Wales v France - Preview

Winger Alex Cuthbert replaces Tom James in one of three Wales changes to the starting XV.

The other changes come in the pack, as flanker Dan Lydiate replaces Justin Tipuric and Bradley Davies stands in for injured lock Luke Charteris.

Winger Djibril Camara makes his debut in one of five changes for France.

Scrum-half Maxime Machenaud, flanker Antoine Burban, lock Paul Jedrasiak and prop Rabah Slimani are the other four fresh faces for Les Bleus.

Warren Gatland

"Everyone talks about French flair and where has the French flair gone? In the past, they had absolute world-class quality players in attack.

"The reason is not so much French flair any more - it's not because they haven't got the players - it's just teams defensively are so organised. There is just no space on the field.

"You get breaks in the game. They are made by someone missing a tackle or someone making a system error - that's where the breaks are. At this level, not many players make mistakes any more and not many players miss tackles.

"Where's the flair gone? Well, we are all trying to be innovative and hopefully trying to create space, but the more you try to be creative in attack, the better teams become defensively as well."

Head-to-head

Wales have won their last four Tests against France. This is their best run since they won six in succession between 1952-1957.

France's last win over Wales came in the World Cup semi-final in 2011. They won 9-8 as Wales had Sam Warburton sent off.

Brice Dulin's try in last year's encounter was the first France had scored against Wales since their 28-9 win in the Six Nations in 2011.

Wales

Wales are unbeaten in their last six Six Nations games (W5 D1), their best run since winning eight in a row between 2007-09.

France have won three Six Nations matches in a single tournament once in the last four years (2014).

They have lost on their last four trips to the Principality Stadium - this includes two games in the 2015 World Cup against Ireland and New Zealand.

France have had the most carries (224) and made the most metres (795) in the 2016 tournament.

Wales

Liam Williams, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Scott Baldwin, Samson Lee, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (capt), Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Justin Tipuric, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Anscombe.

France

Maxime Medard, Vrimi Vakatawa, Maxime Mermoz, Jonathan Danty, Djbril Camara, Jules Plisson, Maxime Machenaud; Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado (capt), Rabah Slimani, Paul Jedrasiak, Alexandre Flanquart, Wencelsas Lauret, Antoine Burban, Damien Chouly.

Replacements: Camille Chat, Uini Atonio, Vincent Pelo, Yoann Maestri, Loann Goujon, Sebastien Bezy, Francois Trinh-Duc, Gael Fickou.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

Touch judges: JP Doyle (RFU) & Luke Pearce (RFU)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (SARU)

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From from The Top - JPR Williams

“No leadership, no ideas. Not even enough imagination to thump someone in the line-up when the ref wasn’t looking.”

J.P.R. Williams 1984 on Wales losing 28-9 against Australia

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Warburton Agrees Rolland Red Right

Wales captain Sam Warburton says referee Alain Rolland was right to send him off for a tip tackle in the 9-8 World Cup semi-final defeat by France.

The incident sparked controversy with Rolland accused of being too harsh.

"The IRB [International Rugby Board] said if you lift up a player and drop him it's a red card, and that's exactly what I did," said Warburton.

"I can't complain. There was no point in appealing against it and I didn't have a leg to stand on really."

Immediately after the event, and since the tournament ended, Wales coach Warren Gatland has maintained that Rolland should have sent Warburton to the sin-bin instead of banishing him in the 18th minute.

In the post-match press conference Cardiff Blues star Warburton, 23, said: "I'm obviously gutted, but there was no malicious intent.

"I felt like as soon as it hit him [wing Vincent Clerc] his bodyweight took control of what happened."

I would love to hold on to it [the Wales captaincy] after enjoying it at the World Cup Sam WarburtonWales and Cardiff Blues open-side

But as he nears a return to action following a three-week ban and post-tournament rest, Warburton admitted Rolland made the correct decision.

"I didn't intend to do anything like that and I had only had a yellow card in my career up until that point so it was a shock to get a red," said Waburton.

"But there was nothing I could do and I just had to support the boys for the rest of that match and the remaining game against Australia."

Rolland will not take charge of any Wales games during the 2012 Six Nations, in which Warburton will be vying with Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees for the captaincy.

Warburton took over from neck-injury victim Rees ahead of the tournament in New Zealand.

Scarlets hooker Rees has stated he wants to reclaim the captain's armband for their rematch with Australia in Cardiff on Saturday, 3 December and the Six Nations that follows.

Warburton understands Rees's ambitions and said: "If it was offered to me again I would take it, but Matthew did a great job during the Six Nations so I would understand if they want to give it back to him.

"But personally I would love to hold on to it after enjoying it at the World Cup."

Fellow Wales squad members Jamie Roberts, Gethin Jenkins, Bradley Davies, Lloyd Burns and Aled Brew will be in action when the Blues face Newport Gwent Dragons in the Pro12 League on Friday.

But Warburton will have to sit out the Welsh derby as he serves the finals stages of his ban.

Warburton Hit with Three Week Ban

Wales captain Sam Warburton has been handed a three-week ban for his dangerous tackle on France winger Vincent Clerc on Saturday.

Irish referee Alain Rolland acted immediately to red card Warburton after the flanker lifted and dumped Clerc in the 18th minute of the semi-final at Eden Park.

And independent judicial officer, Christopher Quinlan QC (England), determined Rolland's actions to be appropriate in law and the action in line with IRB directives which states that such tackles "must be dealt with severely by referees and those involved in the off-field disciplinary process".

However Quinlan did take into account that "there were no aggravating features and there were compelling on-field and/or off-field mitigating features" to hand out a reduced sentence - with the offence having an entry point of six weeks.

With France going on to win 9-8 and reach the final, Warburton will now miss Friday's third-placed play-off and be free to play again on November 7.

WRU chief executive Roger Lewis said: "We are disappointed with the decision to suspend Wales captain Sam Warburton from the game for three weeks, following his red card dismissal in the Rugby World Cup semi-final against France in Auckland.

"The WRU respects the process which has been followed and understands the disciplinary procedures in place.

"Our focus in now totally upon the, forthcoming, third place play-off international, which will be played at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.

"The WRU further wishes to state its unequivocal support for Sam Warburton as a role model and exemplary captain who has led Wales to formidable success in the competition so far."

Warburton added: "I am naturally disappointed with the outcome, but now my job is to focus entirely on supporting the boys in their preparations for Friday's match."