Dillon Lewis insists Wales must be more clinical as they prepare to host France in the third round of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations.
Wayne Pivac’s men will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to Ireland in Dublin last week against the high-flying Les Bleus, who have won both games to date.
The young prop, who has started both of Wales’ games in the Championship this season, held his own at Aviva Stadium against a front-row containing British and Irish Lions, Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong.
With former Wales coach, Shaun Edwards, now in charge of the French defence, Lewis is excited for the challenge ahead and believe his side can remain confidence despite the defeat at the Irish capital.
“We mounted a lot of pressure on ourselves throughout that game with a few dropped balls etc.,” said the Welsh international.
“We probably weren’t clinical enough sometimes with our exits so if you are giving teams possession five metres out from your try line it’s going to be a difficult one.
“With the way Ireland play they keep the ball really well and when they are five or 10 metres out they are a hard team to stop. It’s definitely something we will be looking at.
“If that Hadleigh Parkes try was given it would have been a momentum swinger and we could have been coming away with a win.
“The French defence looks pretty similar [to Wales under Edwards]!
“They were outstanding against England and there’s definitely areas we can exploit against them which we will be looking at. It will be an exciting test for us.
“I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully we can get things back on track.”
Tighthead Lewis has racked up an impressive win record of 79 per cent in his 24 international caps.
The Cardiff Blues academy product admits he still has to pinch himself following a meteoric rise which has already seen him feature in a Rugby World Cup semi final and says it’s a dream come true to play alongside childhood friends, Tomos Williams and Jarrod Evans.
“It’s what you dream of doing growing up as a rugby player. Packing down against the likes of Cian Healy in a Six Nations game is what you train for.
“I want to test myself against the best. It’s exciting and I’m loving every minute of it.
“I’ve had an unconventional rise up to the Welsh squad but I’ve got take every opportunity I get to put my foot in the door.
“Tomos and Jarrod are unbelievable players and they’ve got some skills that many other players in the world haven’t got. It’s great to play alongside them.”