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Navidi not intimated by 151 stone French pack

Wales' Josh Navidi.

Josh Navidi will adopt a “bigger they are, harder they fall” approach when the Wales forwards face a juggernaut French pack in Friday’s Guinness Six Nations opener.

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Les Bleus will field an eight with a combined weight of just over 150 stones, spearheaded by prop Uini Atonio (22st 7lbs) and lock Paul Willemse (21st 3lbs).

And Wales know they cannot budge an inch during what could be a right old rumble at Stade de France.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall,” Wales flanker Navidi said.

“It is the same when we play regional rugby – we know they are going to be big and physical and the back-line will have a lot of flair.

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“You just know what is coming – a lot of drives and stuff. We know how big they are and we have to try and match them physically.

“I played (for Cardiff Blues) against Montpellier, probably four years ago. They had one of the biggest packs I have played against.

“You have to try and match them, getting off the line and getting in their faces.

“You cannot let them come to you and give them a rolling start. We know we need to move their pack around the field, and I hope we can do that by moving the ball and tiring them out.”

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Navidi, 28, was a stand-out Wales player last season, delivering one high-class display after another.

France vs Wales in the Stade de France is maybe the perfect way to kick off the tournament

But he has not featured in the Test arena since Wales beat France last March, missing his country’s autumn series clean sweep this term because of injury.

Navidi teams up with Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty in the Wales back-row, having a pivotal role to play as Warren Gatland’s men chase a 10th successive victory against all opponents.

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Dragons number eight Moriarty has not played since mid-December after being sidelined with concussion, but he will bring abrasiveness and considerable physicality to a contest that will be no place for the faint-hearted.

“He is a physical character,” Navidi added. “His ball-carrying and defence work show how physical he is. I like that part of his game.

“He is nitty-gritty, and what he does he does well. To not play for six weeks and come into a game like this one is quite impressive.

“He is a world-class player, and I am sure when Friday comes he is ready to go. The six weeks out will not make a difference to him.”

And Navidi has also backed Blues colleague – scrum-half Tomos Williams – to thrive when he features for the first time in a Six Nations game.

Williams, who made his Test debut last summer, has been preferred to the more experienced Scarlets number nine Gareth Davies as the only back division change following Wales’ victory over South Africa 10 weeks ago.

“Tomos is a livewire, a threat off the base (of the scrum) as well,” Navidi said.

“He has got flair and is quite aggressive for a scrum-half. It is good when your nine is a bit fiery. He can tie in extra defenders.”

Wales have beaten France on six of the countries’ last seven meetings, including two victories in Paris, which augers well for a campaign that many observers feel will be a three-way title battle between Wales, Ireland and England.

PA

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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