Let's face it, we all thought France would be competing for the title.

Now they're battling to avoid the wooden spoon!

This is one major World Cup hangover.

BBC Rugby Special pundits Sam Warburton and John Barclay discuss whether France are in crisis following their 13-13 draw at home to Italy in the Six Nations.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Lock Will Rowlands says Wales will relish "going toe-to-toe" with a juggernaut French pack today.

Rowlands knows what is coming after linking up with French Top 14 club Racing 92 following the World Cup.

The 32-year-old makes his first start of the tournament with captain Dafydd Jenkins switching to flanker.

"We've got a big team up-front, so bring it on," said Rowlands.

"The physical side of it is something I think we will be looking forward to going toe-to-toe with.

"France have a big team, but I think you've seen in the last few years that French rugby is about much more than just a physical threat.

"Rugby is much easier if you can get some go-forward. It's a self-fulfilling circle.

"It is something we are working on. We are trying to bring our best game to allow us to have physically-dominant moments."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Warren Gatland's Wales XV to face France features seven players who started against Les Bleus in Cardiff two years ago.

There are three backs and four forwards remaining from the line-up which began the 13-9 defeat at home to France in the 2022 Six Nations.

Can you recall the team picked 24 months ago by then head coach Wayne Pivac?

You have three minutes to name the side and to help out we have given you the number of caps and the date of their first Wales appearances for each player.

Remember to share your results on social media using #bbcrugby.

Take the quiz.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

The big talking point of the Wales selection was easily the omission of World Cup centre-pairing George North and Nick Tompkins.

But Warren Gatland said it was not a difficult decision for the Six Nations game.

"They (North and Tompkins) were outstanding during the World Cup," said Gatland.

"Again, it's a chance for us to look at a few other players."

North, 31, is Wales's most experienced Six Nations squad member with 120 caps and four World Cups behind him.

"George and I have had some honest discussions about whether he gets through to the next World Cup," said Gatland.

"He started at a very young age at 18 he was playing for Wales.

"Part of our discussions was about how we manage him going forward.

"We've got to make sure we've got some depth in that 13 position, that's why Joe gets an opportunity."

Gatland added: "I told Nick we're not unhappy with him, it's just a chance, after him the playing the first three games, to keep working on developing some depth in this squad."

The 155 caps total of Tompkins and North has been replaced by the new duo's total of 38 internationals with Watkin having 37 of those.

Gatland said: "I must say how the two boys have responded after the disappointment of being left out this week, they have been fantastic in the way they've trained and helped the team."

It doesn't matter who you are, how many caps you have or whatever reason is given, anyone is gutted at being dropped.

But defence coach Mike Forshaw says George North and Nick Tompkins, though disappointed, are fully supporting their replacements.

Image source, Getty Images

If you thought Wales had reshuffled their team, it's nothing compared to France who have changed more than half their team.

Fabien Galthie has made eight changes from the draw with Italy - including three Test debuts.

Thomas Ramos switches from full-back to fly-half to cover for the injured Matthieu Jalibert, while number eight Gregory Alldritt returns as captain.

Full-back Leo Barre, centre Nicolas Depoortere and lock Emmanuel Meafou will make their debuts in Cardiff.

Wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, lock Thibaud Flament and hooker Julien Marchand also start.

The new second-row partnership of Toulouse team-mates Meafou and Flament replaces Cameron Woki and Posolo Tuilagi, who is ruled out through illness.

New Zealand-born Meafou qualified for France on residency grounds in December after moving to Toulouse in 2018 from Australia.

Meafou has also been involved with Galthie's outfit over the last 12 months and was named in the original Six Nations squad but suffered a knee injury.

"He's a player we've been expecting for more than a year," said Galthie.

"It's the moment to thank the Australian federation for training him up and Toulouse, who managed to recruit him to give him a new chance to play rugby because in Australia he had it hard.

"Toulouse have made him the player he is today."

France: Barre; Penaud, Fickou, Depoortere, Bielle-Biarrey; Ramos, Le Garrc; Baille, Marchand, Atonio, Flament, Meafou, Cros, Ollivon, Alldritt (capt).

Replacements: Mauvaka, S Taofifenua, Colombe, R Taofifenua, Roumat, Boudehent, Lucu, Moefana.

Hooker Elliot Dee thought he would be on the bench today - but will now lead Wales out for his 50th cap as a starter following Ryan Elias' withdrawal.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales have been forced into a late change with hooker Ryan Elias withdrawing due to a hamstring problem.

That means Elliot Dee, who was originally dropped to the bench, will now start to win his 50th cap.

In contrast, Cardiff's uncapped hooker Evan Lloyd is called up to the replacements for a potential Test debut.

Elsewhere, Wales have changed their centre partnership with Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin replacing World Cup pairing George North and Nick Tompkins.

They are among three changes to the side beaten by Ireland, along with a positional switch that sees captain Dafydd Jenkins start at blind-side flanker for the first time in his professional career.

Lock Will Rowlands, who plays his club rugby in France with Racing 92, starts for the first time since the World Cup alongside Adam Beard in the second row.

Scrum-half Gareth Davies is recalled to the bench.

"There are a few changes to the team this week as there are some players that deserve an opportunity," said Warren Gatland.

"It'll be a tough, physical challenge from France on Sunday particularly up front.

"We know they will start hard and it's about us staying in the fight, having good line speed defensively and keeping our discipline. We're looking for an 80 minute performance.

"We're excited to be back at home for our last two matches in front of a passionate Welsh crowd."

Wales: Winnett; Adams, Roberts, Watkin, Dyer; Costelow, Tomos Williams; Thomas, Elias, Assiratti, Rowlands, Beard, D Jenkins (capt), Reffell, Wainwright.

Replacements:Dee, Domachowski, Lewis, Martin, Mann, Davies, Lloyd, Grady.

Hello and welcome to Cardiff where Wales host France in the final game of this thrilling Six Nations weekend.

The title race will go to the final weekend after England wrecked Ireland's hopes of back-to-back Grand Slams.

And after Italy's nail-biting victory over Scotland in Rome, today's clash at the Principality Stadium is now a Six Nations basement battle.

These are two teams desperate for a victory, albeit for very different reasons, so the action under the roof promises to be red hot.

But first, let's have a look at the two teams.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency