France v Wales, February 9
Adam Jones: 'We can fix our form'
ESPN Staff
February 4, 2013
Wales have failed to win a Test match since their Grand Slam triumph © PA Photos
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Players/Officials: Adam Jones | Matthew Rees
Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations
Teams: France | Ireland | Wales

Adam Jones is adamant Wales can bounce back from their Six Nations defeat to Ireland when they come up against France at the weekend.

Both sides are reeling from their opening round defeats with Wales falling to Declan Kidney's men and Italy securing a shock win over France in Rome. Wales now face the unenviable task of going to the Stade de France and trying to come away with a victory, a feat they have managed only three times in the French capital since 1975, and this time they travel after suffering eight successive losses.

Their last Test win came almost 11 months ago when they beat France to clinch the Six Nations title in Grand Slam fashion. But despite this, Jones insists his team can get a result in Paris and that Wales have to go there "without fear".

"It's about playing more sensibly," Jones said. "Things are definitely fixable. People have been coming out after the past eight games and saying we do this in training and we do that in training, but you can be the best trainers in the world. If you don't do it on the field, you are are going to come off second-best.

"France? In Paris? It's not going to be easy, is it? I wouldn't say we are lacking confidence going out there, though you guys (the media) probably think we will be. The Grand Slam and Triple Crown are out of reach for us now, so we may as well go out there and try to play as much rugby as we can.

"Everyone is disappointed, but what's good about this group is there are a lot of young boys in it and everyone is keen to improve and do well in the next game. That's all you can ask for. There is no point crying over this now. We have to work hard in training and go out to Paris without fear. We know how hard it is going to be out there. We just have to play a bit smarter and play to our strengths a bit more."

Hooker Matthew Rees has no doubt the Wales squad will "stay tight" in their quest to avoid this season's Six Nations campaign unravelling with indecent haste. "As players, we are the ones who have got to react. We've been there before and done it (won in Paris)," Rees said.

"Confidence has been hit by this (Ireland) result, but when we look back at the video, and especially the second-half with the chances we created, as long as we can create those opportunities and finish them there is no reason why we can't go out to France and get a result. We proved how good a team we can be, and we have got to stay tight. I am sure this team will."

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