CAPTAIN Alun Wyn Jones says Wales will be facing a hefty France ‘team of old’ in Paris tomorrow afternoon, writes Chris Kirwan.

Les Bleus have made one change to the side that comprehensively beat Italy 40-18 in Rome last weekend with Clermont Auvergne’s Sebastien Vahaamahina slotting into the second row.

France will be led by inspirational hooker Guilhem Guirado, boast one of the players of the tournament in powerhouse number eight Louis Picamoles and increasingly influential flanker Kevin Gourdon.

The Welsh tight five produced an excellent display against much-vaunted Ireland counterparts in last weekend’s 22-9 win in Cardiff and Jones knows they must back it up at the Stade de France.

The lock said: “They have quite a few large men in their pack and to bring Valaamahina in shows the strength and depth they have got, particularly in the forwards.

“They have the offloading game and the physicality they have is like a French team of old if you like: offloading and physicality with a heavy set piece.

“It is a difficult ask but we are coming off the back of a positive display (against Ireland) and we need to back it up now.”

Head coach Guy Noves’ 23 includes four players – full-back Brice Dulin, props Rabah Slimani and Eddy Ben Arous, hooker Camille Chat – who play for Parisian clubs after a turbulent week in which Racing 92’s planned takeover of Stade Francais was announced.

France are looking for a third win of the campaign after winning against Scotland in Paris and Italy in Rome.

France: B Dulin (Racing 92), N Nakaitaci (Clermont), R Lamerat (Clermont), G Fickou (Toulouse), V Vakatawa (FFR), C Lopez (Clermont), C Baille (Toulouse), G Guirado (Toulon, captain), R Slimani (Stade Francais), S Vahaamahina (Clermont), Y Maestri (Toulouse), F Saconnie (Brive), K Gourdon (La Rochelle), L Picamoles (Northampton).

Replacements: C Chat (Racing 92), U Atonio (La Rochelle), E Ben Arous (Racing 92), J Le Devedec (Brive), D Chouly (Clermont), A Dupont (Castres), F Trinh-Duc (Toulon), Y Huget (Toulouse)