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Gatland thinks France clash is the key to winning the Six Nations

Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Wire/PA Images

Warren Gatland believes that Wales' Guinness Six Nations opener against France is potentially their toughest assignment of this season's tournament.

Wales tackle Les Bleus in Paris on February 1 during a campaign that also sees them meet reigning Six Nations champions Ireland and Eddie Jones' England at the Principality Stadium.

And head coach Gatland is upbeat about his team's prospects following a first clean sweep of autumn Test wins that stretched Wales' unbeaten record to nine games.

I think we've got a great chance of winning the Six Nations, if we win that opening game. That first game is going to be our toughest. We feel like we are in as good a position as anybody to do well.

The whole thing about the Six Nations is momentum. If you can win your first couple of games, then you have a great chance of being in contention on the last weekend.

This is competition time. The autumn was great, but it wasn't about points.

This is what we are going to experience in Japan (World Cup), so it's about fronting up and winning games, playing some good rugby, but also thinking about tournament rugby.

– Warren Gatland, Wales Head Coach
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