Jenkins makes a number of changes

Gareth Jenkins responded to Wales' 21-9 defeat to Scotland by making seven changes to his starting team for Saturday's clash with France in Paris.

Jenkins has beefed up his pack with props Chris Horsman and Gethin Jenkins returning to a new-look front row. Hooker Matthew Rees starts his first Six Nations game while lock Ian Gough comes into the second row for Robert Sidoli, who drops out of the squad altogether.

Lee Byrne starts at full-back after recovering from a knee injury and replaces Kevin Morgan, who broke his jaw in the Murrayfield defeat.

Tom Shanklin, a second-half substitute nine days ago, starts at outside centre with Shane Williams returning to the wing after missing the defeats to Ireland and Scotland.

Jenkins said: "It's obviously a boost to have someone of Shane's ability and experience back in the fold and the same applies to Tom Shanklin who makes his first start of this campaign and also Lee Byrne who has been called into the squad.

"But it's also fair to say we would have preferred to be easing these players in under different circumstances. None of the three individuals mentioned have played much rugby in recent weeks, but that is the situation we are in and the likes of Tom, with 37 caps, and Shane, who is nearing the half century, are more than capable of meeting the challenge ahead."

Brent Cockbain provides the second row cover ahead of Sidoli and returns to a Wales squad for the first time since injuring his hamstring against Fiji in November 2005.

There was no place in the squad for Colin Charvis, the Newport Gwent Dragons' in-form loose forward, with Jonathan Thomas retaining his place on the bench.

Wales  (v France): L Byrne (Ospreys); S Williams (Ospreys), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys), M Jones (Llanelli Scarlets); S Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), C Horsman (Worcester), I Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), AW Jones (Ospreys), A Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys).

Replacements: R Thomas (Cardiff Blues), D Jones (Ospreys), B Cockbain (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Phillips (Cardiff Blues), C Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), J Robinson (Cardiff Blues).