Wales under pressure to deliver grand slam

By Jean-Paul Couret

MARCOUSSIS, France (Reuters) - Wales will be under intense pressure to clinch the grand slam and Six Nations title in front of their own fans, French players said on Tuesday.

Unbeaten Wales will secure the grand slam with victory but will also take the title if they lose to the French by less than 20 points at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

"The Welsh will play for a grand slam in front of their supporters, for us Saturday's game will be an opportunity to play a big match in a fantastic stadium where the spectators will sing all the time," Cedric Heymans told reporters.

"I think there will be more pressure on them than on us," added the fullback, recalled to the squad to add more experience along with scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, number eight Elvis Vermeulen and flanker Thierry Dusautoir.

Elissalde said France's misfortune during the World Cup played on their home soil could be a bad omen for the Welsh.

"Playing at home threw us into too much emotion during the World Cup and I think we lost games because we were petrified by the stakes," he said.

"I hope it will be the same for the Welsh on Saturday because it's not so often that they play for a grand slam at home."

French players said they were confident they could ruin Wales's hopes of a grand slam but were more cautious about their chances of defeating them by 20 points to keep their title on points difference.