Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams is relishing the challenge of facing an unbeaten France side at home in Round 4 of the Guinness Six Nations next weekend.
France have swept aside Italy, Ireland, and Scotland so far to leave them two games away from a first Grand Slam since 2010 but Williams is looking forward to the test.
He said: “It’ll be good. It’s a big task but I think we owe them one from last year so Friday night in Cardiff I think it’ll be a good game.
“I think they have got threats all across the park, especially in attack. Their back three, their centres, half-backs, and they can play a good power game as well. They’re a bit dangerous at the moment.
“They look confident both sides of the ball, I think with Shaun being there it’s built a lot on defence and their defence is going well, their breakdown work is good so we’re going to have to be on the money at the breakdown as well.”
One of the star men for Fabien Galthié’s side so far in the Championship has been Antoine Dupont and Williams knows how much of a test it will be to try and stop his opposite number.
He added: “Everyone knows how much of a good player he [Dupont] is. Big threat both sides of the ball. We’ve got to try and give him as less opportunity as possible really – just always be on your toes around him.
“The last couple of seasons he’s been outstanding and one game or a couple of bad games won’t change that. He seems confident enough in himself that he can do a job and he’s been really good for the last couple of seasons.”
Wales will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat against England in Round 3 which ended their hopes of winning the Championship.
Wayne Pivac’s side mounted a spirited comeback at Twickenham but left themselves too much to do after going 17-0 down just after half-time, something Williams knows they cannot do again.
He said: “We gave them a 12-nil head start and then 17 in the second half. In places like Twickenham, you can’t give them a head start.
“I think we clawed it back but realistically we can’t give them that easy start and then expect to win.”
Williams was central to Wales’ comeback, firing quick ball along the line into the hands of Josh Adams who crashed over in the corner and Williams is enjoying his role in Pivac’s side as first-choice scrum-half.
“I am enjoying it. I picked up a couple of injuries so I’m just happy to be fit at the moment for a decent stretch, that’s obviously frustrating when boys are injured. I’m enjoying it at the moment, grateful for the opportunity,” added the Cardiff Rugby player.
“I like being in that position, I like transition, I like having the ball when defences are unset and sometimes you’re in the back field as well and it’s easier to see where the space is and who to shift the ball to.”
Williams’ enjoyment is part of a wider sense of feel good in the Wales camp around the brand of rugby played demanded by Pivac.
“I think most boys play the game to have a ball in their hands and show what they can do,” he said.
“We’ve been able to express ourselves a bit more at the moment but I think the boys are enjoying it.”
