The Six Nations kicks off at the Stade de France as one of the tournament favourites, France, host a battered Wales outfit in the Championship opener. Wales are enduring a match losing streak in international rugby after going winless in and face the almighty task of fronting up against a French side that will be frothing at the mouth not to just win the opening game but the entire tournament.
After watching his dynasty burn to ash in , Warren Gatland is hoping that subtle and not-so-subtle changes will make a world of difference, explaining that he has made alterations to the training schedule while there has been a shake-up in the personnel with late additions and one departure in his backroom staff. Strengthened by the return of inspirational and the outright blockbuster talent of Antoine Dupont and his partner in crime, Romain Ntamack, France are well positioned to get their hands on some silverware but will need to avoid the hiccups that have blighted their title runs in recent years.
The battle lines will well and truly be drawn in the packs as they usually are. Having huge battering rams like Emmanuel Meafou and Uini Atonio certainly helps win the gain-line battle, but they are much more delicate than that with most of the pack possessing a well-rounded passing and rucking game too. Wales certainly have threats of their own particularly in the form of Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell and if they are to have any chance, they will need to be on top of their game and get some help from their backs.
Unsurprising, Wales head coach Gatland was asked about the threat that Dupont poses and he did not mince his words. Speaking in the build up to the match, Gatland spoke of the attitude of the players as they prepare for the opener as well as the coaching changes and the impact those have made. The boys have been excellent. Meanwhile, Galthie has welcomed the return of the Dupont-Ntamack axis for the first time in the Les Bleus jersey since before the Rugby World Cup.
France have still named a star-studded matchday 23 despite the plethora of injuries that they are contending with which has resulted in a positional switch for Alexandre Roumat. He slips into the second-row with Meafou in the absence of Thibaud Flament and will look to continue his fine form from last year that saw him cement a place in the matchday Moving into the backs and Galthie will be over the moon that Louis Bielle-Biarrey recovered in time to feature in the starting XV.
