The Grand Slam flew away for the Blues, beaten on the edge by the English in the grayness of London (23-20) four days ago.
It is the Welsh, unbeaten so far, who will try to win it this Saturday (9 pm) in Saint-Denis.
The XV of France has not however lost all hope of winning the Tournament.
A success against the Red Devils, improved if possible, would allow Fabien Galthié's players to stay in the race and why not, to climb to the top step of the podium by dominating the Scots six days later, still at the Stade de France.
For this summit against a Welsh team which seemed however aging at the start of the competition, the French coach, who will reveal his team composition this Thursday at noon, seems inclined to align the defeated Twickenham.
The holders did not have much to be ashamed of on the London lawn.
"We are over-motivated"
The opener Matthieu Jalibert, author of a first-rate performance, should thus lead the attack of the Blues and let Romain Ntamack wait on the substitutes bench.
He should evolve, as in Twickenham, alongside the pair of centers formed by Gaël Fickou and Virimi Vakatawa.
“We lost against England but we evacuated our frustration and we focus on the Wales match, advance Gaël Fickou, three-quarters of the Stade Français.
It's a very important game, but there is no pressure or there is positive pressure.
We can still win the Tournament so we are over-motivated.
"
Pillar Cyril Baille said more or less the same thing: “We know we don't have much leeway.
We will have to try to take as many points as possible.
The main thing will be not to calculate because it is the best way to make a bad game.
We go there with the same state of mind as from the start: give everything.
It is obvious that the Welsh are in a better position than us since they have won four games.
But the bonus point taken in England still allows us to hope to win the Tournament.
"And no question of thinking that the last two successes of the Blues against the Welsh, in Cardiff in the 2020 Tournament (27-23) then in a friendly match at the Stade de France at the end of October (38-21) will weigh in the balance.
"It's behind us and it's anecdotal," said the center Arthur Vincent.
The context is totally different.
"
The probable team:
Dulin - Thomas, Vakatawa, Fickou, Penaud - (o) Jalibert, (m) Dupont - Ollivon (cap.), Alldritt, Cretin - Willemse, R. Taofifenua - Haouas, Marchand, Baille.