HALFPENNY has urged Wales to play like champions in Paris on Saturday after their grip on the RBS 6 Nations title was loosened following their defeat to Ireland in last weekend’s tournament opener.

Form and history is stacked against Wales, given they have claimed only three away wins in France since 1975 and have not beaten another Test-playing country for 11 months.

The current run of eight successive defeats is Wales’ worst results sequence in ten years, and their latest French assignment immediately follows Les Bleus’ shock defeat to Italy.

‘‘We still believe in ourselves, we still believe in our ability and the work we put in throughout the week,’’ Wales full-back Halfpenny said.

‘‘We are not in crisis.

There is one game down and the tournament is still wide open.

‘‘At the end of the day, we are the defending champions, and that means something.

We have to go out and play like we are champions.

‘‘We have to make sure we are putting the work in throughout the week and believe that every time we take to that pitch we are going to win.

“That is the attitude we have to have on Saturday.’’