GRAND Slam and Triple Crown talk is rife in Wales after just two wins in the Six Nations Championship this month.

Wales have gained their first victory over England in Cardiff for 12 years and they have romped to a six tries-to-one win against the Italians in Rome.

That's enough to set the ever-optimistic Welsh fans into a frenzy of title talk. It's something the Welsh players and management refuse to get involved in, simply taking it a game at a time; and France in Paris on Saturday is the next one.

But even Wales coach Mike Ruddock admits that if Wales do make it a hat-trick and get the better of France as well then they really will start thinking about the title.

"If we get a result over there we'll start thinking we are in with a shout of getting honours," admitted Ruddock. But he insists Wales must get off to the right start if the dream is to remain alive.

"It's a key time," he said. "We've seen on so many occasions once France come out with their head on they've got the potential to blow teams away.

"But if they start slowly we've got a chance to unsettle them and put even more pressure on them. But it's strange thinking about us winning the Grand Slam when we've only won the first two games.

"We've had a tendency to hit flat spots so far, in the first half against England who I thought we should have score more tries against and in the last quarter against Italy when we gave away five penalties.

"We have got away with it so far, but if we give France penalties we could be in trouble."

Ruddock emphasises the challenge Wales will face, particularly from France's powerful pack and he draws on an impressive array of statistics, especially from last season's game against France in Cardiff, to back it up.

"They're so difficult to get the ball away from, they've got a big scrum and line-out and their defence is good," he said.

"We've got to stop them winning the ball because out of 27 scrums and line-outs last year we won 10, and that was at home.

"We put the ball into the scrums and line-outs 17 times and we didn't get it. We've lived with England and New Zealand, and we had 59% territory against the All Blacks, but it's very intimidating in Paris so let's hope we react better.

"One thing is for sure, if we don't improve the stats we'll be in trouble."

And Ruddock warned, "They will look to overpower us and bully us by putting the pressure on at the set piece."