Scarlets duo Joe Hawkins and Eddie James will link up in the Wales midfield for Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with France at the Principality Stadium (15:10; BBC & S4C).
Hawkins has been brought into the side as one of four personnel and two positional changes to the starting line-up following last weekend’s disappointing loss to England at Twickenham in the Championship opener.
The pair combined impressively for the Scarlets in the Champions Cup tie in Northampton last month and the dramatic late URC win over Ulster a week later.
They are joined in the team by Ellis Mee, who retains his place on the right wing.
With Leicester’s Olly Cracknell drafted into a reshuffled back row, Scarlets skipper Josh Macleod misses out.
Hooker Ryan Elias, who last played during the 2024 Autumn Nations Series, is set to win his 45th cap after being named among the replacements along with back-rower Taine Plumtree.
Head coach Steve Tandy said: “There are a few changes for this week. A lot of it is based on who we are playing and then Olly Cracknell has done a full training week this week and also played really well in the autumn.
“We were bitterly disappointed with the performance last week. We’ve addressed it in meetings. The boys were open and honest around the fact that we didn’t put ourselves on the game. We felt we played into England’s hands a little bit and obviously the discipline was hugely disappointing. It’s a massive lesson for us. It’s something we need to correct and put more of our game out on the field on Sunday.”
On this being Wales’ first home game of the Six Nations Tandy added: “We’re excited to get back to Principality Stadium. We had four games in the autumn and the crowd was incredible. I know I’ve spoken a lot about the New Zealand game – the crowd, the energy it brought and the response from players. The supporters mean a huge amount to us and they do inspire the players. Our aim on the weekend is to inspire the fans too.”
Wales team to play France at the Principality Stadium
15 Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears); 14 Ellis Mee (Scarlets), 13 Eddie James (Scarlets), 12 Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), 11 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby); 10 Dan Edwards (Ospreys), 9 Tomos Williams (Gloucester); 1 Rhys Carre (Saracens), 2 Dewi Lake (Ospreys), 3 Tomas Francis (Provence Rugby), 4 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), 5 Adam Beard (Montpellier), 6 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), 7 Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby), 8 Olly Cracknell (Leicester Tigers).
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias (Scarlets), 17 Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), 18 Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby), 19 Ben Carter (Dragons), 20 Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), 21 Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), 22 Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), 23 Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby).