Wales hook James back in
James Hook has reclaimed the fly-half jersey from Stephen Jones for the Six Nations Grand Slam showdown with France on Saturday.
James Hook has reclaimed the fly-half jersey from Stephen Jones for Wales' Six Nations Grand Slam showdown with France at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Jones started Wales' last two victories over Italy and Ireland but head coach Warren Gatland believes Hook's creative qualities will be best suited to tackling the French.
The only other change from Saturday's 16-12 Triple Crown victory in Dublin is the return of hooker Huw Bennett, who missed out at Croke Park after contracting flu.
Wales are on the brink of winning the Six Nations title and one victory away from a second Grand Slam triumph in four years.
“We have an historic opportunity and we intend to grasp it with both hands,” Gatland said.
“We have afforded ourselves the luxury of bringing in James Hook for the different qualities he will offer in this match, but we have pretty much said 'same again' to the boys that brought home the silverware on Saturday.
“Stephen Jones will offer us the benefit of his vast experience from the bench and he is one of a number of players who can come on and change the game for us if necessary.
“Huw Bennett comes in for Matthew Rees but, as I've said previously, there are marginal selection decisions to make all over the field and hooker is the perfect example of one of them.
“We are confident, we have worked hard and if we continue in the same vein in which we started this campaign, we believe we can come away with a deserved victory on Saturday.”
Wales' healthy points difference means they can afford to lose by eighteen points and still be crowned Six Nations champions – but Gatland wants to finish on a high and seal a 10th Welsh Grand Slam.
“It will be nice if we can take the championship, but we'd like to be doing it with a win over France. To win on points difference would be something of a hollow victory,” said Gatland.
“We have already achieved something in this campaign that can't be taken away from us, but we have an opportunity now to push on and do something a little bit special in front of our home crowd and to put some more smiles on Welsh faces for the second time in eight days.”
France have won their last six matches at the Millennium Stadium, including the World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.
The last time they beat Wales in Cardiff by more than 20 points – the amount required to snatch the title – was in 2000.
They have been an unpredictable force this tournament with new coach Marc Lievremont not afraid to experiment and ring the changes.
We have momentum which is what this tournament is all about but you can never underestimate the French,” Gatland added.
“We will probably be tipped as favourites after putting a run of results together and it is how we handle that pressure which will be a deciding factor.”
Ospreys lock Ian Gough will lead the team out at the Millennium Stadium to mark his 50th Test cap, while Duncan Jones is also set to bring up his half-century from the bench.
Wales: 15 Lee Byrne (Ospreys), 14 Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets),13 Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), 12 Gavin Henson (Ospreys), 11 Shane Williams (Ospreys), 10 James Hook (Ospreys), 9 Mike Phillips (Ospreys) 8 Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt), 7 Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), 6 Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), 5 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), 4 Ian Gough (Ospreys), 3 Adam Jones (Ospreys), 2 Huw Bennett (Ospreys), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues).
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets),17 Duncan Jones (Ospreys), 18 Ian Evans (Ospreys), 19 Gareth Delve (Gloucester), 20 Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets), 21 Stephen Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), 22 Sonny Parker (Ospreys).
Date: Saturday, 15 March
Venue: Millennium Stadium
Kick-off: 17:00 GMT