Four areas that will help Wales to clinch a Six Nations Grand Slam

Four areas that will help Wales to clinch a Six Nations Grand Slam

Undoubtedly, this is for the Championship. Not only that but, there is a Grand Slam on the line – Wales’ second in three years so, the main areas of concern for the visitors to secure it, are quite evident.

Last Word on Rugby delves into the specifics while acknowledging that at home, at the Stade de France might just be an (unspoken) further area for Wayne Pivac and skipper Alun Wyn Jones to consider.

Four areas that will help Wales beat France

  • Spotless discipline
  • Boldness in attack
  • Get the fundamentals right
  • Nullify France’s half-backs

Continue team’s squeaky clean discipline

The first of the four areas that will help Wales to clinch a Six Nations Grand Slam is for them to continue to display spotless discipline. Only Wales so far to have had no one sin-binned or sent off in the tournament. They are averaging around ten penalties conceded per game up to now. On Saturday they will want to maintain that or even improve on it. Matthieu Jalibert has been accurate from the tee and is unlikely to let Wales off the hook for any misdemeanors.

Luke Pearce is the referee in Paris, and Wayne Barnes will be his TMO. It’s vital that Wales try to get on board with how Pearce wants the game to be played, particularly at the breakdown and at scrum time. Will France try to provoke Wales who have kept cool heads up to this point?

Boldness in attack rewards Six Nations Grand Slam hopes

The second area that will help Wales to clinch the Grand Slam is to use boldness in attack. With a lot riding on the game, it may be tempting for Wales to play the percentages. This could play into French hands if Wales is too conservative.

I’m not suggesting Wales try to run the ball out of their own 22 on every occasion. However, many would suggest that they utilize their attacking weapons that have brought them to the brink of another Grand Slam. Encourage North, Rees-Zammit, Williams, Faletau, and Sheedy off the bench to run at the French.

By playing safe Wales may look to sacrifice possession for territory by kicking ball away and trying to play deep in the French half. If they are to do this then they will need to be accurate. France have plenty of dangerous open-field runners who will capitalise on any wayward kicks. Use of the Garryowen or kicking for the corners works but should be used sparingly. Wales should look to play what’s in front of them and look to go off the cuff if they are to beat a strong French team.

Rugby 101: get the fundamentals right

The third of the four areas that will help Wales to clinch a Six Nations Grand Slam is, get the fundamentals right. It goes without saying that they need to secure their own lineout ball and possession from the scrum. Wales also need to be competitive on French set-pieces. France has a huge set of forwards. Expect France to relish the defensive side of the game with Shaun Edwards in charge of that area of their game.

Catching or kicking from the restart has to go off without a hitch as should Wales’ exit strategies from their own 22. If the French are penalized for any reason and it is within range Wales should take the points on offer. This is a game where the result takes priority over style.

Nullify France’s star half-backs

This is a chief area of concern for Wales and the last of the four ways that will help Wales to clinch a Six Nations Grand Slam. Antoine Dupont had a quiet game by his standards against the English. Credit must go to England for this. There is the caveat that he may have lacked a bit of match fitness due to the enforced Covid break [after the French broke agreed protocols].

Wales won’t be able to keep Dupont quiet all game, but if his impact can be minimized by reducing the amount of good, quick ball provided to him, this will help Wales get over the line. If Dupont can be somewhat contained, what about his half-back partner Matthieu Jalibert? Again, Wales can’t let him settle in and start to dictate play. Like Dupont, Jalibert has an extensive skill-set. Starve him of quality ball, and apply pressure when he is in possession.

France got the better of Wales in last year’s meeting in the Autumn Nations Cup and won a closely fought game earlier in 2020 in last year’s Six Nations. This fixture doesn’t hold any fear for France but nor should it for an experienced Welsh team. Get these four areas right and they have a chance.

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Guinness Six Nations Round Five – France v Wales, Stade de France

 

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