| venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff date: Sunday March 10th kick off:15:00 GMT |
| coverage: You can watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and online from 14:20 GMT. Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru. Text commentary and highlights are available on his website and app on BBC Sport. |
Wales have changed their central partnership for Sunday's Six Nations clash against France in Cardiff.
Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin will replace George North and Nick Tompkins, who paired up at the World Cup.
They are among five changes from the team that lost to Ireland, including a position change with captain Dafydd Jenkins starting at blindside flanker for the first time.
Lock Will Rowlands and hooker Ryan Elias will also be promoted to the starting lineup.
Rowlands will form a second row with Adam Beard, while Elias will be on the bench in place of Dragons hooker Dee, who will earn his 50th Wales cap.
Gareth Davies will also be recalled as a substitute at the Principality Stadium.
center change
Tompkins and North formed a midfield partnership in Wales last year, but were left out of the matchday squad entirely. Wales announced that neither player was injured.
Roberts will make his Six Nations debut in just his second Test appearance after earning his first cap for Wales in last summer's World Cup run-up defeat to England at Twickenham.
The 23-year-old Scarlets center missed out on selection for the World Cup but was named in the Six Nations squad.
Watkin also missed out on the World Cup, but was recalled for this year's tournament and started in the team's opening match against Scotland.
Tompkins has made 35 international appearances and North is Wales' third most capped player after making his 120th Test appearance against Ireland.
After missing the opening game against Scotland, Ospreys center North was one of Gatland's most impressive performers during the Six Nations.
Replacing the back row
Jenkins has never started a professional game at the age of six for either Exeter Chiefs or Wales, but Gatland will be looking for a more physical presence in the back row.
James Botham started in the defeat against Scotland in the number six shirt, but suffered a knee injury and was replaced by Cardiff team-mate Mann for the next two games.
Cristo Sciunza has been missing for the last four months with a broken leg, but will return this week (Wednesday) night in a friendly against Exeter.
Wales have lost 10 of their last 11 Six Nations games, including three in this year's tournament.
They are fighting to avoid a Six Nations wooden spoon for the first time in 21 years as they finish the tournament with a home match against Italy on Saturday, March 16.
Gatland said: “There are some changes to the squad this week as there are some players who deserve a chance.”
“Sunday will be a tough physical challenge from France, especially up front.
“We know they're going to start hard. It's important that we stay in the fight, have good line speed on defense and be disciplined. We're looking for an 80-minute performance.
“We are excited to be back home for the final two games and look forward to competing in front of a passionate Welsh crowd this weekend.”
Wales: Winnet. Adams, Roberts, Watkin, Dyer. Costelow, Tomos Williams. Thomas, Elias, Assilatti, Rowlands, Beard, D. Jenkins (Capt.), Leffel, Wainwright.
Replacement: Dee, Domakowski, Lewis, Martin, Mann, G. Davis, Lloyd, Grady.
