Magners League Official Website : Popham handed Welsh starting role

Alix Popham

Popham handed Welsh starting role

15 March 2006, 2:51 pm

By Jonathan McConnell

Wales have dropped flanker Colin Charvis for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against title favourites France in Cardiff, prefering the Llanelli Scarlets' Alix Popham.

The 84 times-capped Newcastle forward makes way in a restructured back row that sees skipper Michael Owen switched to replace Charvis at blindside flanker and Popham wearing the number eight shirt.

Two other changes from the side held by Italy last weekend are both enforced due to injuries. Wing Mark Jones, who underwent minor knee surgery yesterday, has seen his place filled by Dafydd James, with scrum-half Michael Phillips taking over from shoulder injury victim Dwayne Peel.

Bath's Andy Williams will provide scrum-half cover for Phillips on the bench, while Dafydd Jones is called up following Popham's promotion.

Gavin Henson, meanwhile, remains among the substitutes as Wales look to end their miserable Six Nations campaign on a winning note.

L Byrne (Llanelli Scarlets); D James (Llanelli Scarlets), H Luscombe (Newport Gwent Dragons), M Watkins (Llanelli Scarlets), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne), M Phillips (Cardiff Blues); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), R Thomas (Cardiff Blues), A Jones (Ospreys), I Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), R Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), M Owen (capt, Newport Gwent Dragons), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), A Popham (Llanelli Scarlets).

Replacements: M Davies (Gloucester), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), A Williams (Bath), N Robinson (Cardiff Blues), G Henson (Ospreys).