France coach blasts Welsh defence

IRELAND have been handed the keys to unlocking the Welsh defence from the unlikely source of a Yorkshireman working in France.

Dave Ellis, defence coach with France for the last nine years, has launched a stinging attack on his Wales opposite number Shaun Edwards in the wake of their 26-20 win in Cardiff.

Ellis claimed Wales had been “found out” after failing to move with the times and revealed France deliberately targeted James Hook’s “indecisiveness” for the interception try that set them on course for victory at the Millennium Stadium.

And the feud deepened when Wales accused France of time wasting and unsportsmanlike behaviour at the end of the match. However, Ellis’ comments will make interesting reading for Ireland before they meet the Welsh at Croke Park in little under two weeks.

Wales equalled the tournament record by conceding just two tries when they won the Grand Slam in Edwards’ first year as defence coach in 2008. But they have already leaked seven tries in three games this year.

Ellis said: “When Shaun came in, he brought an organisation which Wales needed. They have a great attacking game but he added a defensive edge and that’s why they won the Grand Slam in 2008.

“But, as has happened with London Wasps, other sides have worked Wales’ defensive system out. You have to keep adapting in this game like we have done in this Six Nations.”

The start of that slide came when British Lions Hook saw his pass returned for a try by Alexis Palisson after just six minutes.

It looked a cruel twist of fate for the Ospreys star but Ellis, defence coach with France for the past nine years, insisted Hook was identified as the Dragons’ weakest link.

Ellis said: “We identified James as a weakness before the game. We could tell there is always a doubt in his mind when he is in attack.

“So we used our wingers as a front-line defence to push hard on him. As we came forward, the space closed down and his options became limited. The intercept happened and it was pretty comfortable.”

There was also bad feeling between the camps over the manner in which the game finished.

Wales are angry that South African referee Jonathan Kaplan did not penalise France for unsportsmanlike conduct after Frederic Michalak kicked the ball directly into touch from a re-start, following Shane Williams’ last minute try.

The 80 minutes had elapsed when Michalak apparently ‘scuffed’ his kick that failed to travel the required 10 metres, forcing play to stop and with it the end of the game.

Wales were also angry that France “took an age” to line up for the re-start. Jones ran to confront Kaplan at the final whistle. He said: “I thought a team has to make an effort to keep the ball in play from a kick-off and not deliberately kick it dead. I thought we were going to be given a penalty on the half-way line.”

Forwards Gareth Williams and Deiniol Jones have been ruled out for the rest of the Six Nations.

After waiting ten years for a start in the championship, Cardiff Blues lock Jones damaged ribs in the defeat.

Hooker Williams suffered a similar fate when he injured his knee in the victory against Scotland, his first success in the Six Nations for seven years.