Six Nations 2024: Wales make five changes to team to face France

Joe Roberts will make his Six Nations debut against France

Wales have changed their centre partnership to face France in the Six Nations on Sunday in Cardiff.

Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin replace World Cup pairing George North and Nick Tompkins, who have been dropped.

They are among five changes to the side beaten by Ireland, including a positional switch that sees captain Dafydd Jenkins start at blind-side flanker for the first time.

Lock Will Rowlands and hooker Ryan Elias are also promoted to start.

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.

Scarlets hooker Elias replaces Dee, who is now set to win his 50th Wales cap from the replacements bench where is joined by recalled Gareth Davies.

Centre changes

Tompkins and North have been Wales' established midfield partnership in the past year but have been left out of the matchday squad completely in a surprise move by Warren Gatland.

Scarlets centre Roberts, 23, will make his Six Nations debut in only his second Test appearance, after wining his first Wales cap against England in their World Cup warm-up defeat at Twickenham last summer.

Both of the new centres missed out on World Cup selection, but Roberts offers a left-foot kicking option in midfield while Watkin returned to start the Six Nations opener against Scotland.

• Wales aim to exploit 'massive' Dupont absence

• The changes Wales fans wanted to see

• What we have learned about Wales in the Six Nations

North, who missed that opening game through injury, has been one of Gatland's more impressive performers during the Six Nations.

The Ospreys centre, the third most capped player in Welsh rugby history, has a combined 155 caps with Tompkins, compared to 38 between Watkin and Roberts.

"Nick and George have been spoken to. They were disappointed, which I get, [but] they firmly believe in what we are doing," said assistant coach Mike Forshaw.

"There is always a risk in every selection [but] we need to look at Joe. He's a really promising young 13 and was unlucky not to go to the World Cup [and] Owen Watkin has a lot of experience.

"We just felt if we were going to have a look, this was the game to do it."

Back-row reshuffle

Dafydd Jenkins switches from second-row to flanker

Jenkins has never started a professional game at six for either Exeter Chiefs or Wales, but Gatland will be looking for a more physical presence in the back row.

James Botham began the tournament in the number six jersey but suffered a knee injury against Scotland and was replaced by Cardiff team-mate Mann for the next two matches, scoring in both.

The 22-year-old has emerged as a rising star for Wales but has been unable to take part in training over the past two weeks due to several minor injuries.

"I don't think it's a risk with Daf at six," said Forshaw.

"He's around two very smart back-rowers and Will Rowlands played 70 minutes on the weekend in Paris. I saw glimpses of him getting back to his best. I think it's a good fit for us this week."

Christ Tshiunza has been missing for the last four months with a broken foot but makes his return this (Wednesday) evening in a friendly for Exeter.

'Players deserve opportunity'

Wales have lost 10 out of their last 11 Six Nations games including three in this year's tournament.

They are battling to avoid their first Six Nations wooden spoon in 21 years with a home match to finish the tournament against Italy on Saturday, 16 March.

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

• KEEP UP WITH THE ACTION: Matches, highlights and analysis from Wales at the Six Nations

• FOR THE LOVE OF SPORT: The biggest names in Welsh sport and the stories behind them