Six Nations 2022: Wales v France preview, team news and key stats

France is trying to win a first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2010 when they play Wales on Friday.

Their defence has also been transformed by the addition of Shaun Edwards.

Wales hopes of retaining their title are over after defeats by Ireland and England.

They could have done better with their former defence coach.

They can ill-afford to start the same way as they did against France, as they fell 17-0.

The last time these two teams met, France won 32-30 in Paris to deny Wales a Grand Slam, and the hosts will need to be firing on all cylinders if they are to contain the red-hot Six Nations favourites.

If France wins, they will face England in Paris on March 19 for the title and Grand Slam, while Wales will play Italy at home in their final match.

Team news

There are four changes from the side that lost to England.

After five months out with a shoulder problem, Josh Navidi is back in the side, while Seb Davies is starting at blind-side flanker.

Taine Basham is dropped and Ross Moriarty is on the bench.

Jonathan Davies starts at 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299

The captain of France injured his arm during training on Tuesday.

Damian Penaud, who tested positive for Covid-19, is replaced by Gabin Villiere in the starting XV, while Romain Taofifenua drops out of the match-day 23 because of coronaviruses.

• Your Wales XV to face France
• Six Nations Greatest: Try-scorers

Commentator's notes

Can Wales do it? Once the opening 50 or so minutes are out of the way, they have been improving. It may be important for the home team to show up before 9 pm on Friday.

Josh Navidi, a rather earthier player, comes into the back row, as does a mystery player named Seb Davies. It would be interesting to see what the French analysts thought of the new duo.

We are waiting for the surprise that always comes, but this goes against the form book.

View from both camps

We have a very experienced medical team who we think is world class.

The return-to-play protocols have been followed. They are very strict.

We went the extra mile in terms of Tomas and got an independent concussion specialist involved.

He has the history of the player, has looked at the footage of the match and understands the protocols of World Rugby, and he is supportive of the fact that the player has been cleared to be selected.

It is not something we lightly do, because a player's health and well-being is in the forefront of all these decisions.

Romain Taofifenua and Damian Penaud will not travel due to positive Covid-19 tests.

We had largely been spared that until now. We have the resources to fight against Wales.

We are waiting for information from the Six Nations Committee to find out if we will be retested.

It is brutal. We have to keep going and the guys coming in are ready.

Line-ups

Wales has 15-Liam Williams, 14-Cuthbert, 13-Watkin, 12-Jonathan Davies, 11-Adams, 10- Biggar, and 9-Tomos Williams.

Replacements: 16-Lake, 17-Wyn Jones, 18-Dillon Lewis, 19-Moriarty, 20-Jac Morgan, 21-Hardy, 22-Anscombe, and 23-Rees-Zammit.

France has 15-Jaminet, 14-Moefana, 13-Fickou, 12-Danty, 11-Villiere, 10-Ntamack, 9-Dupont, and 5-Willemse.

Replacements: 16-Mauvaka, 17-Gros, 18-Haouas, 19-Flament, 20-Cretin, 21-Lucu, 22-Ramos, and 23-Lebel.

Match facts

It's head-to-head.

• France have won their last three games against Wales in all competitions, having lost eight out of the previous nine.
• France recorded a 27-23 victory on their last Six Nations visit to Wales. It was their first win in Cardiff in the championship since 2010.
• Les Bleus could win consecutive games in Cardiff for the first time since triumphing in the first four away meetings of the Six Nations between 2000 and 2006.
• Six of the last seven encounters have been won by five points or fewer, at an average of just 2.5 points per victory. The anomaly was France's 38-21 victory in Paris in October 2020.

There is a country called Wales.

• Wales have won 10 of their last 11 matches at the Principality Stadium in the Six Nations. However, the only side to beat them during that run was France in February 2020
• Their line-out success rate of 83% is the lowest of any side in this Six Nations, having lost more line-outs (seven) than any other side so far. In 2021 they had the second best rate (91%), losing just six throws across the entire championship
• They have made more tackles on average per game (199) than any other side in this Six Nations

France.

• France have recorded 28 points or more in their last eight Tests, at an average of 33.8 per match
• They have won their last six Test matches. It's their best sequence of results since they recorded eight straight victories in 2004, which included a victory in Cardiff
• Les Bleus have trailed at half-time in just one of their last 31 Test matches, going into the break ahead on 27 occasions and level three times
• The last time they trailed after the opening half of a match was against Scotland in round four in March 2020

Match officials

Matthew Carley was the referee.

Jaco Peyper andAndrea Piardi are touch judges.

Tom Foley is an actor.