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James Hook has replaced Stephen Jones at fly-half for Wales’ Grand Slam bid against France in Cardiff on Saturday.
Hooker Huw Bennett also returns at Matthew Rees’ expense after flu ruled him out of the 16-12 Triple Crown win over Ireland last weekend.
Coach Warren Gatland has stuck with scrum-half Mike Phillips and flanker Martyn Williams following their sin-binnings at Croke Park.
But it is the selection of Hook at fly-half that will create most debate.
The Llanelli Scarlet held off the Osprey’s challenge ahead of last weekend’s trip to Dublin only for Hook to come on and kick the vital late penalty that held Ireland at bay.
Gatland’s decision smacks of another change in tactical approach with Hook likely to be given the task of attacking France’s unsettled side with ball in hand.
Hook started in the wins against England and Scotland, but Jones came on in the latter game to add authority and ensure Wales won.
Phillips also feared his sin-binning for dangerous use of a knee might lead to his omission, but Gatland has given him another chance.
Gatland said the coaching team had “afforded ourselves the luxury of bringing in James Hook for the different qualities he will offer in this match, but we have pretty much said ’same again’ to the boys that brought home the silverware on Saturday”.
“Stephen Jones will offer us the benefit of his vast experience from the bench and he is one of a number of players who can come on and change the game for us if necessary,” Gatland added.
“Huw Bennett comes in for Matthew Rees, but, as I’ve said previously, there are marginal selection decisions to make all over the field and hooker is the perfect example of one of them.
“We are confident, we have worked hard and if we continue in the same vein in which we started this campaign we believe we can come away with a deserved victory on Saturday.
“We have an historic opportunity and we intend to grasp it with both hands.”
The starting XV includes 11 Ospreys, three Cardiff Blues and a Llanelli Scarlet.
Wales:
15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys)
14. Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets),
13. Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues),
12. Gavin Henson (Ospreys),
11. Shane Williams (Ospreys);
10. James Hook (Ospreys),
9. Mike Phillips (Ospreys);
8. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues),
7. Huw Bennett (Ospreys),
6.Adam Jones (Ospreys),
5. Ian Gough (Ospreys),
4. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys),
3. Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys),
2. Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues),
1. Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt).
Replacements:
Duncan Jones (Ospreys),
Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets),
Ian Evans (Ospreys),
Gareth Delve (Gloucester),
Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets),
Stephen Jones (Llanelli Scarlets),
Sonny Parker (Ospreys)