Wales team to play France: Josh Navidi returns

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has named his team to face France at Principality Stadium on Friday 11 March (KO 8pm live on BBC and S4C).

Josh Navidi, who returned to the squad earlier this week following injury, is named at open-side flanker. He makes his first appearance for Wales since facing France in last year’s Six Nations, a match in which he scored his first Test try for his country.

Seb Davies is selected at blind-side flanker, his third start for Wales in this position and first appearance in the starting XV since the Australia match last autumn. Taulupe Faletau (number 8) completes the back row.

Starting his second match for Wales, Gareth Thomas is named at loose-head prop. He joins Ryan Elias (hooker) and Tomas Francis (tight-head prop) in the front row.

Wales’ back three remains unchanged with Josh Adams and Alex Cuthbert selected on the wings and Liam Williams named at fullback.

Francis and Adams have been managed clinically by Wales medical personnel in following all of the required return to play protocols, as specified in the World Rugby Regulations. Having suffered no adverse reactions and no complications in successfully completing each stage of the return to play protocols, both are available for selection.

For the fourth consecutive match Will Rowlands and Adam Beard continue in the second row, while Captain Dan Biggar is at fly half and Tomos Williams at scrum half.

Jonathan Davies comes in to partner Owen Watkin in the centre. Nick Tompkins has not been considered for selection as he sustained a concussion in Saracen’s victory over Leicester Tigers last Saturday.

Among the replacements, Dillon Lewis returns as tighthead cover and Louis Rees-Zammit is also named. Wyn Jones, Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan and Ross Moriarty are the other forward replacements. Kieran Hardy and Gareth Anscombe provide half back cover.