Wales team to face France in Six Nations

Wales head coach Warren Gatland

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made seven changes to the starting line-up for Saturday's Six Nations finale against France in Cardiff.

Captain Alun Wyn Jones returns to lead the side after being rested for last weekend's victory over Italy, while the likes of full-back Leigh Halfpenny, centre Scott Williams, fly-half Dan Biggar and flanker Josh Navidi also feature.

Victory for Wales - they are unbeaten at home against France since 2010 - is likely to secure the Six Nations runners-up spot behind champions Ireland.

Biggar returns in the number 10 shirt, taking over from Gareth Anscombe after the 38-14 win against Italy.

Williams, meanwhile, is in for Owen Watkin, with prop Rob Evans and hooker Ken Owens also returning to action.

There is no place in the starting XV for blindside flanker Aaron Shingler, though, with Justin Tipuric continuing at number six alongside back-row colleagues Navidi and Taulupe Faletau.

Exeter prop Tomas Francis is retained, with Samson Lee, who missed the Italy game due to illness, named among the replacements on a bench that also includes Anscombe, Shingler and Scarlets wing Steff Evans.

Gatland said: "Saturday is a huge opportunity for us to finish the campaign well at home in front of our fans.

"France will be coming to Cardiff in good spirits after their victory over England last weekend, so it is set to be a huge encounter.

"There have been some tough selection calls, but that is exactly what we want.

"We want to be in a position where there are selections and decisions to be made, and we have had to make some tough ones this weekend.

"We have picked a team and a squad we believe can deliver this weekend against France."

Wales team to play France

FORWARDS: 1 Rob Evans (Scarlets), 2 Ken Owens (Scarlets), 3 Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), 4 Cory Hill (Dragons), 5 Alun Wyn Jones (CAPTAIN, Ospreys), 6 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), 7 Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), 8 Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby)

BACKS: 9 Gareth Davies (Scarlets), 10 Dan Biggar (Ospreys), 11 Liam Williams (Saracens), 12 Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), 13 Scott Williams (Scarlets), 14 George North (Northampton Saints), 15 Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets)

REPLACEMENTS: 16 Elliot Dee (Dragons), 17 Nicky Smith (Ospreys), 18 Samson Lee (Scarlets), 19 Bradley Davies (Ospreys), 20 Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), 21 Aled Davies (Scarlets), 22 Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), 23 Steff Evans (Scarlets)

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