Wales's squad donned red noses after training at the Stade de France yesterday in support of Comic Relief but their coach Graham Henry is yearning for a different sort of relief.
Wales are still waiting for their first championship victory this season and, since going on a 10match winning streak with an improbable success at the Stade de France two years ago, they have triumphed in only five of their last 12 internationals.
If there is ever a good time to play France here, this is it. Since moving out of the Parc des Princes they have lost eight in 12 with all four home unions winning at the opulent Stade.
"France are under pressure from their own supporters and so are we," said Henry yesterday. "What England are doing is not helping either of us, but what happens elsewhere is a matter of no concern to me. I am trying to produce a game that the people in Wales can be proud of."
It is a long time coming. He may have restored the attacking Rhys Williams at full back, but his three-quarter line is composed of centres and the priority today will be avoiding mistakes.
Two years ago Wales were magnificent in snaffling a 34-33 win at the Stade de France. But Graham Henry's men have lost their way since that victory, and the knack of being able to play badly and still pinch a result has eluded them.
According to Henry, taking the lead has been a sign-post for collapse. "We don't get into big leads too often, and it is all a matter of confidence about winning big games and putting teams away properly," said Henry, who held a lengthy post mortem with his players after the Scotland draw. < xo
Wales have been inactive for nearly a month after their home match against Ireland in Cardiff was called off.
"The players have been pretty sharp in training, and I think that the Irish postponement may have been of some help because it allowed them a break," said Henry.
Henry has made only one change from the side originally picked for the match against Ireland, bringing in Cardiff's Rhys Williams ahead of Llanelli's Stephen Jones at full back.
While Henry is worrying about Wales' lack of a killer instinct, French counterpart Bernard Laporte is hoping his side can conjure up their customary attacking game.
To that end, Montferrand's Gerald Merceron has been drafted in at outhalf ahead of Christophe Lamaison, who has failed to ignite France's backs in all three French matches so far this season.
France's strength comes from a settled pack which draws heavily on the class of French champions and European Cup semi-finalists Stade Francais, but behind the scrum it has been a different story.
Laporte has persistently chopped and changed the Tricolores back division but so far this year, glimpses of France's fabled flair have been lacking.
Meanwhile, Irish referee David McHugh has been forced to step down from the game in Paris because of illness.
McHugh will be replaced by his fellow Irishman Alan Lewis.
Lewis' role as senior touch judge goes to England's Chris White and he will run the line alongside Scottish official Rob Dickson.
FRANCE: Sadourny (Colomiers); Bernat-Salles, Bonetti (both Biarritz), Lombard, Dominici (both Stade Francais); Merceron (Montferrand), Galthie (Colomiers); Califano (Toulouse), Ibanez (Castres), De Villiers (Stade Francais), Auradou (Stade Francais), Pelous (Toulouse, capt), Moni (Stade Francais), Magne (Montferrand), Juillet (Stade Francais). Replacements: Landreau, Marconnet (both Stade Francais), Nallet (Bourgoin), Betsen (Biarritz), Carbonneau (Pau), Lamaison, Elhorga (both Agen).
WALES: Williams; Thomas (both Cardiff), Taylor, Gibbs (both Swansea), James (Llanelli); N Jenkins, R Howley (both Cardiff); D Morris (Swansea), R McBryde (Llanelli), D Young (Cardiff, capt), I Gough (Newport), A Moor, C Charvis (both Swansea), M Williams (Cardiff), S Quinnell (Llanelli). Replacements: A Lewis (Cardiff), C Anthony (Swansea), C Quinnell (Cardiff), G Lewis (Pontypridd), G Cooper (Bath), S Jones (Llanelli), A Bateman (Northampton).
Referee: A Lewis (Ireland).
