Luke Charteris out as Wales team named for France clash

Lock Luke Charteris will miss Wales' Six Nations clash against France in Cardiff on Friday because of a knee injury.

Charteris is replaced in the starting XV by Wasps forward Bradley Davies.

Two other changes from the side that beat Scotland 10 days ago see call-ups for Cardiff Blues wing Alex Cuthbert and Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate, with Wales skipper Sam Warburton switching to openside flanker after two successive starts at blindside. Justin Tipuric drops out of the back-row.

Centre Jonathan Davies, though, will feature alongside Jamie Roberts in midfield after he missed his club Clermont Auvergne’s league game against Castres three days ago because of a groin problem.

Charteris was not involved for Racing 92 against Grenoble last Saturday, and his loss will be a blow to unbeaten Wales, given the impression he made in opening Six Nations appointments with Ireland and Scotland.

Cuthbert, meanwhile, is handed a first start of the Six Nations campaign, with his Blues colleague Tom James not making the matchday 23, and Lydiate features after two outings off the bench.

Fly-half Rhys Priestland, who suffered a dead leg during Bath’s Aviva Premiership defeat against Wasps last weekend, is fit to take his place among the replacements, where Scarlets lock Jake Ball also lines up following his return from injury.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland said: “We have made a couple of changes, one injury enforced with Luke missing out with a knee injury, but Bradley deserves a starting spot as well, so it’s a good opportunity for him.

“We have made two other personnel changes, with Alex and Dan coming into the starting team. They have trained well and will suit the game France will potentially bring as well.

“We initially thought we would have to wait until later in the week to have a final update on injuries, but we know where we are earlier than expected and have told the squad, hence announcing (the team) today as well.

“It’s set to be another huge Six Nations weekend.

“France come to Cardiff unbeaten in the campaign so far, and impressing under Guy (Noves). We are looking to continue our unbeaten run and will be looking for another step up after the victory over Scotland.”

Wales have not lost against France since suffering a 2011 World Cup semi-final defeat in Auckland, reeling off four successive Six Nations wins.

And victory at the Principality Stadium on Friday night would take them top of this season’s Six Nations table, albeit for less than 24 hours if England beat Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

WALES: Liam Williams (Scarlets); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), J Roberts (Harlequins), G North (Northampton); D Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), S Baldwin (Ospreys), S Lee (Scarlets), B Davies (Wasps), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons). Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), T Francis (Exeter), J Ball (Scarlets), J Tipuric (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Priestland (Bath), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues).