Team v Les Bleus

[pompey-zebra]

Looks like an attempt to shore up the midfield defence, and not many alternatives in the centre if Hawkins and Grady weren't selected.

[Numbers]

Wales XV to face France

Wales: 15. Louis Rees-Zammit, 14. Josh Adams, 13. George North, 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Rio Dyer, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Rhys Webb, 1. Wyn Jones, 2. Ken Owens, 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Adam Beard, 5. Alun Wyn Jones, 6. Aaron Wainwright, 7. Justin Tipuric, 8. Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: 16. Bradley Roberts, 17. Gareth Thomas, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Dafydd Jenkins, 20. Tommy Reffell, 21. Tomos Williams, 22. Owen Williams, 23. Leigh Halfpenny.

Nice to see Bradley Roberts on the bench, hopefully he can offer some good impact, that's pretty much the team I ould have selected tbh with the swapping of Tips and Reffell of course

[Numbers]

We could have had a 6/2 split on the bench for this one with Williams covering 10 & 12, I can't really see the point of having 1/2p on the bench he's not an impact player.

[Sandydragon]

We could have had a 6/2 split on the bench for this one with Williams covering 10 & 12, I can't really see the point of having 1/2p on the bench he's not an impact player.

Better to have started him and put LRZ on the bench for impact. Don't understand that personally, nor do I really get the idea of Reffell on the bench.

But, this isn't a surprising selection. Its a huge ask and experience could be useful. We just can't play harum sacrum at the moment so its about damage limitation I suspect.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Back to experience. I don't agree with all of it but at least we now have experienced players in the centre.

LRZ did go fairly well against Argentina at FB although they didn't really test our defence that much - our tackle success rate was 92℅ for the team (those were the days!).

Really disappointing that Gatland has failed to get Keiran Williams a second on pitch during the 6N. Why call him up at all? Patchell too, wasted. But hey, back to Biggar.

Anyway, as we expect a heavy defeat remember that we only lost by 4 points last year.

[Sandydragon]

Back to experience. I don't agree with all of it but at least we now have experienced players in the centre.

LRZ did go fairly well against Argentina at FB although they didn't really test our defence that much - our tackle success rate was 92℅ for the team (those were the days!).

Really disappointing that Gatland has failed to get Keiran Williams a second on pitch during the 6N. Why call him up at all? Patchell too, wasted. But hey, back to Biggar.

Anyway, as we expect a heavy defeat remember that we only lost by 4 points last year.

It will be interesting to see (kind of) how much of our porous defence last week was down to the system and how much was down to individual players. Grady and Hawkins are both young and will make mistakes, but I don't get a sense that the system is working entirely as it should at the moment (helped by a lot of crossing it must be said).

[francoisfou]

Here's your opposition:
15. Ramos ; 14. Penaud, 13. Fickou, 12. Danty, 11. Dumortier ; 10. Ntamack, Dupont (cap.) ; 7. Ollivon, 8. Alldritt, 6. Cros ; 5. Taofifenua, 4. Flament ; 3. Atonio, 2. Marchand, 1. Baille

16. Mauvaka, 17. Wardi, 18 . Falatea, 19. Chalureau, 20. Macalou, 21. Lucu, 22. Moefana, 23. Jaminet

There are a couple of changes from the team that stuffed England; the big Saffa 2nd row Willemse is injured and is replaced by the equally big Taofifenua, and Uini Atonio (who was banned after being cited in the Irish match) is back at tight head and Chalureau takes Taofifenua's bench spot.
Only one result here and the bookies will only be interested in the victory margin - but stranger things have been known to happen!