WALES have got to be fast out of the blocks if they don't want to be on the end of a French backlash in the biting cold of Paris today, with shouts of 'Allez France' ringing in their ears.

It's a clash between two unbeaten teams, both having won their first two Six Nations games, but amazingly France have failed to capture the imagination of their fans.

That is because they have been limited to just one try and have been criticised on all fronts for playing a limited style of rugby instead of their traditionally expressive brand so admired the world over.

Under-fire coach Bernard Laporte, blamed for departing from normal French values, still seems uncertain about which way he wants his team to play.

That is precisely where Wales can profit by going for it from the kick-off, blasting fast out of the blocks and unsettling the French who can be brittle.

If Wales achieve an early score or two France could be knocked right off their game and Wales could be on the way to a scarcely believable third win in a row.

Coach Mike Ruddock would then never be able to keep the lid on Grand Slam, Triple Crown and title talk, not with troubled Scotland to come at Murrayfield a fortnight tomorrow, followed by the final showdown against Ireland six days later at the Millennium Stadium.

A Welsh triumph today and the hardy fans who have battled through the worst of the weather by road, rail, sea and air to get to Paris will make their presence felt.

It won't be the sounds of Allez France, but Cwm Rhondda that will echo down the Champs Elysees and in every nightclub in the Pigalle.

But Wales will have to be at their very best, cool and precise up front and accurate behind with no turnover ball for France to counter-attack from and with and no loose kicking for the same reason.

Wales have the stars who can take France by storm with new world pin-up boy Gavin Henson and twinkle-toed Shane Williams.

But France always have that certain je ne sais quoi and are capable of blowing away any team in the world.

The Welsh thousands who have made the trip are desperately hoping Wales make it a hat-trick of Six Nations victories this season, so starved of success have they been.

It's 11 years since they won the title, 17 years since they were Triple Crown winners and 27 years since they captured the Grand Slam.

Victory today and it'll be French frolics all the way for Wales and their fans.

ADAM JONES and his fellow Welsh forwards are determined to set the perfect platform for star backs Gavin Henson and Shane Williams by dominating the powerful France pack today.

The Welsh back division relishes quick ball but the French are particularly adept at slowing it down, as they did to England a fortnight ago at Twickenham.

So Jones is acutely aware neutralising the French power up front will allow the likes of Henson, Williams and Gareth Thomas to weave their magic in open spaces.

Jones said: "If we get stuffed in the front five our backs have had it. The mentality of the French is 'scrum, scrum, scrum'. We will see how good France are and the scrum is the key.

"I just hope the pair (Williams and Henson) carry on where they left off against Italy. It's just up to us in the forwards to win them the ball and give them the opportunity to do it again."

Williams, who scored the only try of the game in Wales' victory over England, was at his elusive best in the defeat of Italy in Rome a fortnight ago.

Henson could hardly have topped his outstanding all-round display against England but was a constant threat against the Azzurri and, as a player who thrives on confidence, the 23-year-old is desperate to be let loose on the French.

"Gavin is ridiculously talented. He has been bouncing around the place this week, so he is up for it," Jones warned Les Bleus.

Jones, who will be up against the formidable Sylvain Marconnet, said that the front row including fellow prop Gethin Jenkins and hooker Mefin Davies will be not rattled by any pre-match mind-games.

"Gethin won't be intimidated tomorrow, none of us will. We will go out there and front up and hopefully get the ball out to the backs," said Jones.

"Me and Gethin are quite young so it is good to have someone of Mefin's experience in there. He is a good thinker who puts things across."