RBS SIX NATIONS - WALES v FRANCE
Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Friday, 26 February Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC One, BBC HD channel, Red Button and BBC Sport website; Radio Wales and Radio Cymru; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles
Scrum V feature: The controversial Mathieu Bastareaud
Coach Warren Gatland says Wales plan to run block-busting France centre Mathieu Bastareaud off his feet in Friday's Six Nations Millennium Stadium showdown.
"We've got to make the game faster and see if we can make him puff a little bit," Gatland told BBC Sport Wales.
"He's a big man, I don't know if he's the fittest at international level."
The giant 21-year-old has been one of the stars of this year's championship, scoring two tries in Scotland and man-handling Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll.
In Cardiff, the Stade Francais powerhouse and his centre partner Yannick Jauzion are set for a mouth-watering midfield collision with Jamie Roberts and James Hook.
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606: DEBATE
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British and Irish Lions man of the series Roberts said that he was relishing the prospect of facing up to the 6ft, 17st 4lb Bastareaud.
"He's been playing well for the last couple of games," said Roberts, who will measure his own formidable 6ft 4in, 16st 12lb frame against the Frenchman.
"He's a very strong runner and if you don't put him down first shot he'll give them a lot of go-forward.
"And let's not forget Jauzion. He's been there for years, he's a very experienced centre.
"There's a great partnership there, they are two big players and we're going to have to be on the money defensively.
"They got the better of us at the Stade de France last year and are on a roll after winning their first two games, but this is a great opportunity for us to spoil the party."
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We have to make sure that we don't underestimate the contribution that Jamie Roberts made against Scotland
Warren Gatland
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Bastareaud is a controversial figure in France following his off-the-field transgressions on last summer's tour of New Zealand.
The six-cap three-quarter, a cousin of France and Arsenal footballer William Gallas, sparked a diplomatic incident when he claimed he was beaten up.
It was later revealed that he had fallen over in his hotel room after drinking heavily.
Bastareaud was left out of the autumn Tests as a disciplinary measure but returned for the Six Nations, where he has wreaked havoc on opposing defences.
Gatland, though, is confident that his centres can face up to the challenge and destroy Les Bleus' Grand Slam dreams.
"We've got to make sure that we don't give [Bastareaud] a lot of room," he told the BBC Sport Wales programme, in an interview to be transmitted on Friday (from 1855 GMT on BBC TWO Wales).
"He's big and very physical so you have to close space down as much as possible and deny him the opportunity to create one-on-one mismatches.
"It's a tough ask for James Hook in the backs but I'm sure he'll be up for the task."
The New Zealander was also keen to shield Roberts from the suggestion that he was going through a dip in form after a stunning breakthrough season in 2008/9.
"It is difficult in that second year, there's so much analysis done and teams work you out," said Gatland. "You need that variation in midfield.
"But we have to make sure that we don't underestimate the contribution that Jamie made against Scotland.
"He made a number of crucial breaks that haven't really been recognised, including the break and off-load to Lee Byrne ahead of Phil Godman's sin-bin.
"[Scotland assistant coach] Gregor Townsend thought one of the big differences that ended up telling in the game was Jamie, he was really difficult for Scotland to handle and kept running hard."
France challenge excites Gatland
While acknowledging that France take to the Millennium Stadium pitch as tournament favourites, Gatland steadfastly refuses to be daunted by the challenge awaiting his side.
"The question for France is how they respond for the next performance," he said.
"Their game against Ireland could have been a lot closer if it wasn't for a yellow card.
"The result flattered France a little bit, but they took their chances in a very professional display.
"They gave a very emotional performance against us last year in a game we could have won, then they were terrible in losing their next game against England.
"We're expecting a tough, physical encounter, but we've won nine of our 12 games [under Gatland] in the Six Nations and are going in with a lot of confidence."
The state of play in French rugby
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