"We need to work smarter"- Tomos Williams previews daunting meeting against reigning Champions France

Monday, 09 February 2026 at 22:06

byHarry Tovey

There is no way to hide the damage caused at Allianz Stadium last Saturday. A 48-7 defeat left Steve Tandy’s Wales side bruised, exposed and vulnerable.

Now, there is little choice but for Wales to confront the uncomfortable realisation of where they are at this current moment as they regroup in the aftermath of a chastening evening in Twickenham.

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It was the contest that was a test of character for a Welsh side desperate for a win in the Six Nations. When Henry Pollock’s score was then changed to a penalty try by referee Pierre Brousset, scrum-half Tomos Williams, before the Frenchmen reached the post, was sprinting back to the halfway line.

On the one-sided display to kick off their campaign, the 31-year-old said: “I don’t think it’s through any lack of effort.

“The boys are working hard; we’d probably need to work smarter. That smartness will come with our discipline.

“If we’re smarter in the way we play, we won’t give away silly penalties.”

They are a side that has recorded only two wins in their last 23 Test matches, dating back to the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Tandy’s side will be aiming for a first triumph in Cardiff on Sunday for the first time since their narrow 22-17 triumph against Scotland at Principality Stadium.

The challenge of doing so will be like climbing Mount Everest without any preparation. That comparison can only mean one thing: reigning Six Nations champions France head to the Welsh capital.

A side which will travel high on confidence following their 36-14 dispatching of Ireland last Thursday at the Stade de France.

They’ll have little to no sympathy for a side which by then will still be nursing their wounds following their hammering in south-west London. In the bowels of Twickenham following their defeat to England, Tomos Williams said: “No, it doesn’t (get any easier).

“Like England, probably up there with one of the best teams in the world at the moment, so are France. We need to show a better performance in front of our fans at home.”

That raucous home support, which in the past has acted as a 16th man for Wales when they play at home, will more than likely be there but won’t deter a French side looking to continue building momentum.

It has been reported that there are well over 25,000 tickets still available for the clash on Sunday (at the time of writing). But one head-to-head that could be box office is Williams facing off against Antoine Dupont, who made his international return in the French capital last week.

“I haven’t really thought about that, I’d rather get a good result than worry about that,” continued Williams.

“He’s a class player, everyone knows that.”