Warren Gatland holds live Wales press conference to explain decisions as France name team

Warren Gatland has stood by his decision to drop Nick Tompkins and George North from his Wales team and name a new midfield partnership of Owen Watkin and Joe Roberts for the visit of France on Sunday.

The coach hailed centres Tompkins and North as "outstanding" as he faced the media on Friday, but claimed it was not a difficult decision to replace them with Watkin and Roberts as his side search for their first win of the Six Nations. The latter will win just his second ever Wales cap this weekend, having made his debut last summer, but Gatland says he was keen to hand him an opportunity despite the stakes being high in Cardiff.

"I just wanted to give Joe an opportunity," he said. "He was unlucky with the World Cup. He had a knee injury and was probably just unable to handle the volume. He’s been training well and we feel it’s a chance for him. Nick has started the first three games so we wanted to see Owen at 12.

"We’ve spoken to the two boys about their roles. It’s not just about how they play, but how they’re vocal and how they communicate to the 10."

Asked if it was hard to leave Tompkins and North out, Gatland added: "No it wasn’t. I thought they were outstanding during the World Cup. It’s a chance for other players. I spoke to Nick and said I thought he was outstanding. This is why you want players in Wales, having that continuity. I’m not saying that’s the reason why. I must say how the two boys have responded after being left out has been fantastic. They’ve been outstanding."

As well as the new midfield partnership, Gatland has also moved captain Dafydd Jenkins from the second row to the unfamiliar role of blindside flanker - a position he has never started in during his entire senior rugby career. That move allows