Williams ready to 'up the ante'

Wales star Martyn Williams has revealed his relief at being selected for Friday night’s RBS 6 Nations clash against title favourites France.

The Cardiff Blues flanker is set to equal a significant Welsh international appearance record – but he knows it could easily have been a different story.

Wales coach Warren Gatland, both publicly and privately this week, has urged his back-row forwards to step up their performance after Scotland’s co-called ’Killer Bs’ of Kelly Brown, John Barclay and Johnnie Beattie swarmed all over them in Cardiff 11 days ago.

One change among the breakaway trio sees Jonathan Thomas switched from lock to blindside flanker instead of Andy Powell, who was dropped from Wales’ Six Nations squad after being charged with drink-driving.

“Warren spoke to us and said he didn’t believe it went well for us against Scotland as a unit,” recalled Williams, who equals Colin Charvis’ 94-cap Test best for a Wales forward.

“We need to up the ante on Friday night. We’ve taken it on board, and we need to try and answer the criticism.

“You have got to take it (criticism) on the chin – it’s part and parcel of top-end sport.

“Very rarely do you go through a career without getting criticised, so you have got to take it on board.

“There is only one way you can answer it, and that is by putting in a good performance on Friday. We have got our work cut out, but I really enjoy playing against France.”

With Williams’ highly-rated Blues colleague Sam Warburton – 13 years his mentor’s junior – thirsting for an opportunity in the Wales starting line-up, pressure has certainly been cranked up.

But Williams admitted: “I was poor against Scotland – I wasn’t happy with my first-half performance.

“I know it is not through any lack of effort. You give everything, but some days things just don’t come off for you.

“That has been highlighted, so it is hopefully something we can put right on Friday night. We’ve looked at it, analysed it and we want to put it right.

“You are always wary of your place and things, so I was glad to get the call.”

Williams makes his 12th start against France – he averages a try every three Tests against them – as Les Bleus arrive at the Millennium Stadium looking to maintain their Grand Slam march.

And unless Wales tighten up defensively after conceding nine tries in their last three games, it could prove a long night at the coalface for Williams and company.

“You have just got to put pressure on them,” he added.

“Two years ago (Wales won 29-12 to clinch the Grand Slam), we defended particularly well – it was one of the best defensive performances we’ve ever put in as a group.

“France have shown how dangerous they can be if you give them momentum. That’s the key – how we defend on Friday night, and hopefully a lot better than we did against Scotland.

“For me, the defence was an issue in the first-half against Scotland. We defended fairly well, I thought, against England the previous week.

“Since Shaun Edwards (Wales defence coach) has come on board, defence has underpinned everything we’ve done well, and we let ourselves down against Scotland.”

Another motivating factor for Wales will be the chance to avenge last season’s 21-16 defeat against France in Paris – their first Six Nations reversal of Gatland’s reign.

Wales had won seven championship matches on the bounce under Gatland prior to that inaugural Friday night Six Nations Test, but Les Bleus ended their proud run despite the visitors taking an early lead through a scintillating Lee Byrne try.

“I remember being really frustrated after the game in Paris last year because we felt we could have won that game,” said Williams.

“We let them in for a try just before half-time, which kind of changed the whole momentum.

“I don’t think we have reached the heights since then.

“We played some of the best rugby we’ve ever played (against Scotland) at Murrayfield at the start of last season’s Six Nations.

“But for whatever reasons, we haven’t been as consistent as we would have liked.

“It is such a big game on Friday for both sides. If we can win, it sets the last two matches up nicely.”