Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Paul James and Ryan Jones have all been named in the Welsh team to face France at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday afternoon, where they will be aiming to secure a third Grand Slam in seven years.
Sam Warburton and Lloyd Williams have recovered from the injuries that saw them sit-out last weekend’s win over Italy, meaning Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb drop out of the 22.
Consistency has been a watchword for Warren Gatland and his coaching team this campaign with a total of 10 players having started every match in the tournament - the backline of Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North, Rhys Priestland and Mike Phillips join, Evans, Toby Faletau and prop Jones in the achievement.
Close comparisons can still be made to Wales’ Rugby World Cup side and just three players – Shane Williams (retired), Huw Bennett (injured) and Luke Charteris (on the replacements bench this weekend) – are absent from the side which started against France in the RWC semi-final at Eden Park last Autumn, but the players and coaches have their mind sets rooted firmly in Cardiff and the present rather than New Zealand and the past.
“We are obviously aware of what this game means to the fans, 60,000 of them came to the Millennium Stadium during the Rugby World Cup to watch us face France in the semi-final on the television screens and that tells you everything about how dedicated they are,” said Wales head coach Gatland.
“But this weekend we play in front of a sell-out 74,500 crowd with a chance to make history in Cardiff, they will be there to watch us in the flesh, they can make a real and positive contribution to the atmosphere and, like us, will be thinking of nothing other than the here and now.
“In camp all we can and must do is make preparations as normal, the magnitude of the game is not lost on us but it is irrelevant to how we prepare - we have our captain back and, although Justin Tipuric is unlucky after playing well in his place last week, Sam’s presence is a welcome boost to everyone.”
WALES
15 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,060) DoB: 22.12.88. 5’10” / 1.77m. 13st 6lbs / 85kgs International record: 31 caps (W 16, L 15; 130 pts – 11T, 6C, 21PG)
14 Alex CUTHBERT (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,089) DoB: 05.04.90. 6’6” / 1.98m. 16st 3lbs / 103kgs International record: 5 caps (W 4, L 1; 10 pts – 2T)
13 Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,066) DoB: 05.04.88. 6’1” / 1.86m. 16st 8lb / 105kgs International record: 25 caps (W 15, L 10; 35 pts – 7T)
12 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057) DoB: 08.11.86. 6’4” / 1.93m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs International record: 43 caps (W 22, L 21; 25 pts – 5T)
11 George NORTH (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,078) DoB: 13.04.92. 6’4” / 1.92m. 17st 3lbs / 109kgs International record: 20 caps (W 10, L 9, D 1; 50 pts – 10T)
10 Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,080) DoB: 07.01.87 1.82m / 6’0”. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs International record: 14 caps (W 10, L 4; 53 pts – 1T, 12C, 8PG)
9 Mike PHILLIPS (BAYONNE – Cap No 1,022) DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3” / 1.91m. 15st 10lb / 101kgs International record: 64 caps (W 32, L 30, D 2; 40 pts – 8T)
1 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,006) DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2” / 1.88m. 19st 1lb / 121kgs International record: 86 caps (W 40, L 44, D 2; 20 pts – 4T)
2 Matthew REES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,033) DoB: 09.12.80. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs International record: 49 caps (W 21, L 27, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)
3 Adam JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,018) DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0” / 1.83m. 19st 4lbs / 122kgs International record: 79 caps (W 39, L 37, D 3; 10 pts – 2T)
4 Alun Wyn JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,046) DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5” / 1.96m. 19st 4lbs / 122kgs International record: 61 caps (W 27, L 34; 35 pts – 7T)
5 Ian EVANS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,045) DoB: 04.10.84. 6’8” / 2.04m. 18st 3lbs / 116kgs International record: 21 caps (W 10, L 10, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)
6 Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,071) DoB: 18.12.87. 1.93m / 6’4”. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs International record: 23 caps (W 11, L 11, D 1)
7 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,070) DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6’2”. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs International record: 26 caps (W 14, L 12; 10 pts - 2T)
8 Toby FALETAU (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,082) DoB: 12.11.90. 1.88m / 6’2”. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs International record: 15 caps (W 9, L 6; 10 pts – 2T)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Ken OWENS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,088) DoB: 03.01.87. 6’1” / 1.86m. 17st 3lbs / 109kgs International record: 4 caps (W 4)
17 Paul JAMES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,021) DoB: 13.05.82. 6’1” / 1.86m. 18st 2lbs / 115kgs International record: 34 caps (W 15, L 18, D 1)
18 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030) DoB: 09.03.83. 6’9” / 2.06m. 19st 10lbs / 125kgs International record: 33 caps (W 17, L 16)
19 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,029) DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 12lbs / 113kgs International record: 62 caps (W 32, L 28, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)
20 Lloyd WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,086) DoB: 30.11.89. 6’0” / 1.83m. 14st 1lb / 89kgs International record: 6 caps (W 4, L 2; 10 pts – 2T)
21 James HOOK (PERPIGNAN – Cap No 1,047) DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 2lbs / 96kgs International record: 62 caps (W 28, L 32, D 2; 326 pts – 12T, 40C, 58PG, 4DG)
22 Scott WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,084) DoB: 10.10.90. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 13lbs / 101kgs International record: 11 caps (W 7, L 4; 25 pts – 5T)