Alun-Wyn Jones warns against attempts to blunt rugby’s physical edge
Jones and company can expect a no-holds-barred RBS 6 Nations encounter against fellow unbeaten title challengers France tonight.
Les Bleus arrive in Cardiff on the back of a particularly punishing victory over Ireland 12 days ago.
The game featured a couple of incidents involving French players that could conceivably have seen disciplinary action being taken against them.
Asked specifically about that match in Paris and the borderline legality of some French challenges, 96 times-capped lock Jones said: “Obviously, there was a bit of, I don’t know, afters — whatever you want to call it — but I think we have got to be very careful we don’t sanitise it too much because then the game might turn to touch.
“I am sure the officials will keep an eye on it — that’s their job. We just have to play the game.
“There are always things which are in vogue — it is no arms in the tackle, no hands on the floor at the minute. There are always things that dip in and out of the game.
“You have got to be able to hit a ruck to be able to get quick ball.
“Obviously, there are ways and means to do it — you have to do it within the parameters of the law — but, taking into consideration a duty of care to each other as players, I think we have just got to be careful we don’t hold the game back by going too far one way.”
Jones will once again be at the forward coal-face for Wales as they target a fifth successive Six Nations win against France, having not lost to them since suffering a painful 2011 World Cup semi-final defeat in Auckland when skipper Sam Warburton was sent off.
“They (France) will ask the questions up front that they always pose,” Jones added.
“The rest of the game stems from there, and we have been able to answer them in the games we have played against them recently, which has put us in good stead for the other areas of the game.
“When you look at them (French players) domestically, when you play the top six of that league — arguably more — they are going to roll international quality players, with real size and ability, off the bench.
“And it gets more concentrated as you come into international level, so it becomes increasingly difficult.”
Jones will have a different second-row partner for the France clash, with an in-form Luke Charteris being ruled out by knee trouble, but seasoned campaigner Bradley Davies steps in, suggesting minimal disruption. “Our policies stay the same in defence and attack,” Jones added.
“Obviously (Davies’ qualities), are the physicality side of things, both in attack and defence.
“He’s very astute in defence, and I think Gats (Wales head coach Warren Gatland) may have mentioned that there are a lot of guys — Jake (Ball), Dom (Day) Brad himself — who have been doing a lot of work there.
“We try to share the load. Sometimes, too many cooks can spoil the broth, but we’ve got a good balance where everyone has their input. Those guys put in the work so we can try to be one step ahead the next week.
“We’ve had a (few) decent (lineout) steals, although we probably feel we could have got a few more, and probably there is a perception now that we will compete (on opposition ball) so teams have to make sure they secure the ball before they can drive, so it’s good to put that pressure on.”
Meanwhile France full-back Maxime Medard has urged caution against unbeaten title rivals Wales.
Medard and company will arrive in Cardiff on the back of successive home wins against Italy and Ireland that ensured a strong start for new head coach Guy Noves.
But France now face opponents they have not beaten since the 2011 World Cup, losing four successive Six Nations Tests and scoring only one try during that time.
“You can’t help but hear some people talking about winning the championship, and even the Grand Slam, because we have won two from two,” Toulouse star Medard told www.rbs6nations.net “But the truth is, at the moment, we have got nothing.”
The victories over Italy and Ireland were achieved by a combined margin of just three points, and the Principality Stadium encounter under its closed roof is a first Test match away from home for Noves, who succeeded Philippe Saint-Andre after last year’s World Cup.
Medard added: “They (Wales) are a very powerful team in both attack and defence.
“They come up very quickly, and we know this match will be completely different to the first two that we played.
“We won two matches while struggling.
“We have not won anything yet, and with a dangerous trip to Wales, we have nothing to brag about at the moment.”
Stade Francais wing Djibril Camara will make his first start for Les Bleus as one of five changes made by Noves following the 10-9 success against Ireland a fortnight ago.
Camara replaces an injured Teddy Thomas, while there are also starts for scrum-half Maxime Machenaud, prop Rabah Slimani, lock Paul Jedrasiak and flanker Antoine Burban.
Sebastien Bezy, Uini Atonio and Yoann Maestri all drop to the bench, while Montpellier fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc is also named among the replacements on his return to the squad
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