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Six NationsFranceJustin Tipuric

Wales name team for France

Wales name Six Nations squad (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Wales have named their team to take on France on Friday evening in their opening match of the 2019 Six Nations.

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Warren Gatland’s will be captained by Alun Wyn Jones, making his 49th appearance in the tournament.

Jones lines up in the second-row alongside fellow Osprey Adam Beard with Josh Navidi returning from injury to start in the back-row alongside British & Irish Lions Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty.

In the front-row Rob Evans and Tomas Francis pack down alongside Ken Owens who becomes Wales’ most capped hooker, making his 61st appearance for his county.

Tomos Williams will make his first Six Nations appearance at scrum-half lining up alongside regional teammate Gareth Anscombe at fly-half.

Scarlets duo Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies continue their partnership in midfield with Josh Adams, George North and Liam Williams comprising the back-three.

Wales, who finished second in the tournament in 2018, face France in Paris on Friday before travelling to Rome to play Italy the weekend after. Warren Gatland’s team is currently on a nine match winning streak and Wales’ head coach knows the importance of starting their campaign well.

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“We are looking forward to kicking off the Six Nations and kicking off our 2019 campaign as a whole,” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

“We come into the game on an impressive run of results but we know how tough it will be to face France in Paris in the tournament opener.

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“It will be a huge contest but we are excited going into it. We have a great deal of experience across the team and on the bench and we want to kick things off well on Friday.”

Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones and Samson Lee provide Wales’ front-row replacements with Dragons pair Cory Hill and Aaron Wainwright completing the forward contingent. The experience continues on the bench with Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar and Owen Watkin providing the backline cover.

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WALES TEAM TO PLAY FRANCE:
(Friday February 1st KO 21.00 Local, 20.00 UK – BBC ONE)
15. Liam Williams (51 Caps)
14. George North (79 Caps)
13. Jonathan Davies (68 Caps)
12. Hadleigh Parkes (11 Caps)
11. Josh Adams (6 Caps)
10. Gareth Anscombe (21 Caps)
9. Tomos Williams (6 Caps)
1. Rob Evans (31 Caps)
2. Ken Owens (60 Caps)
3. Tomas Francis (36 Caps)
4. Adam Beard (8 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (120 Caps) (CAPT)
6. Josh Navidi (11 Caps)
7. Justin Tipuric (60 Caps)
8. Ross Moriarty (26 Caps)

REPLACEMENTS:
16. Elliot Dee (13 Caps)
17. Wyn Jones (10 Caps)
18. Samson Lee (38 Caps)
19. Cory Hill (22 Caps)
20. Aaron Wainwright (3 Caps)
21. Gareth Davies (36 Caps)
22. Dan Biggar (65 Caps)
23. Owen Watkin (8 Caps)

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IkeaBoy 32 minutes ago
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‘defending’ - I see what you did there. Nice!

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IkeaBoy 34 minutes ago
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He missed the tackle…in the act of getting sat down/pumped/steam rolled/emptied/flattened.


You’d get dropped from the squad for less than that.

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IkeaBoy 39 minutes ago
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Total over reaction. It’s not as if there’s any way they can be relegated.

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Karlos G 43 minutes ago
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Well written couldn't agree more!

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Icefarrow 49 minutes ago
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Really all the Drua need to do is learn patience. Almost all of their mistakes come from reckless, rushed decisions that only pay off like 20% of the time, and punish them the other 80. Sure, it’s fun to watch when it pays off, but that style of play will never get them far in a competition.


I suppose what makes this all the more baffling is they can play that way on the international stage, so why does this team full of internationals throw all their learnings out the window in Super?

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Karlos G 49 minutes ago
Commentator's reason for backing Billy Proctor-Barrett combination in the AB's

Agree with ya mate but wouldn't say besotted just playing it safe in His 1st year as head coach! Hopefully Proctor gets more game time this year the drums are beating!

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William12 1 hour ago
Is the All Blacks captaincy right for Scott Barrett?

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Roberta1 1 hour ago
Is the All Blacks captaincy right for Scott Barrett?

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RedWarriors 1 hour ago
How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Intention is a legal idea not to be confused or diminished by equivalence with a more nebulous ‘spirit’ of the law. It feels like a major breakthrough in this conversation that you now appreciate the difference between the legal angle and an individuals perception of the concept in general.

If the Intention is shown to be 5:3 then EVERY member of that board should act with integrity and apply that regardless of their personal opinion of the concept. Those advocating something different would then be looking at Law change.

If the intention was not 5:3 then its as you were. Those wishing for a 5:3 are the ones who would now seek law change.


This is why Intention is so important. Board members have no choice but to accept the intention at law. If they put their personal opinions above the intention of a law then they should not be near a board or governance.

A person like Owen Doyle who was involved in that law making stating the intention was 5:3 is significant. He may be wrong, but he has a long history in law making and application in International Rugby.

285 Go to comments
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Collins Lawal 1 hour ago
Is the All Blacks captaincy right for Scott Barrett?

I'm Lawal from Dubai. I was exploited by a Crypto Exchange Investment Platform and was made to invest $198,000 worth of crypto to this company. They made it all look real and it was impossible to easily figure out the sham they were running. I was just like every other curious person and investor who decided to invest in cryptocurrency trading all in the aim of making profit, but I was exploited and lost my hard-earned money to this service, if not for the intervention of Mr. James, a cyber security and crypto recovery expert who was able to help top officials from the government/companies recover their emails and cryptocurrency successfully, I would have not been able to recover my crypto assets. The spammers had contacted me through a popular social media platform (Facebook) which I later found out to be a sham, But James made me realize many other victims like me invested in this platform, I’m bringing this to you here that it was a scam to steal crypto from people. James was able to recover my crypto successfully and has since been able to assist two of my partners in recovering their crypto from this same online crypto investment platform. If you wish to contact James for any help regarding lost of funds or any social media hacking and recovery services, you can reach them via the info below: Email: jamesmckaywizard at gmail dot com or what'sapp +31- 6 5 7 - 44 6 - 2 4 8 -.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Of course there is, theres several positions were that suits.

285 Go to comments
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JH 1 hour ago
Billy Proctor committs to All Blacks and Hurricanes with multi-year deal

Great news. Now give him some actual minutes this year Razor, your wingers will thank you for it.

1 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

If it remains a niche idea, it would be cool, actually strategic, but from what I’ve seen there’s not a lot of jeopardy in it and it’s a very easy thing to do right.


Which all basically means it’s going to become predictable and permanent, a set feature, and there anything but strategic.

It also gives more brilliant players opportunity to play, and for us to see them in action. Also allows players greater longevity, some guys play till their late 30’s.

Are you referring to the bench splits here? In this day an age DR you’re whole bench is being used, regardless of what the split is. Those facets you mention are also the same with the names change week to week, or in the same game. There’s no need to have 10 subs to make the game more enjoyable in that aspect, as it’s still 15 people playing 80 minutes, and playing 1 game in four is the exact same as play a quarter of each game.


Test rugby has come alive alright, lets try and keep it like that 🖕

285 Go to comments
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Gordy1 2 hours ago
Commentator's reason for backing Billy Proctor-Barrett combination in the AB's

Proctor is a better option than a certain Canterbury back who appears out of form and out of fitness but is a favourite with the AB coach.

38 Go to comments
S
Spew_81 2 hours ago
Commentator's reason for backing Billy Proctor-Barrett combination in the AB's

I’d love to see an old fashion trial game where the coach’s favorites had to mark the players who are actually in form.


It will never happen though as it will cost a test and the associated revenue (not much international interest from an All Blacks trial atm). Also, the coaches won’t like their favorites being shown up on tv.

38 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

I’m not sure about that WI. As Graham referenced re the Brazil of rugby, there is a certain nonchalance or panache brazalian players have that I’m not sure is in the South African psyche to be able to replicate. I think there’s too much pride and commitment there to let those other traits override your conscious so that you can produce your typical rugby even in the face/fear of defeat.


I would have said playing personal, even now, or especially, would have benefit front open rugby, but certainly it would still be in contrast to much of rugby’s persona to want to go all the way with it like that, abandoning some of the ethos or grinding matchplay rugby. Far more a case of just knowing how to strike all over the park, as definitely the tools like the wingers highlighted in this article have been heavily undervalued or under utilized by South Africa. Your thinking of similar concepts to the Proteas not being able to win a semi final in a WC?

285 Go to comments
E
Ed_Bear 2 hours ago
Watch Jesse Kriel get sat down as NRL convert scores 'worldie'

Yes he didn’t get ‘Sat Down’ …..He got FLATTEN 😆

9 Go to comments
S
Spew_81 2 hours ago
Commentator's reason for backing Billy Proctor-Barrett combination in the AB's

Tavatavanawai 12, J Barrett 13. Power, pace, and passing.

38 Go to comments
C
Cantab 3 hours ago
Commentator's reason for backing Billy Proctor-Barrett combination in the AB's

Note that both Ennor and Fainganuku have been ABs previously so to suggest that they are not selection options is ridiculous. Razor is well aware of their abilities.

38 Go to comments
S
Spew_81 3 hours ago
Commentator's reason for backing Billy Proctor-Barrett combination in the AB's

Robertson needs to poach Brad Mooar and drop Jason Holland. The inability of the All Blacks backs to make use of the, very solid, platform laid by the forwards is shocking. The 1998-2003 All Blacks often had average forwards, but electric backs.


If Robertson also dropped Tamati Ellison for Joe Schmidt, he’d have a much better coaching group.

38 Go to comments
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