WALES must get their set piece right if they are to have a chance of winning in France next week, Grand Slam winning coach Mike Ruddock tells Argus readers in an exclusive interview a year to the day after he quit as national coach.

Ruddock speaks out in the wake of Wales' dreadful start to the Six Nations, losing against Ireland at home and badly against Scotland at Murrayfield. They are now desperate for a win in France to get their campaign even remotely back on track.

Ruddock was known for his insistence on getting the set piece right during his spells -- all successful - with Ebbw Vale, Newport Gwent Dragons and Wales, whom he guided to their first Grand Slam for 27 years only two seasons ago.

But Blaina-born Ruddock resigned midway through last season's Six Nations and though he wanted to go at the end of the season he was told he had to leave immediately. Scott Johnson and then Gareth Jenkins took over, Wales failing to win a Six Nations game under either.

Ruddock still refuses to elaborate on the reasons for his departure, but since then the wheels have come off big time.

Ruddock says, "It's tough to lose your first game in the Six Nations, that's always the key. If you win that it creates confidence and the momentum to go on to bigger things, but if you lose you're under pressure, especially in Wales.

"It's important now to turn it around and get a result in France.

Obviously the concerns about the performance in Scotland have been aired, so the players have got to put that behind them and improve on a number of areas like the scrum and the line-out, plus con the use of possession.

"There are two elements to the set piece. There's the mindset whereby every time you focus on the fact that you need to have possession it has to be on winning your own ball and dominating that area.

"Then there's the collective unity. It's not just the hooker or the throwing into the line-out, but things like the lifting and all eight being involved on every occasion. It's about continuity and a sense of purpose.

"Obviously Gareth believes in the strategy and I'm sure the players will buy into that. The only way to go forward is by a collective effort, and I'm sure that will happen."

In fact, Ruddock believes Wales can emulate teams of recent years and win at the Stade de France a week on Saturday.

"It is a tough situation at the moment, but with that comes the opportunity to turn things around," he said. "It's an opportunity to go to France and get a result which people might think crazy given the situation we're in.

"But we won there twice under Graham Henry and we did again two years ago, so with the right preparation and focus we can go there and get a result.

"In fairness, Wales weren't a million miles off the pace against Ireland. There were a lot of good things and we were only the odd forward pass away from breaking the Irish defence. But it just didn't happen against Scotland."

However, those who are clamouring for Ruddock to return to big-time rugby, or even to the Wales job, are going to be disappointed though he admits he's had offers from England and Ireland.

For he is content doing a bit of coaching with home' team Mumbles, who lie second in Division Three South West and with his current business position just outside Newport as commercial development manager with Acorn Recruitment.

"I'm not planning to get back into major rugby at the moment," he said, adding "I've had offers to coach in the Guinness Premiership in England and in Ireland, but I don't see me actively looking to take up any of them.

"I'm enjoying working with Acorn, I'm involved in business development and recruitment strategy and there's a training arm like team building exercises.

"But, apart from Wales I still follow the results of the Dragons and I thoroughly enjoyed my season there. I'm pleased they are doing so well."