Six Nations 2022: Wales make four changes to face France

Wales have brought in two new players in the back row in order to face France in the Six Nations.

Davies is normally a lock, but he has just been called up after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Centre Jonathan Davies is included for concussion victim Nick Tompkins.

Tomas Francis, who suffered a head injury against England, has been included in the Wales team.

Centre Owen Watkin and Josh Adams have recovered from head knocks.

After Francis collided with Watkin during the England game, Wales was warned against picking him.

Television footage showed Francis staggering after a clash of heads, and he appeared to lean on the post pads for support.

The 29-year-old was removed from the pitch for a head injury assessment, but returned and played until the 56th minute.

A player welfare lobby group wrote an open letter to World Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union and the Six Nations last week expressing its concern over the episode, which is currently being reviewed by Six Nations Rugby.

Professor John Fairclough, a leading surgeon who has previously worked with the WRU, said he felt it would be a grave mistake if Wales selected Francis.

According to a WRU statement, Tomas Francis and Josh Adams have been managed clinically by Wales medical personnel in following all of the required return-to-play protocols.

Both of the return-to-play protocols have not suffered any adverse reactions and are available for selection.

Back row reshuffle

Ross and Taine Dragons Basham were the flankers for the game.

After coming on as a replacement, Davies finished the game in the blind-side flanker role.

A hybrid lock and flanker who can wear the number six jersey is what Pivac is looking for.

Davies played at number eight for Wales.

He played his first game in almost five months last Friday.

The open-side flanker role was shared by Basham and Jac Morgan in the first three Six Nations games.

Josh has played well for us in the past and is a fantastic player.

Having 80 minutes under his belt for Cardiff, we think that's enough for him and we look forward to him being back out there.

He is a very good player and has played at this level many times so that will be great for us.

Stub at six gives us a little bit more. It helps the line-out, but also in the wider channels where he often runs, he has the skills to trouble a few defenders out wide.

Basham dropped out of the match-day squad and was replaced by Moriarty on the replacements bench.

The player who sustained a concussion in the victory overLeicester has not been considered for selection.

Welsh prop Thomas has been preferred over British and Irish Lion Wyn Jones.

I think he made a big impact for us last week, as did a number of players, and so he gets to start.

Wyn will finish the game instead of starting it.

Fabien Galthie's side are the only team left in the tournament with a perfect record and are on the verge of a Grand Slam and Six Nations title.

Wales: L Williams; Watkin, J Davies, Adams, Biggar (capt), T Williams, G Thomas, Elias, Francis, Rowlands, Beard, S Davies, Navidi, Faletau.

Replacements: Lake, W Jones, D Lewis, Moriarty, J Morgan, and Anscombe.