Five Scarlets named for Grand Slam Paris date

Rob Lloyd News

Five Scarlets have been named in Wales’s Grand-Slam chasing starting XV to take on France in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations showdown in Paris (20:00 UK time).

Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Gareth Davies, Wyn Jones and Ken Owens are included in a side showing just one change from the win over Italy last time out.

Ospreys lock Adam Beard replaces Cory Hill, who drops to the bench and takes the place of Scarlets second row Jake Ball, who won his 50th cap in Rome.

“We are four from four to date but know this weekend will be a great challenge against a very good French side, but we are looking forward to it,” said Wales head coach Wayne Pivac.

“We know we need to step up from our previous performances and we want to end the tournament with a performance we know we are capable of.

“We have had great continuity in selection throughout the tournament and that is shown once again with the selection for Saturday.”

WALES TEAM TO PLAY FRANCE (SATURDAY MARCH 22 KO 20.00 BBC & S4C)

15. Liam Williams (Scarlets); 14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester), 13. George North (Ospreys), 12. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), 11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues); 10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), 9. Gareth Davies (Scarets); 1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets) 2. Ken Owens (Scarlets) 3. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) 4. Adam Beard (Ospreys) 5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), 6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), 7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath).

Replacements: 16. Elliot Dee (Dragons), 17. Nicky Smith (Ospreys), 18 Leon Brown (Dragons), 19. Cory Hill (Cardiff Blues), 20 James Botham (Cardiff Blues), 21 Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues), 22 Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears), 23 Uilisi Halaholo (Cardiff Blues)