On the wing The Dragon’s Kevin Morgan comes in for his team-mate Hal Luscombe who has failed to recover from a hamstring strain, whilst in the back row Ryan Jones of the Ospreys returns after injury in place of Jonathan Thomas.
“Now that Ryan has recovered from injury we have increased the options in the back row,” said Ruddock.
“Jonathan Thomas is unlucky to lose his spot after performing well against Italy and scoring a try, but such is the competition for places that every position is debated in detail.
“For this particular game we felt we might not always be afforded the open spaces out wide we were able to exploit against Italy, so an extra big ball carrier in the back row is thought to be necessary on this occasion.
Of his selection on the wing Ruddock added: “Due to his impressive performances from the bench, Kevin was very much in the selection mix anyway and the unfortunate injury to Hal gives Kevin the chance to start,” said Ruddock.
Rhys Williams takes Morgan’s place on the bench whilst Ian Gough drops out to make way for Thomas.
Laport has made four changes from the team that defeated England at Twickenham: fullback Julien Laharrague makes his first start and flanker Yannick Nyanga, who came on from the bench last time out, is promoted to the starting XV.
WALES:
15 Gareth Thomas (Toulouse, Captain), 14 Kevin Morgan (Dragons), 13 Tom Shanklin (Blues), 12 Gavin Henson (Ospreys), 11 Shane Williams (Ospreys),
10 Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne), 9 Dwayne Peel (Scarlets), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Blues), 2 Mefin Davies (Gloucester), 3 Adam Jones (Ospreys), 4 Brent Cockbain (Ospreys), 5 Robert Sidoli (Blues), 6 Ryan Jones (Ospreys), 7 Martyn Williams (Blues), 8 Michael Owen (Dragons).
Replacements
16 Robin Mcbryde (Scarlets), 17 John Yapp (Blues), 18 Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), 19 Robin Sowden-Taylor (Blues), 20 Gareth Cooper (Dragons),
21 Ceri Sweeney (Dragons), 22 Rhys Williams (Blues).
Meanwhile France Coach Bernard Laport has made four changes from the team that defeated England at Twickenham: fullback Julien Laharrague makes his first start and flanker Yannick Nyanga, who came on from the bench last time out, is promoted to the starting XV.
Centre Yannick Jauzion and wing Aurelien Rougerie are both recalled after injury, but back rower Imanol Harinordoquy is only named amongst the replacements.
The coach has kept faith with his half back pairing of Yann Delaigue and Dimitri Yachvili, the scrum half who kicked all 18 points in the French win at Twickenham.
FRANCE
15 Julien Laharrague, 14 Aurelien Rougerie, 13 Yannick Jauzion, 12 Damien Traille, 11 Christophe Dominici, 10 Yann Delaigue, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 1 Sylvain Marconnet, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 3 Nicolas Mas, 4 Fabien Pelous (captain), 5 Jerome Thion, 6 Serge Betsen, 7 Yannick Nyanga, 8 Julien Bonnaire.
Replacements: 16 William Servat, 17 Olivier Milloud, 18 Gregory Lamboley, 19 Imanol Harinordoquy, 20 Pierre Mignoni, 21 Frederic Michalak, 22 Jean-Philippe Grandclaude.
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