Gwyn Jones: Wayne Pivac is ruthless, bold and just made Wales more threatening

I like the changes Wayne Pivac has made for the monumentally difficult game against France. They are positive selections, designed to make Wales a more threatening side.

France are averaging 34 points a game in this Six Nations, having put 40 points on New Zealand in the autumn. There is no sign they are slowing down.

For Wales to have any chance of winning Friday night they will need to score a lot of points, and they look like a side far more capable of throwing a few shots at the opposition than they did at the beginning of the campaign.

International rugby is in transition, its focus is on scoring tries.

Teams are declining easy shots at goal in favour of lineouts and tries. All three of Wales’ tries against England originated from lineouts five metres out as a result of penalties.

Wales’ only two other tries in the tournament came from a driving lineout and an interception.

Pivac's side are a bit laboured in possession further out, as if they are going through phases waiting to get a penalty to put them in position.

France’s defence and discipline may not be that charitable and so Wales will have to be more willing to create chances from halfway if the penalties are not forthcoming.

To do this, Wales need players that can carry with dynamism, control the collisions, enabling offloads or quick rucks. This is the only way to slow down France’s defensive line.

Pivac’s selections look bold, but we should not be surprised. He presents himself as a calm and pleasant head coach but that belies a ruthlessness that is never far from his thinking.

Last season, he replaced his long term defence coach Byron Hayward without ceremony, he bombed Adam Beard out of the squad, he dropped Rhys Webb for Kieran Hardy, which was a shock