Prop Wyn Jones said he expected France's pack to "cheat" in their bid to gain scrum supremacy when the teams meet in Cardiff.

The Scarlets player expects France to bend the rules, saying: "We know they'll hit and chase and cheat."

"They don't have to say this sort of thing in the Six Nations," said Galthie.

"It's a lack of respect," he added. "A lack of respect for our scrum. A lack of respect for our team. A lack of respect for French rugby. A lack of respect for our nation.

"In the last two matches their scrum has gone down 13 times and has been penalised six times, while we've been penalised four times."

French team manager and former hooker Raphael Ibanez also weighed into the argument, describing Jones' comments as "a puerile attack".

"Our reference points are the tournament referees with whom we have worked intelligently since the start of the tournament, not a player or coach of the opposing team," Ibanez said.

"To see them crying like this makes us smile."

Criticism 'benefits' France

Former France flanker Serge Betsen believes Jones' pre-game comments, if anything, will only drive the French pack to be motivated against Wales.

The 45-year-old year old said the comments could have a similar impact to those made by England coach Eddie Jones before France's victory in their opening Six Nations match.

Jones warned France to expect "absolute brutality" but his England side suffered a 24-17 defeat at the Stade de France.

"The France team were effected by what Eddie Jones said and I think it will be similar for the scrum," Betsen told BBC Radio Wales.

"It is a benefit for France to be hearing a lot of noise which is not maybe true but let's wait for the game tomorrow and we will see how they respond.

"I think it will give them an edge of frustration to prove [Wales' comments] wrong."