Adam Beard will return to start in the second row as Wayne Pivac makes just one change for Wales’s tilt at the Grand Slam against France in Paris.
Beard impressed in the opening three games of this year’s Guinness Six Nations but sat out last week’s 48-7 victory over Italy after taking a couple of knocks in the previous round against England.
In his place, Cory Hill excelled alongside Alun Wyn Jones in the engine room but fit-again Beard is restored to start alongside the skipper for the crunch clash at the Stade de France, with Hill on the bench.
Victory would see Wales clinch a second Grand Slam in three years, although they could still win the title even in defeat, depending on other conditions – as we explained in our permutations piece here.
And Pivac has opted for continuity other than Beard’s return, meaning Wyn Jones, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis make up the front row, while Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuruc and Taulupe Faletau are the formidable-looking back row.
Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar are named at half-back, Jonathan Davies and George North continue their burgeoning midfield partnership and Josh Adams, Louis Rees-Zammit and Liam Williams comprise an explosive back three.
There is one notable addition to the bench as Tomos Williams returns from injury to take his place as replacement scrum-half and could well form a 9-10 axis with Callum Sheedy to finish the game in Paris.
“We are all looking forward to Saturday and to the finale of the Six Nations,” said head coach Pivac.
“We are four from four to date but know this weekend will be a great challenge against a very good French side, but we are looking forward to it.
“We know we need to step up from our previous performances and we want to end the tournament with a performance we know we are capable of.
“We have had great continuity in selection throughout the tournament and that is shown once again with the selection for Saturday.”
Wales team to play France in Round 5 of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations: 15. Liam Williams (70 Caps) 14. Louis Rees-Zammit (8 Caps) 13. George North (101 Caps) 12. Jonathan Davies (87 Caps) 11. Josh Adams (31 Caps) 10. Dan Biggar (91 Caps) 9. Gareth Davies (61 Caps) 1. Wyn Jones (34 Caps) 2. Ken Owens (81 Caps) 3. Tomas Francis (56 Caps) 4. Adam Beard (24 Caps) 5. Alun Wyn Jones (147 Caps) – captain 6. Josh Navidi (27 Caps) 7. Justin Tipuric (84 Caps) 8. Taulupe Faletau (85 Caps)
Replacements: 16. Elliot Dee (36 Caps) 17. Nicky Smith (38 Caps) 18. Leon Brown (16 Caps) 19. Cory Hill (31 Caps) 20. James Botham (5 Caps) 21. Tomos Williams (21 Caps) 22. Callum Sheedy (8 Caps) 23. Uilisi Halaholo (3 Caps)
