Head coach Gareth Jenkins is determined neither he nor his Wales team will be caught short in tonight's RBS 6 Nations clash with France.

Wales arrived in Paris on the back of defeats by Ireland and Scotland in which they failed to score a try and, at Murrayfield, never even threatened to.

But Jenkins is confident the return of centre Tom Shanklin and winger Shane Williams to the starting XV will give Wales enough firepower to down France.

And victory would extend an impressive Welsh record of three victories from their last four trips to Paris, including the 2005 triumph which propelled them towards the Grand Slam.

Martyn Williams scored two tries shortly after half-time as Wales, having absorbed a first-half hammering, hit back brilliantly to win the game.

Jenkins was at the Stade de France that day along with Sir Clive Woodward in his role as coach on the 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand.

But he missed the dramatic comeback.

"I was here two years ago. At half-time Wales were really under the cosh (trailing 15-6) and I decided I needed to go to the toilet," he recalled.

"There was a hell of a queue. By the time I had come back Wales had scored two tries and were well on the way to winning a fantastic and historic game!"

There is no chance of Jenkins using the same tactic tonight if things are not going Wales' way by the interval against a France side who have won their first two games.

"I have managed to keep away from superstitions all my career," he laughed.

When conversation turns to tonight's clash Jenkins turns deadly serious.

The manner of Wales' 21-9 defeat by the Scots prompted swathes of criticism aimed at Jenkins, the forwards specialist Robin McBryde and the captain Stephen Jones.

But Jenkins insists his men have learned a "hard lesson" and are determined to extend Wales' extraordinary record against France in Paris.

He said: "The betting people would give us no chance - but that isn't the case.

"We have learned hard lessons and the players realise they let a lot of people down two weeks ago in the way they played and they want to put that right."

"The return of Shane, Tom and Mark Jones (who missed the Ireland defeat) is hugely important to our attacking game.

"We were probably down to our fifth and sixth choices and we have been pretty naive as a young back line to date.

"But these returning players have experienced winning here in Paris so I hope they make a difference tomorrow.

"With Shane being back, Mark being back and Tom now with a little bit of rugby behind him I think we will have more edge tomorrow, more finishing ability.

"That will give us an opportunity to try to play the Welsh way and give these class players an opportunity to score tries.

"We really want to play a style of rugby that suits us."

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