Lock Gemma Hallett admits the Wales squad are desperate for some payback against France after last year’s defeat derailed their Grand Slam bid.
Wales were riding the crest of a wave having recorded their first ever victory over England only for Les Bleus to bring them crashing down to earth with a 27-5 loss.
And the 28-year-old revealed that defeat is still fresh in their minds and conceded complacency got the better of the Welsh squad that day.
She said: “It is a must-win game for us and we have to right the wrongs of last season. We did not turn up against France last season and we can’t afford to let that happen again.
“We massively underestimated France last year. We were on a high after beating England but France were all over us.
“There’s going to be plenty of players in our ranks who will be desperate to make up for that defeat.”
In this year’s campaign, Wales got off to a nightmare start with a 31-0 defeat at the hands of rivals England before getting their campaign back on track with a 28-12 win over Scotland.
And with the World Cup approaching quickly, Hallett says the squad cannot even contemplate losing to France.
She said: “With the World Cup on the horizon, it is a definite motivation factor.
“Finishing less than second is not an option for us. We have to be up there with the Southern Hemisphere nations.
“I don’t think we clicked when we played against England. Scotland did give us stiff opposition but everything we did in training came together and we have to hope that happens again.”
