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Moriarty up for France battle

Moriarty up for France battle

Ross Moriarty is ready for an RBS 6 Nations battle with Louis Picamoles when Wales travel to France for their final tournament clash in Paris on Saturday.

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Rob Howley’s side are chasing second place behind champions England after they returned to winning ways with a resilient 22-9 victory over Ireland last Friday.

Moriarty, who has had a stellar championship to date, is hoping to retain his place for the trip to the French capital and set up what would likely be a No 8 clash with the powerful Picamoles.

Gloucester’s Moriarty said: “I have played against him (Picamoles) when he has played for Northampton and he is a huge player for France.

“He is very similar to Nathan Hughes for England, one of their main ball carriers. We know if we can stop him on the front foot, then we have got a good chance.

“He is a huge man, a very experienced player. Hopefully we can do a job on him.”

Moriarty, who is still just 22, was part of Wales’ impressive defensive rear-guard against Ireland.

His barnstorming carrying and relentless tackle technique has seen him work well alongside flankers Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton. With Taulupe Faletau also available, Wales head coach Howley has an enviable wealth of back-row resources from which to choose.

“You can only get better the more you experience international rugby,” Moriarty said.

“Every game I take as it comes and I am just looking to make the most of it.

“Sam and Tips had a lot of tackles at the weekend and I think I ended up having the most carries in the team. We have all worked our own little goals.

“That is one of the things I wanted to do, make more carries. I thought I did that, even though it was into brick walls. Sam and Tips defended very well and it was nice to play with them.”

Asked if the trip to France would feel like a dead rubber, Moriarty had an emphatic answer.

He said: “Definitely not. France have got everything to play for in their own back yard and we have got everything to play for.

“If results go our way, we could still come second in the championship. It is a big game.”

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