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Wales eye Slam against France
11/03/2008 15:23 - (SA)
Cardiff - James Hook is set to start at flyhalf after Stephen Jones was dropped to the bench by coach Warren Gatland for Wales's Six Nations Grand Slam clash with France here on Saturday.
Jones started in the wins over Italy and Ireland but, after a shaky display in Dublin, has lost out to the gifted but less experienced Hook.
The only other change to the team that beat Ireland 16-12 at Croke Park on Saturday to clinch the Triple Crown is at hooker where Huw Bennett returns after a bout of 'flu laid him low on the morning of that game.
"We have an historic opportunity and we intend to grasp it with both hands," said Gatland after announcing his team on Tuesday.
"We have afforded ourselves the luxury of bringing in James Hook for the different qualities he will offer in this match, but we have pretty much said 'same again' to the boys that brought home the silverware on Saturday.
Marginal selection decisions
"Stephen Jones will offer us the benefit of his vast experience from the bench and he is one of a number of players who can come on and change the game for us if necessary.
"Huw Bennett comes in for Matthew Rees but, as I've said previously, there are marginal selection decisions to make all over the field and hooker is the perfect example of one of them.
"We are confident, we have worked hard and if we continue in the same vein in which we started this campaign, we believe we can come away with a deserved victory on Saturday," the New Zealander, who has yet to lose a match in charge of Wales after taking over this season, added.
Wales's healthy points difference means they can afford to lose by 18 points against second-placed France, beaten by England in the third round, and still win the title.
But Gatland is firmly focused on winning what would be Wales's 10th Slam and second in four seasons.
"It will be nice if we can take the championship, but we'd like to be doing it with a win over France. To win on points difference would be something of a hollow victory," said Gatland.
"We have already achieved something in this campaign that can't be taken away from us, but we have an opportunity now to push on and do something a little bit special in front of our home crowd and to put some more smiles on Welsh faces for the second time in eight days."
France, however, have won their last six matches at the Millennium Stadium, including last year's World Cup quarter-final defeat against New Zealand.
They have been an unpredictable side in this year's Championship with new coach Marc Lievremont unafraid of making major changes to his team.
"We have momentum which is what this tournament is all about but you can never underestimate the French," said Gatland.
"We will probably be tipped as favourites after putting a run of results together and it is how we handle that pressure which will be a deciding factor," the former Ireland, Wasps and Waikato coach added.
Team
Wales team to play France in a Six Nations rugby union international at the Millennium Stadium here on Saturday (17:00GMT kick-off):
(15-1)
Lee Byrne; Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams; James Hook, Mike Phillips; Ryan Jones (capt), Martyn Williams, Jonathan Thomas; Alun-Wyn Jones, Ian Gough; Adam Jones, Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: Matthew Rees, Duncan Jones, Ian Evans, Gareth Delve, Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones, Sonny Parker.
- AFP
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