The Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made six changes to his team for Saturday’s Six Nations fixture against France in Paris.
Louis Rees-Zammit replaces full-back Liam Williams, who suffered a shoulder injury during the 29-17 victory over Italy last Saturday, while there are also starts for centres George North and Nick Tompkins, plus fly-half Dan Biggar, lock Alun Wyn Jones and flanker Aaron Wainwright.
North and Tompkins are preferred to the inexperienced combination of Mason Grady and Joe Hawkins, with Biggar replacing Owen Williams and Jones starting instead of Dafydd Jenkins.
Wainwright takes over from Jac Morgan, who suffered an ankle injury in training. The No 8 Taulupe Faletau will win his 100th cap, joining fellow Welsh centurions Jones, North, Biggar, Gethin Jenkins, Stephen Jones, Gareth Thomas and Martyn Williams. “France last weekend put in probably one of the best performances seen in a long, long time,” said Gatland. “They are the No 2 team in the world, they bring a really physical approach to the way they play and they have tended to start well. “We have got to go out there and start well, make sure we are in that arm-wrestle with them and give ourselves that opportunity.” On Faletau reaching 100 caps, Gatland said: “Toby has been a fantastic servant for Welsh rugby.