Wales may adopt a more conservative approach for Saturday's Six Nations rugby title decider against France in Cardiff, kicking coach Neil Jenkins said today.

The Welsh, who are one win away from clinching a second grand slam in four seasons, will be crowned champions if they avoid a defeat by 20 points or more, or score more tries in a 19-point reverse.

Jenkins, Wales's all-time leading points scorer, believes the threat the French pose might temper their previously open tactics.

"We have tried to keep the ball in play a lot more than usual in the last few games. We've backed ourselves and played the game that suits us, but perhaps things will change on Saturday," Jenkins told a news conference.

"France are world class and will punish you if you kick loosely. They are lethal when they run onto the ball. We have to be clever about how we go about things."

Wales, who defended well in last weekend's 16-12 win against Ireland, have not won a competitive game at home to France since 1996, and have lost at the Millennium Stadium on each occasion since defeating the French in the ground's opening game in 1999.

Jenkins, who scored 11 points in the 16-15 victory 12 years ago, insists the players can break their opponents grip.

"They have a very impressive record over here but at the end of the day, our players have to remember that it's just a rugby pitch with posts at either end," he said.

"We have already managed to bring some pretty unsuccessful runs at Twickenham and Dublin to an end during this campaign and now we hope to end France's run this weekend."

Jenkins also said he had not expected such a quick turnaround in fortunes under new coach Warren Gatland after September's World Cup group stage exit.

"I have been surprised at how fast things have turned around for us," he said.

"At the start of the campaign I think we were realistically targeting three home wins but the win at Twickenham in the opening game gave us all huge belief and the momentum has grown from there, just as it did in 2005."

Reuters