Warren Gatland's former Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde has warned Ireland and France are looking a level above Wayne Pivac's side in the race for this season's Six Nations title.
Wales' hopes of retaining their crown were boosted by Saturday's thrilling victory over Scotland.
They have home games to come with the French and Italy, as well as taking on Eddie Jones' misfiring England at Twickenham next up.
History tells us anything can happen when Wales meet England, while Dan Biggar and his team will also fancy their prospects of winning against the French in front of a capacity Cardiff crowd.
But McBryde, who worked in tandem with Gatland in Wales for more than a decade, can't look beyond Ireland and France for the Championship.
He says the showdown between those two sides in Paris on Saturday was a cut above what he had witnessed earlier on when Wales just edged past the Scots.
McBryde, who these days coaches Leinster's forwards, said in the Irish Examiner : "The pace the game was played at, that was in stark contrast to the game previously, watching Wales against Scotland.
"The tempo and speed of execution, speed of thought really set them apart. They look to be the two best teams in the Six Nations thus far."
Wales clash with the French on a Friday night in Cardiff in round four of the tournament and McBryde said of the challenge ahead: "Listen, France are a formidable force, aren't they?
"They're very big men. I think France are scrummaging a lot more intelligently than what they have been in the past. Overall really, in every facet of play, as well as the scrum."
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