Much of the promise shown during an exciting weekend victory over Scotland evaporated when the Welsh pack suffered a mauling against Ireland's rampant forwards in Dublin a week later.

And the jury is out on which Wales will turn up when they entertain title-chasing France at the Millennium Stadium this weekend.

The form book suggests a French triumph, especially as they've won the last two championship games in Cardiff, but to write Wales off would be a dangerous pastime.

"If you look at the World Cup, the New Zealand and England games showed that we like to play with the ball in hand, and hopefully France will want to do the same," said Wales centre Mark Taylor.

"There is a bit of added excitement playing against the French with the style they've got, and the fact that they sometimes bring out the best in us.

"I expect they will come out firing, and it's going to be a big challenge for us."

A Wales defeat, just a fortnight before they face world champions England at Twickenham, would perhaps put even a mid-table finish beyond them.

France though, won't worry about that, as their campaign seems to be heading relentlessly towards a Grand Slam showdown with England in Paris on March 27.

Wales could tear up the script, but it will require a Herculean effort against a team buoyed by the return of their fit-again fly-half Frederic Michalak.