Francis on bench for Irish clash

By Mark Stevens
20/2/18

Exeter Chiefs prop Tomas Francis will again start on the bench for Wales ahead of their NatWest Six Nations Championship clash with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (2:15pm).

The tight-head prop, who has come off the bench in the two previous fixtures against Scotland and England, will win his 29th cap if called upon by head coach Warren Gatland, who has made three changes to his starting line-up beaten at Twickenham last time out.

Gatland welcomes back into the fold British & Irish Lions trio Dan Biggar, Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny.

Ospreys fly-half Biggar has recovered from a shoulder injury to make his 61st appearance for his country and will line up alongside Gareth Davies at half-back, while Halfpenny and Williams join Steff Evans in the back-three with Hadleigh Parkes and Scott Williams continuing their partnership in the midfield.

Wales have named an unchanged pack for the trip to Dublin, which once again will be headed up by lock Alun Wyn Jones.

"It is great to be able to bring so much experience back into the starting XV and into the backline," said Gatland, who will take charge of Wales for the 100th time.

"It is the first week we have had everyone in the 'green' in terms of availability which is a nice luxury to have and a positive ahead of what is a very important test match against a very good Ireland side.

"We have been pleased with the depth we have developed in the back-three and pleased with how those players have gone but having the experience of Dan, Liam and Leigh coming back in is hugely important.

"We have been pleased with how the forward pack has been going and how they have worked as a unit but as always there is pressure for them to perform too."

WALES TEAM TO PLAY IRELAND:

Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (75 Caps)
Liam Williams (Saracens) (45 Caps)
Scott Williams (Scarlets) (53 Caps)
Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (3 Caps)
Steff Evans (Scarlets) (7 Caps)
Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (60 Caps)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (29 Caps)
Rob Evans (Scarlets) (22 Caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets) (54 Caps)
Samson Lee (Scarlets) (35 Caps)
Cory Hill (Dragons) (12 Caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, Capt) (115 Caps)
Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (15 Caps)
Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) (9 Caps)
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester) (19 Caps)

Replacements:

Elliot Dee (Dragons) (4 Caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (7 Caps)
Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (28 Caps)
Bradley Davies (Ospreys) (59 Caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (54 Caps)
Aled Davies (Scarlets) (7 Caps)
Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) (13 Caps)
George North (Northampton Saints) (70 Caps)