Dragons lock Luke Charteris has been names in Warren Gatland’s squad to take on France on Friday at the Stade de France as Wales take their Six Nations campaign over the Channel.
The 23-14 win over England at the Millennium Stadium earlier this month made it eight wins in a row for Ryan Jones' men - one at the end of the 2007 championship, five in last season's Grand Slam campaign and two wins at the start of the 2009.
England's record run was between 2002 (wins in rounds four and five), a Grand Slam in 2003 and victories in the opening two rounds of 2004. The French had a run of nine wins with victories in the last two rounds of 2003, a Grand Slam in 2004 and wins in the opening two rounds of 2005.
The Welsh side of the early Seventies also won nine Five Nations matches in a row. They beat France at the end of the 1970 championship, completed a Grand Slam in 1971 (4 games) and were unbeaten again in 1972, although they only played three matches that season. They then beat England at the start of the 1973 campaign before losing in Scotland.
That was the start of the second 'Golden Era' in Welsh rugby, the first being at the start of the 20th century. While Wales claimed back-to-back Grand Slams in 1908 and 1909, not all teams played France.
England first met the French in 1906, Wales launched fixtures with them in 1908, Ireland in 1909 and the Scots in 1910. That is why many people claim the Five Nations Championship didn't officially start until 1910.
However, Wales went 10 games undefeated between 1907-1910 - victory over Ireland in the last round of the championship in 1907, 'Grand Slams' in 1908 and 1909 and then a first round victory over the French in 1910. England also managed 10 successive championship wins between 1882-1886 and 1922-1925, including Grand Slams in 1923 and 1924.
Will Carling's England won back-to -back Grand Slams in 1991 and 1992, and went nine games without defeat, while the French recorded Grand Slams in 1997 and 1998 and also went nine runs unbeaten. On both occasions it was Wales who ended their winning streak.
Wales: Lee Byrne; Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Michael Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Ian Gough, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones (captain), Martyn Williams, Andy Powell.
Replacements: Huw Bennett, John Yapp, Luke Charteris, Dafydd Jones, Dwayne Peel, James Hook, Gavin Henson
The 23-14 win over England at the Millennium Stadium earlier this month made it eight wins in a row for Ryan Jones' men - one at the end of the 2007 championship, five in last season's Grand Slam campaign and two wins at the start of the 2009.
England's record run was between 2002 (wins in rounds four and five), a Grand Slam in 2003 and victories in the opening two rounds of 2004. The French had a run of nine wins with victories in the last two rounds of 2003, a Grand Slam in 2004 and wins in the opening two rounds of 2005.
The Welsh side of the early Seventies also won nine Five Nations matches in a row. They beat France at the end of the 1970 championship, completed a Grand Slam in 1971 (4 games) and were unbeaten again in 1972, although they only played three matches that season. They then beat England at the start of the 1973 campaign before losing in Scotland.
That was the start of the second 'Golden Era' in Welsh rugby, the first being at the start of the 20th century. While Wales claimed back-to-back Grand Slams in 1908 and 1909, not all teams played France.
England first met the French in 1906, Wales launched fixtures with them in 1908, Ireland in 1909 and the Scots in 1910. That is why many people claim the Five Nations Championship didn't officially start until 1910.
However, Wales went 10 games undefeated between 1907-1910 - victory over Ireland in the last round of the championship in 1907, 'Grand Slams' in 1908 and 1909 and then a first round victory over the French in 1910. England also managed 10 successive championship wins between 1882-1886 and 1922-1925, including Grand Slams in 1923 and 1924.
Will Carling's England won back-to -back Grand Slams in 1991 and 1992, and went nine games without defeat, while the French recorded Grand Slams in 1997 and 1998 and also went nine runs unbeaten. On both occasions it was Wales who ended their winning streak.
Wales: Lee Byrne; Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Michael Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Ian Gough, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones (captain), Martyn Williams, Andy Powell.
Replacements: Huw Bennett, John Yapp, Luke Charteris, Dafydd Jones, Dwayne Peel, James Hook, Gavin Henson
TWEETS BY @DRAGONSRUGBY
