Wales set to make surprise front row selection against France
Wales are set to have two front-rowers starting for the very first time at Test level when they take on France in their Six Nations opener on Friday night.
Prop Henry Thomas and hooker Evan Lloyd are in line for first starts for Wales, with all nine of their caps so far having come from the bench.
33-year-old tighthead Thomas made four cameos for Wales in 2023, while 23-year-old hooker Lloyd came off the bench five times last year.
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Cardiff prop Keiron Assiratti, who might have been expected to start ahead of Thomas, is set to take up a place on the bench alongside Leicester loosehead Nicky Smith after struggling with a back spasm.
In the back-row, Gatland is hoping to reunite Aaron Wainwright, captain Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau for the first time since the World Cup pool stage in 2023, although Wainwright is a potential fitness concern.
The trio started against Fiji and Australia in France two years ago, with injury having kept Morgan and Faletau out at different times since.
If Wainwright doesn't make it, James Botham, who performed so well in the autumn, will start. You can follow the Wales team announcement live here.
In the back-line, Ben Thomas is set to start his first Six Nations at fly-half, as he once again moves around the Welsh backs division.
Having started two Tests in Australia in the 10 jersey last summer, he then spent the autumn in his favoured 12 jersey. However, with uncapped Ospreys playmaker Dan Edwards the only other outside-half option in the squad, Gatland is set to move Thomas back again.
It is looking likely he could turn to his most experienced centres, Nick Tompkins and Owen Watkin, for the daunting trip to Paris.
With Thomas moving to fly-half and Gallagher Premiership player of the month nominee Max Llewellyn not in the squad, there'll be a new midfield partnership from the one that started in the last match against South Africa - with Gatland likely to turn to the pair with the most caps.
Watkin has 42 caps, while Tompkins has 38. In contrast, Scarlets duo Joe Roberts and Eddie James have two and three respectively, while Thomas has seven.
As well as being the most capped, Watkin and Tompkins are the most experienced together - having started alongside each other four times for Wales.
The last of those was against Scotland last year in Wales' Six Nations opener, while the other three appearances together all came in the Six Nations under Wayne Pivac.
Roberts' two starts for Wales have come alongside Tompkins and Watkin, starting with the latter in a World Cup warm-up against England at Twickenham in 2023, before pairing with the Ospreys midfielder against France last year.
The Welsh coaches are understood to be fond of a Watkin-Roberts partnership, with the Scarlets centre offering a left-footed kicking option. However, the 24-year-old is understood to not be involved in this weekend's matchday squad.
As for James, the powerful centre is probably more of what Gatland would like in midfield. However, all three of his caps have come off the bench so far.
In the back three, Liam Williams and Josh Adams are expected to make their Test returns, with Tom Rogers likely to complete the trio.
