KEY POINTS:
CARDIFF- Wales front-row Chris Horsman wants to make sure last weekend's win over Argentina isn't a one-off when France arrive at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday in what will be both sides' final warm-up match before the World Cup gets underway next month.
Victory over the Pumas was
only Wales's fourth in 15 Tests under coach Gareth Jenkins.
But they now face, on paper at least, a far harder task against a France side who are coming off back-to-back wins against England where they rendered the world champions try-less in both matches.
Jenkins has tested the patience of Welsh fans, his repeated predictions of a World Cup semi-final berth not matched by the reality of recent results.
"We need to grow that consistency. We need to go into games and, when we don't necessarily perform that well, we hang on to get the win," Horsman said.
Wales did just that against Argentina when, after being reduced to 14 men, they kept their opponents at bay after the Pumas came within a converted try of levelling the scores.
"It was great to beat Argentina but what we need to do now as a squad is grow that consistency and it will be a hugely physical test against France," said Horsman.
"You would not have said it five years ago, but they are now a disciplined side. Their coach Bernard Laporte is very forward thinking and you can see he has changed that squad."
Meanwhile, wing Shane Williams returns to the Wales side after a nerve problem in his arm threatened to scupper his World Cup hopes.
The 30-year-old, who missed Wales's tour of Australia, their record 62-5 defeat against England and last week's win, underwent surgery after his condition began to leave his right hand paralysed in an involuntary clenched fist.
"They sliced open a muscle and put the nerve underneath," said Williams. "It was fairly close (to affecting my World Cup). It was quite worrying. The World Cup was not something I wanted to miss out on."
However, the Neath-Swansea Ospreys flyer added: "I am 100 per cent fit. I have done full contact this week - I was a bit wary but it went well - and now I feel ready and raring to go."
Williams replaces Dafydd James in a Wales starting XV which features three changes from the morale-boosting win over Argentina.
Both the other two switches are injury-enforced. Jamie Robinson starts at outside centre in place of Cardiff club-mate Tom Shanklin, rested after sustaining a knock to his knee, while up front tight-head prop Horsman replaces Adam Jones, out with an ankle injury.
But as Wales were preparing for this match they were rocked by a potentially damaging off-field row.
Wales' four regional teams - Ospreys, Cardiff Blues, Llanelli Scarlets and the Newport-Gwent Dragons - have met with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) seeking compensation of almost one millions pounds (two million dollars) for the loss of their leading players for the duration of the World Cup.
But the regions, who want 30,000 pounds per player involved in the seven-week tournament, have been told they will be getting nothing.
France chief Laporte is not due to name his side until Saturday. But he is expected to make several changes to the Six Nations champions' line-up.
David Marty has a left calf injury and will be replaced in the centres by Damien Traille.
Serge Betsen, the experienced back-row forward, is set to captain the side.
Wales
Kevin Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons); Mark Jones (Llanelli), Jamie Robinson (Cardiff), Gareth Thomas (Cardiff, capt), Shane Williams (Ospreys); James Hook (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Llanelli); Alix Popham (Llanelli), Martyn Williams (Cardiff), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys); Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys); Chris Horsman (Worcester/ENG), Matthew Rees (Llanelli), Duncan Jones (Ospreys)
Reserves: TR Thomas (Cardiff), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff), Will James (Gloucester/ENG), Colin Charvis (Newport Gwent Dragons), Mike Phillips (Ospreys), Ceri Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sonny Parker (Ospreys)
France (probable):
Cedric Heymans (Toulouse); Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont), David Skrela (Stade Francais), Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse); Lionel Beauxis (Stade Francais), Pierre Mignoni (Clermont); Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Remy Martin (Stade Francais), Serge Betsen (Biarritz, capt); Lionel Nallet (Castres) or Jerome Thion (Biarritz), Sebastien Chabal (Sale/ENG), Pieter de Villiers (Stade Francais), Dimtri Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan)
Reserves: Sebastien Bruno (Sale/ENG), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse), Jerome Thion (Biarritz) or Fabien Pelous (Toulouse), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Biarritz), Christophe Dominici (Stade Francais)
- AFP
