IT'S the last chance saloon for Wales as they go in search of some belated glory against Six Nations title chasing France at the Millennium Stadium today.

Victory, in defiance of the odds, would at least restore some badly needed pride to Welsh rugby after the battering it has taken on and off the field this season.

A year ago to the day Wales clinched their first Grand Slam in 27 years in front of a raucous, singing full house with tens of thousands watching at vantage points all around Wales on a warm early Spring day.

Twelve months on and the temperature has changed with the cold striking deep into the heart of Welsh rugby.

Mike Ruddock, who coached Wales to their Grand Slam, has gone and WRU chief executive Steve Lewis and chairman David Pickering may face a vote of no confidence at an egm in the next month or so.

Wales captain Gareth Thomas made an anguished appeal on TV to claim the players had no part in Ruddock's departure, while assistant coach Scott Johnson was handed the caretaker role and is expected to announce within days he is returning to Australia.

In addition Wales have lost so many players to injury that they have started with as few as six members of the Grand Slam team. Little wonder, therefore, that it has gone as pearshaped on the field as off, with only one Six Nations win, and that against a Scotland team who played well over half the game with 14 men.

Hefty away defeats by England and Ireland were followed by a home draw against Italy, their point the first they had collected away in the championship.

Now it's France, buoyed by their record equalling victory over England, and needing victory to be crowned champions while Wales will collect the wooden spoon if they lose and Italy beat Scotland in Rome.

Just one more chance for Wales to silence their critics, one more opportunity to re-establish themselves on the world stage - but don't put any money on it.