Caretaker Wales coach Steve Hansen has demended that his get the basics right as they look to bounce back from their mauling against Ireland.

"Our big hope is that we go out and do the things that we've set out to do all week and do them well," said Hansen just before undertaking his final training session.

"The key thing for us is to do the basics well, enjoy the occasion and really be enthusiastic."

Enthusiasm currently appears to be in short supply in the once rugby-mad Welsh capital, with the game's very status as the nation's number one sport in danger of being overtaken by soccer.

Hansen, who claimed the mood in the Welsh camp was "very good", brushed aside reports of hundreds of disillusioned fans sending back tickets for a match the WRU not too long ago could have sold out twice over.

"I don't control who buys tickets," he said. "They can please themselves whether they come or not."

The straight-talking Kiwi also swiftly dismissed the problems faced by his opposite number Bernard Laporte, who has been forced to make six changes to the side which beat Italy 33-12 in their opening game.

The French are without eight players through injury, including skipper Fabien Galthie, and two others through suspension as they seek to make it five wins in a row following their successful autumn.

"It's always a good time to play a good side," said Hansen. "That's what you play rugby for. France are a great side, so it's always good to play them."

Laporte, who can afford to look at the bigger picture, insists the loss of key personnel will give him an opportunity to blood new players ahead of next year's World Cup.

"It's an important match in what will be a hostile environment," he said.

"We have had four wins on the trot and this is our first away match, so I'm excited at the prospect of seeing how the players react to that.

"We need these kind of challenges in order to progress. It's an interesting and exciting squad and has got the will to do well."

Laporte, unhappy with his side's unconvincing display against the Italians, is looking a big improvement and, like Hansen, wants his players to concentrate on the basics.

"We mustn't give away points like we did against Italy," he said. "It was one of our strong points in November and that has to be a priority.

"The basics of the game will determine whether games are won or lost. Two years ago we did the fundamentals very well and Thomas Castaignene made the difference."

France, who were World Cup beaten finalists at the Millennium Stadium in 1999, won 36-3 on their last visit to Cardiff in 2000 - but that was their only success in their last four Six Nations games against Wales.

Hansen has made three changes from the side beaten by Ireland, with Tom Shanklin (Saracens) and Zimbabwe-born Andy Marinos (Newport) forming a new midfield pairing and Andy Moore replacing the injured Chris Wyatt in the second row. Prop Chris Anthony has recovered from a slight muscle strain.