Jittery Wales present easy pickings as France hope for Six Nations miracle

W hile Dublin rocks to the twin highs of St Patrick’s weekend and the build-up to a shot at grand slam glory against shell-shocked England, Paris may or may not pause its civil unrest to celebrate the returning heroes who rendered the English thus. The pension age is exercising French politicians and protesters at the moment, but their rugby team plays as if retirement is the last of their concerns.

Meanwhile Wales arrive after their first win of the Six Nations, in round four, against Italy. Bonus-point wins in Rome are not to be sniffed at these days, but rarely has a side claimed one after being so outplayed. Wales have veered between youth and experience this championship, making 25 changes, more than six a match on average, as the veterans give way to the tyros who give way to the veterans.

Alun Wyn Jones, all 157 Wales caps of him, is one of three returning centurions. Wales boast 997 caps in their starting lineup – which is second only to the 1,013 caps fielded by New Zealand for their opener against Argentina at the 2015 World Cup – although the 952 Wales fielded for the opener against Ireland might be deemed relatively more experienced, given there have been four sets of caps handed out since.

The main difference between that team and this, caps-wise, is the replacement at full-back of Liam Williams with Louis Rees-Zammit. The former was injured against Italy, but the latter is playing his way back from an injury of his own and starts at full-back for the third time in his Wales career.

George North and Dan Biggar return more than 100 caps each to the party. North teams up with Nick Tompkins in the centre to replace the youngsters Joe Hawkins and Mason Grady. Aaron Wainwright is the sixth change to the team