phase transfer within the build-up to Josh Navidi’s strive, there’s parts of what Wales managed to do with their tries in opposition to England on the weekend.
These 14 phases are fast-tempo rugby, with a number of gamers throughout each the pack and the backline getting into completely different roles. Reasonably than every thing taking part in off 10, Wales differ their patterns and, in consequence, are inclined to win collisions.
Crucially, all of the not-so-glamorous work – just like the clearout and decoy runs – are executed time and time once more. That is what permits Wales to interrupt down Shaun Edwards’ defence over the span of 14 phases.
“It is one thing we have at all times wished to have,” mentioned Davies when requested concerning the attacking sport that Pivac and Stephen Jones have been lauded for.
“The power of the gamers we now have on the ball is vital. There’s rather a lot that goes into ensuring we will play like that.
“We had worth on these fundamentals within the sport (in opposition to England) on Saturday. It is about ensuring we now have them for 80 minutes.
“We need to enhance and play at that stage and tempo. It is satisfying for us and we really feel it will probably assist us win too.”
“You have to keep and hold the ball for longer durations of time if you wish to play with it extra.
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“If you do not have right numbers on the ruck and accuracy cleansing out, you are going to lose the ball. Generally it is the stuff that folks do not need to do.
“In case you worth that, it goes a protracted solution to protecting the ball. It is one thing we have spoken about. The duties that do not actually get the plaudits, that is what we now have to worth for everybody to flourish.”
The breakdown, as at all times, will possible be a key space of the sport.
Given France’s expertise round that side of the sport, there’s the temptation to play conservatively – in order to not hand France alternatives in transition.
Nevertheless, it is possible that, actually throughout the French half, their finest guess is backing ruck effectivity and holding onto possession.
“They’re large heavy males. For us, it is about velocity to the breakdown and never giving them alternatives for the turnover.
“When there’s separation, they’re fast to get their arms on the ball they usually’re onerous to maneuver off it. It is about not giving them the photographs they need to see and negating the menace earlier than it occurs.”
When Wales do select to kick, they will virtually actually go to the air and kick to compete.
That is been the ‘out’ for this Welsh facet for a while, with Finn Russell’s free kick-and-chase final week possible solely solidifying the concept kicking to compete is one of the best technique with the boot.
Nevertheless, one characteristic that Wales used to nice impact final 12 months in opposition to France – and one thing they need to look to do once more this 12 months – is utilizing a back-rower as a secondary chaser.
Final 12 months, it was Justin Tipuric doing that function. Clearly he isn’t there, however there is no purpose why Jac Morgan, Taine Basham or Josh Navidi, if he is referred to as up, could not do comparable.
Not solely would it not doubtlessly shut down any likelihood of French counter-attacking, however, if Wales’ real world-class aerial skills like Biggar and Liam Williams do win the ball, the presence of a back-row on the scene ought to assist safe possession and play shortly in opposition to an unsettled defence.
As soon as within the pink zone, Wales appear far happier to play off 9 than they do round midfield – the place they largely play off 10. And, as seen in opposition to England, after they try this, they seem to have extra about them in assault.
If kicking to compete is Wales’ finest likelihood of reaching these areas of the pitch, then a back-row escort on the chase is sensible.
Elsewhere within the sport, little issues will should be tweaked.
Wales seemed to make use of Tomos Williams as a conduit to getting the ball vast early final weekend – however that put strain on the Welsh clearout and remoted the likes of Alex Cuthbert and Josh Adams.
Even when it was questionable whether or not Cuthbert was truly held forward of the jackal try from Jack Nowell, Wales will should be extra exact in the case of clearouts within the vast channels given the breakdown strategy of French centres Jonathan Danty and Gael Fickou.
“Look, it is one thing that you simply see in wider rucks the place backs have extra alternatives to get on the ball and sluggish it down,” mentioned Davies.
“With the French centres, they’ve labored onerous. Shaun (Edwards) used to emphasize that there is multiple solution to pores and skin a cat and sluggish the ball down.
“For us, it is about not giving them these photos that they really feel they will get their arms on the ball and sluggish it down. That is most likely our focus in that space of the sport.”
On the opposite facet of the ball, Wales cannot afford to be passive and take in what France are doing with ball in hand.
On this of all video games, it is simple to get sucked in to the Shaun Edwards narrative – given not a day goes by when somebody is not bemoaning Welsh rugby dropping him.
Wales although will solely be intent on finishing up the plan of Gethin Jenkins.
“For us, it is ensuring we keep our personal identification,” mentioned Davies.
“I really feel within the final two video games, we have grown defensively. We have been rather more comfy slowing ball down and placing strain on the opposition moderately than absorbing it.
“For us, it is about sustaining that identification that Gethin needs us to tackle.”
It is actually a tricky ask, but when Wales can proceed to emphasize doing the retro issues inside camp, be aggressive in defence and lean on just a few traits that labored in Paris final 12 months and for about 20 minutes at Twickenham, then they could simply be capable to go toe-to-toe with this spectacular French facet.
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