Six Nations 2024: Wales v France match preview, team news, kick-off time & how to follow on BBC

Wales host France in their penultimate Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday.

Warren Gatland's side are still seeking a first win of 2024 and victory would also end a run of five straight home defeats in this competition.

France's faint title hopes were extinguished a fortnight ago as they stumbled to a home draw with Italy.

The 2022 Grand Slam champions last finished outside the top two in 2019 and have picked a new-look side.

Head coach Fabien Galthie has made eight changes, selecting three debutants and a brand new half-back pairing.

But despite the overhaul, Les Bleus will be confident as they look to extend their five-match winning streak over Wales, a run which includes two four-point victories in the Welsh capital.

Warren Gatland's side have suffered 10 defeats in their last 11 Six Nations matches, but despite that there's growing optimism that they can arrest their current slump and move up the standings.

The absence of France star Antoine Dupont, who is focusing on sevens, could prove the difference.

• Captain Jenkins happy with positional change

• Gatland explains why he left out North & Tompkins

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Team news

Wales: The hosts make five changes, including a positional switch with captain Dafydd Jenkins starting at blind-side flanker for the first time.

Centres George North and Nick Tompkins have been dropped, with Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin coming in. Hooker Ryan Elias replaces Elliot Dee and Will Rowlands returns to partner Adam Beard in the second row.

France: Thomas Ramos switches from full-back to fly-half to cover for the injured Matthieu Jalibert, while captain Gregory Alldritt returns in the back row.

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

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

Commentator's notes

Andrew Cotter: A genuinely fascinating match is in prospect because so much is new and unfamiliar. No sentiment for Warren Gatland as he sweeps out his midfield of Tompkins and North to give Roberts only his second cap alongside Watkin, while captain Jenkins is given a rare outing at blind-side flanker with Will Rowlands in at lock.

As for France, injuries and suspension mean that stability of selection is a thing of the past.

Key for Wales will be trying to deal with the power of this French pack. Do that and there is reason to believe they could pull off an upset.

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View from both camps

Wales head coach Warren Gatland: "There's been no lack of motivation. I can't question the effort of these players. People are saying it's a challenge to get them up for the next game, but it's not a challenge at all.

"They understand the responsibility of putting on that jersey and going out. We're desperate to get that win."

France head coach Fabien Galthie: "We'll be better soon. We are going through a difficult time. We are in a period of resilience. It only increases my desire to succeed.

"Thomas Ramos is a leader. We bring him up to fly-half so that he can weigh in with his determination and his knowledge of the game."

Line-ups

Wales: 15-Winnett; 14-Adams, 13-Roberts, 12-Watkin, 11-Dyer; 10-Costelow, 9-T. Williams; 1-Thomas, 2-Elias, 3-Assiratti, 4-Rowlands, 5-Beard, 6-D. Jenkins (capt), 7-Reffell, 8-Wainwright.

Replacements: 16-Dee, 17-Domachowski, 18-Lewis, 19-Martin, 20-Mann, 21-Davies, 22-Lloyd, 23-Grady.

France: 15-Barre, 14-Penaud, 13-Fickou, 12-Depoortere, 11-Bielle-Biarrey; 10-Ramos, 9-Le Garrec; 1-Baille, 2-Marchand, 3-Atonio, 4-Flament, 5-Meafou, 6-Cros, 7-Ollivon, 8-Alldritt (capt).

Replacements: 16-Mauvaka, 17-S. Taofifenua, 18-Colombe, 19-R. Taofifenua, 20-Roumat, 21-Boudehent, 22-Lucu, 23-Moefana.

Match facts

Head-to-head

• France have won five consecutive Tests against Wales after winning just one of their nine previous meetings.

• The Welsh last tasted home Six Nations success against France in 2018 when they triumphed 14-13.

Wales

• Wales have lost 10 of their past 11 Six Nations games, last winning versus Italy in March 2023.

• They have also suffered five successive Six Nations defeats at home, their worst run since the tournament began in 2000.

France

• France have won nine of their last 12 away Six Nations matches (L3), including their contentious 20-16 victory at Murrayfield last month.

• Damian Penaud needs two tries to equal Serge Blanco's French Test record of 38.

Match officials

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

Touch judges: Andrew Brace (Ireland) & Damian Schneider (Australia)

TMO: Ian Tempest (England)