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Jenkins: We are raring to go

Jenkins: We are raring to go

Wales are raring to go in Paris and are ready to right the wrongs from last weekend according to assistant coach Neil Jenkins.

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Speaking after the side’s captain’s run in Paris this morning, the former Wales fly-half believes the mood in the camp is positive going into the second RBS 6 Nations tie.

“Everyone in the squad is raring to go,” he said.

“We were disappointed with the first half last week and the result and everyone is keen to get back on the pitch and get the match underway. It’s a huge game for us and we can’t wait.

“The boys are ready to go. The captain’s run went well today and there is that urgency about the squad, they want to get today out of the way and get out on the field and play.

“We started poorly last week but we put together some good rugby in the second half and we want to take that into tomorrow.

“However we know that we have to play that way for 80 minutes and we have to put France under as much pressure as possible.

“There will be a huge crowd at the Stade de France and the supporters will be looking for the home side to bounce back after last week and they will be expecting us both to come out and play.

“We know that if we play for the full 80 we can come out of the game with the right result.”

Wales have made three changes to the side that lost to Ireland last weekend and are without captain Sam Warburton after he was ruled out with injury.

Into the forward pack come Ospreys trio Ryan Jones, Richard Hibbard and Justin Tipuric and Robin McBryde believes it will be a big battle upfront against France.

“I have no doubt France will test us out in the tight, at the scrum and with the driving line-out” he said.

“We know we have to front up against a formidable challenge and we have to be at our best and re-create that second half performance from last week from the start.

“We were disappointed with the set-piece overall against Ireland and we didn’t do what we said we would do all week.

“That’s an area we are looking to improve on and the players are hurting as much as we are as coaches.

“They need to go out their tomorrow and prove their worth and prove they are better than what they showed last week.

“The re-introudction of Ryan brings a lot of experience into the squad and he’s a good leader.

“Tipuric comes into start on the back of impressive recent performances and I’m really looking forward to seeing how he goes.

“Hibbard also comes in as arguably the inform hooker in Wales. He has played a lot of important matches for the Ospreys, he has had a couple of injuries but comes in fully fit.”

You can follow all of the action for France v Wales at http://www.wru.co.uk/live

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