Dan Biggar, George North, Alun Wyn Jones, Nick Tompkins, Aaron Wainwright, Louis Rees-Zammit started for Wales vs France in Paris at the Stade de France in Round 5 of the Six Nations on Saturday (2:45 kick off p.m); Warren Gatland makes at least five changes for the fourth straight game
George North enters as one of six substitutions for Wales to face France in the Six Nations
Warren Gatland has once again made several changes to Wales, making six squad changes to face France in Paris for their final Six Nations clash.
Seasoned trio Dan Biggar, George North and Alun Wyn Jones are called up at flywheel, outside center and second row respectively, while Saracens center Nick Tompkins, Dragons wing Aaron Wainwright and Gloucester running back Louis Rees-Zammit, also incorporated: the latter as a winger.
Biggar replaces Owen Williams, who falls to the bench, while young center pairing Mason Grady and Joe Hawkins are dropped from the team by North and Tompkins.
Dan Biggar returns to start at number 10, with Owen Williams on the bench
Dafydd Jenkins moves to the bench as Lock Jones heads straight into the starting XV once more, while Wainwright replaces Jac Morgan and Rees-Zammit replaces the injured Liam Williams (shoulder). Morgan is also not part of the 23-man roster.
Having made five changes after a 34-10 Round 1 loss to Ireland, then nine changes to the squad that suffered a 35-7 Round 2 loss to Scotland at Murrayfield for England’s visit to Cardiff, and another six changes from the 20 -10 loss at home to England for the trip to Rome, Gatland sounds the changes again.
Louis Rees-Zammit starts again as a winger at the Stade de France
Taulupe Faletau will earn his 100th Test cap for Wales at number 8, while Leigh Halfpenny is remembered to sit among the replacements.
Forwards Josh Adams and Rio Dyer complete the back row with Rees-Zammit, while Rhys Webb keeps his place at scrum half to start alongside Biggar.
The front row is unchanged with Wyn Jones as loose head, skipper Ken Owens as hooker and Tomas Francis as tight head, while Adam Beard joins Jones on the second row.
Alun Wyn Jones, who has been in and out of the team during this championship, returns to start
Justin Tipuric joins Wainwright and Faletau in the starting lineup, with Tommy Reffell back in the dugout cover.
“Last weekend it was really important for us to get a Six Nations win and build a bit of confidence. It was a step in the right direction, but we still have a lot to work on,” Gatland said.
“We’ve worked hard on some things in terms of correcting some of the defensive mistakes that we’ve made and getting things right. We are still working hard on our attack.
Number 8 Taulupe Faletau will win his 100th test cap for Wales
“I think France last weekend put in probably one of the best performances seen in a long, long time. They are the number two team in the world. They bring a really physical approach to the way they play and have tended to start well
“So that’s what’s important. We’ve got to go out there and start off right, make sure we’re in that fight with them and give ourselves that opportunity.”
“They’re a team that kicks the ball a lot, so we also have to make sure our backfield is good and we have to be good in the air.”
Welsh: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit, 14 Josh Adams, 13 George North, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Wyn Jones, 2 Ken Owens (c), 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Adam Beard, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Roberts, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Dafydd Jenkins, 20 Tommy Refell, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Leigh Halfpenny.
