FRANCE are Wales skills coach Scott Johnson's tip to win the World Cup later this year - but he still believes Wales can match them in Paris on Saturday.

The Australian says they are still in the process of reorganising after their opening Six Nations defeat by England and that that gives Wales a chance.

But come the World Cup in eight months time, he believes France will lift the trophy.

"The French are perennial runners-up in World Cups but this year I think this is the best chance they've had in a long while to be a genuine contender," said Johnson.

"They have the most depth of anyone and I genuinely think they are the best team in the world. I think they are reorganising after losing the first game of the Six Nations with bigger fish to fry.

"Come November, with the hard pitches in Australia, the depth of their squad and a reasonable draw they can go all the way.

"I really emphasise, this team we are playing, in depth of talent, are equal to anyone in world rugby. I think they are a better all round side than England."

He added: "They have had a remarkable turnaround in terms of discipline. They have always had a problem with that, so that makes them tougher than ever.

"And what also makes them dangerous is that they can adapt to a tight game, as they did in the early part of last year's tournament, or a loose game.

"When you look at the culture of some other sides, like the Polynesians who, like the French, like to run with the ball, it's not their nature to scrummage and do the hard grafting.

"But the French are happy to scrum. They have a culture within a culture if you like. So that makes them very unpredictable."

Speaking about Saturday's clash, he added: "In this game there is nothing to play for except pride really, so you are not afraid to lose.

"Both sides will be keen to win rather than too scared to lose, so I expect it to be frenetic and an attractive game to the eye.

"But we can't fall into the trap of trying to play French rugby because nobody does that better than the French. "We have got to play our rugby, stick to what we know.

"It'll be a different game compared to the Irish, who kick more than anyone in the tournament, and the English, who have played a very conservative game, though it has been very successful.

"I think we're competitive at Test level. Saturday typified that. You just need a few things to go your way.

"Games at this level often hinge or swing on a call or the bounce of the ball, so I think we are always going to be in with a chance."