The Australian insists Bernard Laporte's men have been misunderstood by their own fans and a near disbelieving global rugby fraternity after narrow wins over Scotland and England.

Speaking at the Wales team headquarters as they began final preparations for Saturday's clash at Stade de France between the two unbeaten sides, Johnson said: ''It's strange how the world perceives France these days.

''Everyone sees them as a creative side with lots of flair, but over the last three or four years I have seen them as a team with a massive set-piece game. Their mauling and scrums are very impressive.

''And talking to the guys who play in France, as a country they'd probably rather score a 50-metre driving maul try than a really explosive and expressive 15-man team try. That is the nature of their beast at the moment.

''Their forward domination over the last three or four years has been under-rated. I think a lot of the comments made recently are about France of the past rather than what we are seeing now.

''From what I have seen, their set-piece is the best in the world. The current French team is playing to what is now their national strength as a team so they will be coming to get us.