Wales’ Team Ready to Face France Without Taulupe Faletau
The Welsh rugby team is gearing up to face France without Taulupe Faletau in their Six Nations opener in Paris. While Josh Adams and Liam Williams are set to make their return to the Test squad after missing parts of 2024, Faletau will not be part of the lineup. Faletau, who last played for Wales in 2023, was initially considered for the match, but head coach Warren Gatland decided to exclude him from the squad.
In a bid to strengthen the team, Gatland has put his faith in experienced players. The midfield will see the pairing of Nick Tompkins and Owen Watkin, who collectively have 80 caps but have only started together four times for Wales. Scarlets centre Joe Roberts, a potential option at outside centre, is reportedly unavailable for the Paris clash.
The upcoming match will also see first starts for front-rowers Henry Thomas and Evan Lloyd. Despite both players having earned all their caps from the bench, Gatland has chosen to start them, though there are concerns over prop Keiron Assiratti’s fitness due to a back spasm. In the second-row, Dafydd Jenkins makes a return to the team alongside Will Rowlands.
The backline will feature Ben Thomas at fly-half, with Tomos Williams returning at scrum-half after missing part of the autumn season due to injury. Tom Rogers joins the back-three alongside Adams and Williams following a standout performance in the autumn campaign. Gatland has opted for experience in most positions, with 487 caps in the starting XV for the match against France.
The squad for the France match shows a significant shake-up from the team that faced South Africa at the end of the autumn internationals. With only three survivors from that match, Gatland is looking to turn the team’s fortunes around after a string of defeats. The current lineup boasts double the number of caps compared to last year’s Six Nations opener, providing a wealth of experience.
On the bench, Freddie Thomas and Tommy Reffell are set to provide cover for the second-row and back-row, respectively, while Dan Edwards could make his debut as an Ospreys fly-half. The Welsh team for the Paris clash is as follows: Liam Williams; Tom Rogers, Owen Watkin, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams; Ben Thomas, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Evan Lloyd, Henry Thomas, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, James Botham, Jac Morgan (captain), Aaron Wainwright. Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Keiron Assiratti, Freddie Thomas, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Dan Edwards, Blair Murray.
As Wales prepares to take on France, Gatland will be looking to kick off the Six Nations on a positive note and set the stage for a successful campaign. With a mix of seasoned players and fresh talent, the Welsh team will be aiming to make their mark in Paris and lay down a marker for the tournament ahead.