Sam Warburton
Former Wales captain on BBC One

There are a few really important factors for Wales against France.

One is the French contact area skills, where Wales will need to compete.

Another is aerially, where I thought France were poor against England.

Speed of ball is the most important thing in countering France's blitz defence.

If Wales get quick ball, they won't give France's rush defence time to set and then they can exploit space out wide like England did.

Image source, Getty Images

If Wales were to win tonight, it would cap a remarkable turnaround.

In 2020, they endured their worst Six Nations since 2007 and won just three of their 10 matches in total.

That in itself was a sudden fall from grace, as just a year earlier Wales were celebrating a Grand Slam before going on to top the world rankings.

As history tells us, these wild highs and lows are typical of Welsh rugby.

You can read more on that in this in-depth feature about the "all or nothing" nature of Welsh rugby.

Image source, Getty Images

Former France fly-half Thomas Castaignede, speaking to BBC One: "If we can get confidence in our play, we know we've got some very dangerous players.

"But Wales have been a surprise in this Six Nations.

"Winning in France would mean a lot for them but it will be tough."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac says it would be "fantastic" to complete his first Six Nations Grand Slam after becoming used to the fickle nature of Welsh rugby.

Pivac only won three out of 10 Test matches in his first year in charge but has overseen a transformation in 2021 with four victories.

Victory in Paris will seal what has been regarded by some as the unlikeliest of Grand Slams.

"It would mean everything," said Pivac.

You can read that interview in full here.

Image source, Getty Images

France team manager Raphael Ibanez, speaking to BBC One: "Wales deserve to be where they are now but we want to bounce back from last weekend and the result against England.

"It's a fantastic challenge. We're so pleased to be back at Stade de France."

Image source, Getty Images

Whatever it is that allows Wales to continually bounce back from adversity, the legendary Brian O'Driscoll reckons their Six Nations rivals would like some of it.

"The rest are envious of that unquantifiable quality that Wales persistently deliver," the former Ireland captain told BBC Radio Wales.

"Credit where credit's due, year after year, Wales have something special.

"If every Welsh fan is honest there is no way they would have foreseen Wales having a Grand Slam game because of the run of form beforehand.

"They were showing no form and defensively in disarray, and it just shows this is a tournament of momentum.

"Win the first one and you're off to a great start and it snowballs, and that's been the case with Wales."

How are your nerves by now?

This will be a tense time for Welsh supporters, but they can draw comfort from the fact their team have been here before.

Tonight Wales field a starting XV containing a total of 987 caps, with 14 of Wayne Pivac's line-up having enjoyed Grand Slam success under his predecessor Warren Gatland.

The exception is wing Louis Rees-Zammit, who was just seven when Wales landed their first Gatland-coached Grand Slam in 2008.

While Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones has been compared to Superman, France scrum-half Antoine Dupont has been described as rugby union's answer to Lionel Messi.

Dupont is an outrageously good player, and Wales will do well to keep him quiet tonight.

To quote Jonathan Van-Tam, next slide please.

Speaking of Wales' record four Six Nations Grand Slams, this neat graphic shows how the countries compare.

The red line shows each team's Grand Slam totals - including the Five Nations - and Wales would draw level with England on 13 with victory tonight.

Then the blue line represents Six Nations clean sweeps, where Wales already lead the way with four.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Want another Grand Slam stat? Of course you do!

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones has already won three of them and, if he secures a fourth tonight, he will have as many Grand Slams to himself as England and Ireland have combined.

No wonder Jones has been described as "Superman" by former France flanker Olivier Magne, one of the select few with four Grand Slams to his name.

You can read more about Jones' achievements in this feature.

So no party in Paris, but that won't stop emotions running high in Wales tonight.

This should help get you going.

Star of Peaky Blinders, Aimee-Ffion Edwards narrates 'A Touch of Glory' as Wales go in search of a Grand Slam victory against France.

Wales have won four Grand Slams in the Six Nations era, more than any other country.

And victory tonight would secure their first Five or Six Nations clean sweep with a final game on foreign soil for the first time since 1971.

That iconic game was also in France and, as this video shows, Wales have created some brilliant Grand Slam memories since.

Image source, BBC Sport

We've established the simple facts: a win for Wales gives them the Grand Slam, while victory for France keeps their own title hopes alive.

And what about the other scenarios?

• Wales would secure the Championship with a draw.
• Wales would win the title if they lose with two bonus points (one for scoring four tries, another for being within seven points of France).
• Wales could also win the title if they lose with one bonus point, provided France do not win with a bonus point.
• If Wales lose with no bonus points for either side or they lose with one bonus point and France win with a bonus point, the title may go down to points difference. But Les Bleus would also have to claim five match points in their rearranged game against Scotland next Friday.
• France would win the Championship outright if they beat both Wales and Scotland with a bonus point, as long as they deny Wales a losing bonus point.

Got it? There's a longer version here if you need it.

Image source, Getty Images

As for France, they're unchanged from last Saturday's narrow loss against England.

However, coach Fabien Galthie has made three changes on the bench from the 23-20 defeat at Twickenham.

Prop Uini Atonio, lock Swan Rebbadj and centre Arthur Vincent return for Damien Aldegheri, Cyril Caseaux and Cameron Woki respectively.

Here's the France team in full:

Brice Dulin; Teddy Thomas, Virimi Vakatawa, Gael Fickou, Damian Penaud; Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont; Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Mohamed Haouas, Romain Taofifenua, Paul Willemse, Dylan Cretin, Charles Ollivon (capt), Gregory Alldritt.

Replacements: Camille Chat, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Uini Antonio, Swan Rebbadj, Anthony Jelonch, Baptiste Serin, Romain Ntamack, Arthur Vincent.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Let's start with the Wales team news, and they make just one change from last weekend's thrashing of Italy.

Adam Beard comes into the second row, meaning Cory Hill drops to the bench.

Scrum-half Tomos Williams returns from injury to take his place among the replacements too.

Here's the Wales team in full:

Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Jonathan Davies, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, James Botham, Tomos Williams, Callum Sheedy, Willis Halaholo.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Paris would usually be bouncing by now, seas of red shirts making their way from the bars of Montmartre over to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Not tonight. The stadium is empty and the streets of Paris silent.

So too are the pubs and rugby clubs across Wales where fans would usually gather to watch this huge game.

It's a Grand Slam Saturday, but not as we know it.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Here it is then, the moment of truth, la grande finale. Can Wales finish the job and win the Grand Slam?

It's amazing that they're even in this position, considering they finished last year's Six Nations in fifth place after mustering just one win.

But they've turned things around in spectacular fashion in this campaign, having beaten Ireland, Scotland, England and Italy so far.

Standing between Wales and a second Grand Slam in three seasons are France, who still have a chance of winning the title if they're victorious tonight.

More on the various permutations in a bit but one thing is for sure: if Wales win, they'll be Grand Slam champions again.

Here we go!