Richie Rees will start at scrum half for Wales (12/1 with totesport to win the Six Nations) on Friday night, as Warren Gatland’s men face France in Cardiff.

The Wales coach says Cardiff Blues has “played himself into the starting line-up” and says he “deserves his chance”, as Wales look to end France’s unbeaten run.

Rees will replace Gareth Cooper, criticised for his displays against England and Scotland, while fit-again Mike Phillips is Rees’ scrum-half cover on the bench.

Cardiff lock Deiniol Jones is another new inclusion in the Wales (2/1 to win Friday’s match) starting XV, while Huw Bennett starts at hooker and Jonathan Thomas switches to number six.

Gatland admits that Wales’ back row will have to improve if they are to beat the Six Nations leaders, who have so far beaten Scotland and Ireland in the tournament.

The coach said: “We missed, I think, 10 tackles between the the back-row (against Scotland). As a loose-forward trio we probably didn’t do so well.”

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