The Scarlets tight-head suffered a ruptured achilles in last season’s RBS Six Nations victory over Ireland. He was rated as 50/50 to make the Rugby World Cup, but recovered in time to help Wales reach the quarter-finals of the Twickenham tournament.
Lee has gone from strength to strength in Wales’ unbeaten start to this season’s Six Nations championship. He will start at tighthead prop when France play under the Friday night lights at the Principality Stadium, and Lee has been toiling away in the gym to help shunt Wales to success.
He said: “I knew it was going to be tough coming back from a big injury like that. But my calf strength is back and I’m feeling back to normal. You are always going to lose bulk and strength from your calf after tearing your achilles. I lost about three inches off my calf because I was using my right leg more than my left leg. I was hitting the weights, and trying to get that strength back, and both calves are the same size now.
“I did worry that I would not get the strength back. That was one of my biggest worries. I had two weeks off from the Scarlets to get the strength back. I had one major operation, I’ve got quite a big scar.”
France come to Cardiff defending a 100 percent record after battling victories over Italy and Ireland. A win for Wales would see them leapfrog Guy Noves’ side and setup a potential title deciding clash against England at Twickenham.
And 23-year-old Lee is hoping to build on the solid foundations Wales have laid in the victory over Scotland and draw in Ireland.
He said: “Our scrum has gone well for the first two weeks of the campaign, so I can’t see why we can’t put a good performance in against the French. They have big heavy packs, and they will have one of the strongest scrums we will come up against in the Six Nations. We’ve done well in the first two games so hopefully we can build on it this weekend.”
