Ben Thomas one of four casualties as Wales boss Steve Tandy wields axe

Ben Thomas is the biggest casualty after Wales head coach Steve Tandy decided to make several changes to his matchday 23 for Sunday’s clash at home to France.

Inside centre Thomas was one of four Wales players sin-binned in last weekend’s 48-7 loss to England, and was reponsible for giving away a try with a poor pass that hit the ground instead of finding a team-mate.

He has been involved in all but one of Wales’ last 17 Tests, but has been removed from the squad altogether, along with the starting openside at Allianz Stadium, Josh Macleod.

Back-row Harri Deaves and hooker Liam Belcher, who were replacements in the England match, have also been omitted, with Tandy opting for a 5-3 split on the bench.

With Olly Cracknell coming into the side at No.8, Aaron Wainwright moves to six and Alex Mann shifts to the openside.

The second row remains the same, with Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard locking down the scrum, while captain Dewi Lake starts at hooker with two new props either side of him – Rhys Carre and Tomas Francis.

Carre and Francis, who starts for Wales for the first time since Rugby World Cup 2023, come into the starting XV in a direct swap with Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin, who are named on the bench.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

0

Draws

0

Wins

5

Average Points scored

18

35

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

60%

Tomos Williams and Dan Edwards go again at half-back, while Thomas has been replaced at 12 by Joe Hawkins, with Eddie James alongside him in midfield.

An unaltered back-three includes Twickenham try-scorer Josh Adams and Ellis Mee on the wings and Louis Rees-Zammit at full-back.

On the bench, Ryan Elias is preferred to Belcher as hooker cover, while Jarrod Evans is the additional option in the backs.

Wales team v France: Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol, 36 caps); Ellis Mee (Scarlets, 5 caps), Eddie James (Scarlets, 5 caps), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets, 5 caps), Josh Adams (Cardiff, 66 caps); Dan Edwards (Ospreys, 8 caps), Tomos Williams (Gloucester, 68 caps); Rhys Carre (Saracens, 24 caps), Dewi Lake (Ospreys, 27 caps, capt.), Tomas Francis (Provence, 78 caps), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter, 27 caps), Adam Beard (Montpellier, 62 caps), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons, 63 caps), Alex Mann (Cardiff, 12 caps), Olly Cracknell (Leicester, 2 caps).

Replacements: Ryan Elias (Scarlets, 44 caps), Nicky Smith (Leicester, 59 caps), Archie Griffin (Bath, 12 caps), Ben Carter (Dragons, 15 caps), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets, 12 caps), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys, 29 caps), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins, 14 caps), Mason Grady (Cardiff, 16 caps).