Wales' recent Test match record is dismal, with only two wins in their last 24 matches, both of which were against Japan.

Welsh rugby is currently facing numerous challenges that need to be addressed.

Identifying key areas for improvement for the Welsh men's national team ahead of their match against France is a daunting task, given the scope of their problems.

Wales have not won a Six Nations match in nearly three years, with their latest defeat being a 48-7 loss to England.

Wales must urgently address certain aspects of their game before hosting France, who are seeking to win the Grand Slam.

BBC Sport pundits have analyzed the key priorities for Wales head coach Steve Tandy and his team.

England recently inflicted a heavy defeat on Wales.

The most pressing concern for Wales is their defensive performance.

Under Steve Tandy, Wales have conceded 248 points and 34 tries in his first five games in charge.

These statistics are particularly alarming given Tandy's background as a defence coach for Scotland and the British and Irish Lions.

According to former Scotland captain John Barclay, Wales need to focus on fixing the easiest problems first, starting with their tackling and defensive mindset.

Barclay emphasized that defence is more about mindset than skill, and that Wales need to improve their intent when tackling and slowing down opponents.

He suggested that Wales' defence coach should prioritize addressing the lack of intent in the team's tackling.

Barclay advised Wales to focus on becoming a harder team to play against by improving their defence and reducing the number of easy wins they concede to opponents.

He noted that Wales' poor defensive performance against England was a prime example of this issue.

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England secured a convincing win over Wales.

Wales were expected to struggle against England, but their lack of discipline made their task even more difficult.

Winning at Twickenham is always challenging, especially for a team in crisis like Wales.

Wales' disciplinary issues on Saturday, including 16 penalties and four yellow cards, severely hindered their chances.

The 16 penalties conceded by Wales were their highest total in a Test match since 2009, while the four yellow cards were the joint most in a Six Nations match.

Two of the yellow cards, given to prop Nicky Smith and captain Dewi Lake, came within the first 18 minutes of the game.

Former Wales scrum-half Richie Rees stated that it is impossible to compete at the international level while conceding 11 penalties and two yellow cards within the first 20-25 minutes.

Rees noted that the resulting fatigue and poor body language from the Welsh players were inevitable consequences of their indiscipline.

He singled out players like Tomos Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit, and Aaron Wainwright, who were visibly exhausted by the end of the game.

Rees attributed the players' fatigue to the team's lack of discipline, which is something they can control and must improve.

Looking ahead to the match against France, Rees emphasized that Wales must prioritize improving their discipline.

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The question of Wales' identity as a team remains uncertain.

Given Wales' poor recent form, only a few players can be confident of their places in the team to face France.

Former Wales back-rower Emyr Lewis believes that changes are needed, as some players have had ample opportunities but have not performed at the international level.

Lewis suggested bringing in bigger players, such as Owen Watkin, to strengthen the team's defence against France.

He also recommended introducing more physically imposing players to the back row to challenge the French pack.

Lewis advocated for selecting players who can provide a strong physical presence and give the French team a tougher challenge.

Former Wales centre Scott Williams also thinks changes are necessary, particularly in the centre position.

Williams acknowledged that Ben Thomas did not have a strong game and suggested that Eddie James could be a valuable asset at centre.

Williams noted that James, despite being a large and powerful player, had limited opportunities to carry the ball and make an impact.

He believes James should be played at centre, where he can utilize his size and strength to help Wales gain an advantage.

Williams proposed playing Eddie James at centre, potentially with Ben Thomas moving to a different position.

Richie Rees also agrees that Wales need to select bigger, more physically imposing players to strengthen their team.

The inclusion of Mason Grady and Rhys Carre in the starting lineup is crucial, according to the speaker, who emphasized their importance on a podcast.

If these players are not on the field, France may capitalize on the opportunity to take an early lead, making it challenging for Wales to mount a comeback, as seen in their match against England.

Wales had limited opportunities to showcase their attacking capabilities against England, as they spent a significant portion of the game defending against their opponents.

On the occasions when Wales did gain possession, their lineout struggled, and their backline failed to gel, hindering their ability to launch effective attacks.

Former Wales and Lions wing Alex Cuthbert expressed concerns about Wales' performance, stating that they lacked a clear identity and failed to execute basic skills effectively, as discussed on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

Cuthbert highlighted the lineout as a major issue, citing the team's inability to match their opponents physically, which led to errors and pressure on their skills.

Even when Wales managed to score, their attacks were often one-dimensional, slow, and lacking in creativity, which Cuthbert attributed to a lack of power and physical presence.

According to Cuthbert, Wales attack coach Matt Sherratt will focus on refining the team's attacking plays, but this will be difficult to achieve without parity in the physical battle, particularly in the initial collisions.

Cuthbert ranked Wales 11th in the world, suggesting that they are not significantly better than Italy, who are currently ranked 10th.

Wales has suffered three of their four heaviest Six Nations defeats in the past 13 months, a statistic that underscores their recent struggles.

Former England wing Chris Ashton believes that Wales' defeat at Twickenham exposed not only technical issues but also mental vulnerabilities.

Ashton noted that Wales struggled with fundamental aspects of the game, such as maintaining discipline, preventing penalties, and defending against England's attacks.

Ashton emphasized that these basic elements of the game require mental focus, which Wales lacked, allowing England to capitalize on easy scoring opportunities.

Ashton suggested that Wales' struggles with these basic aspects of the game are surprising, given that they are considered fundamental skills that should be taken for granted.

Ashton questioned whether Wales' coaching staff, particularly Steve Tandy, are spreading themselves too thin by trying to address multiple issues simultaneously, rather than focusing on specific areas, such as defense.

Ashton wondered if Tandy's broader responsibilities are detracting from his primary role as defense coach, an area where Wales is currently struggling.

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France began their Six Nations campaign with a convincing 36-14 victory over Ireland, demonstrating their attacking prowess with five tries.

Even if Wales can significantly improve their performance, they will still face a formidable challenge when France visits the Principality Stadium.

France's impressive win over Ireland, which featured a dominant attacking display, has set a high standard for their upcoming match against Wales.

Given France's ability to dismantle Ireland's defense, it is concerning to consider what they might achieve against Wales.

Former Wales wing Philippa Tuttiett expressed concern about Wales' upcoming match against France, stating that she is "very worried" about the outcome.

Tuttiett acknowledged that, as a rugby fan, she is excited to see France's brand of rugby, which has been elevated to a new level since their loss to South Africa in the autumn.

Tuttiett believes that France's defeat to South Africa served as a catalyst for their improvement, and their win over Ireland demonstrates their growth as a team.

The impressive manner in which France defeated Ireland has left Tuttiett concerned about Wales' prospects, and she believes that they should be fearful of the challenge that France poses.