Wales host France this weekend hoping to get off the mark with a first win in this year’s Six Nations after successive losses against Scotland, England and Ireland respectively.

While there has been a lot of positives from Wales youngsters’ performances so far, the results are yet to follow, but Wales World Cup co-captain Dewi Lake believes that could change this Sunday.

Before the Six Nations Lake backed Wales to get two wins in the competition, with only home games against France on Sunday and Italy on the 16^th of March, the pressure is on to make that prediction come true.

France labelled “a wounded animal” are without the injure Romain Ntamack and his replacement Matthieu Jalibert while talismanic nine Antoine Dupont is on sevens duty.

On this week’s Sportin Wales podcast, Lake maps out the key areas where Wales will need to perform to get their first win against France since the 2019 World Cup.

“You know what the French are like, they’ll go scrum, penalty, kick to the corner, then maul, penalty, kick to the corner, try,” said Lake.

“It can be as easy as that sometimes with a huge pack, Uini Atonio alone is 150kg!

“Set-piece will be massive! If you can get a solid foundation and give your backs a chance to play then you have a chance.”

French sides of old are known for their ‘jouez, jouez’ style, although the current team under Fabien Galthié and defence coach Shaun Edwards are used to more pragmatism.

Under former Wales coach Edwards, defence has become a focus, with France adopting a policy of not playing too much rugby in their own half.

“In the documentary, Edwards says if we’re in our own half, kick the ball,” said Lake.

“That kick tennis is where France will want to get on top. Edwards is a coach who often says defending is easier than attacking.

“The more rugby we can play in their half, build the scoreboard and hopefully we can end up on top.”

So can Wales win?

In short, Lake says yes! For that to happen the Principality Stadium crowd as always will have to play its part.

“We always do well against France, we play a similar game,” said Lake.

“The crowd behind you at the Principality is a boost, especially against a team like France who are a momentum team and have lost a bit of momentum at the minute.

“If you were playing in France, it might generate some momentum for them.”

Despite the home crowd, and France’s injury list Lake is still fearful of a French backlash.

“The problem with a wounded animal is they fight back and they’ll be coming for us,” said Lake.

“I think the boys will be up for it, a chance to play against a team who, before the World Cup, were probably the best in the world.

“We’ve got close the last couple of years and the best opportunity to take them to the sword will be this weekend.”

You can catch Lake’s full interview on episode 10 of the Sportin Wales podcast.

Winnett; Adams, Roberts, Watkin, Dyer; Costelow, Williams; Thomas, Elias, Assiratti, Rowlands, Beard, Jenkins (capt), Reffell, Wainwright.

Replacements:  Dee, Domachowski, Lewis, Mann, Martin, Davies, Lloyd, Grady.