Wales went the extra mile to make sure Tomas Francis was ready – Wayne Pivac

Wayne Pivac says that Wales have "gone the extra mile" in involving an independent concussion specialist surrounding detailed assessment of prop Tomas Francis.

Francis, who suffered a head injury midway through the first half of Wales' defeat against England at Twickenham 11 days ago, will start Friday’s Guinness Six Nations appointment with France in Cardiff.

Television footage showed Francis staggering following a clash of heads with team-mate Owen Watkin. He was subsequently removed from the pitch for a head injury assessment that he passed before returning and playing until the 56th minute.

Player welfare lobby group Progressive Rugby wrote an open letter to World Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union and Six Nations last week expressing its concern over an episode currently being reviewed by Six Nations Rugby.

Progressive Rugby said Francis should have been immediately and permanently removed following the collision under World Rugby’s HIA protocol.

And Professor John Fairclough, a leading surgeon who has previously worked with the Welsh Rugby Union, said it would be "a grave mistake" if Francis was selected to face France.

Wing Josh Adams, who also suffered a head knock against England, joins Francis in the starting XV.

After selecting a team showing four changes to face the unbeaten tournament leaders, Wales head coach Pivac said: "I just want to point out that we have got a very, very experienced medical team who we think are world-class.

"The follow-up protocols they go through, their return-to-play protocols are quite clearly set by World Rugby. Those have been followed.

"At each stage of that process, both players have come through fine. As a result, we have gone the extra mile in terms of Tomas Francis and got an independent