France coach Fabien Galthie has hit back at Wales prop Wyn Jones' suggestion that the visiting scrum will "cheat" when the sides meet in Cardiff this weekend, saying the comments demonstrate a lack of respect for the whole country.
Jones did not hold back in his assessment of how France might approach their bid to land a first Six Nations win in the Welsh capital since 2010 and predicted that the pack would be "ill-disciplined".
"We know they will hit and chase and cheat," he said. "That's something we are fully aware of and something we've got to combat on the day.
"They will look to push early, they will look to mess about at scrum time. That's something we've looked at. We will just concentrate on ourselves."
Galthie has now responded, saying Jones' comments are not in keeping with the spirit of the Six Nations, the Press Association news agency reports.
"It's a lack of respect for our scrum, a lack of respect for our team, a lack of respect for French rugby but also for our nation," he told a press conference.
"This is the Six Nations tournament and in the Six Nations tournament there is no room for these kind of remarks."
Former France hooker Raphael Ibanez, who is now the national team's manager, added: "It is a rude and childish attack.
"We have points of reference, these are the tournament referees with whom we work well, very intelligently.
"A coach or an opposing player are not our points of reference. Seeing them being so afraid makes us smile."
"To see them crying like this makes us smile", he is reported to have added.
Ibanez is also said to have criticised the way Wales have handled fly-half Dan Biggar, who starts at No. 10 on Saturday after going through his return-to-play protocols following a failed head injury assessment in the Ireland defeat.
ESPN report Ibanez as saying: "We could also question the fate of their flyhalf who has been knocked out several times since the World Cup but has been going through [concussion] protocol after protocol managed by the Welsh federation," the former France hooker said.
"We hope it's been as efficient as possible in the interest of the player's health."
After naming his Wales side to face France - making two changes in Gareth Davies and Ross Moriarty - Wayne Pivac said of Biggar's return: "He’s gone through the regular process and passed those with flying colours.
"We’ve also gone to a world leading expert in concussion, who he’s seen previously at the World Cup. Every precaution has been taken.
"He’s come through it and been cleared to play. He’s good to go and trained very well this week."
You can see the full team news for Saturday's clash here.
