Wales boss Ruddock makes bold statement

WALES coach Mike Ruddock last night urged his team to “be bold” in their crunch RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against unbeaten title rivals France on Saturday.

Ruddock has announced a side showing two changes from that which crushed Italy 38-9 last time out.

Kevin Morgan takes over from his injured Newport-Gwent Dragons colleague Hal Luscombe on the right wing while Neath-Swansea Ospreys forward Ryan Jones is preferred at blindside flanker to Jonathan Thomas.

Thomas, a try-scorer in Rome, drops to the bench instead of Ian Gough, and Cardiff back Rhys Williams replaces Morgan among the substitutes.

Luscombe is sidelined by a hamstring problem sustained in the Italy game, but the in-form Morgan was pushing hard for a start in Paris.

"Due to his impressive performances from the bench, Kevin was very much in the selection mix anyway, and the unfortunate injury to Hal gives him the chance to start," said Ruddock.

"Now that Ryan Jones has recovered from injury, we have increased the options in the back row.

"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.

"Obviously, it's a 22-man game these days, and there is every chance that Jonathan will be making an impact from the bench."

Wales have beaten France on two of their last three visits to Paris, and a victory this time around would keep them firmly on course for a first Championship triumph since 1994.

"Graham Henry (former Wales coach) said a couple of years ago that we should 'be bold' when going to France. He was proved right," Ruddock added.

"That is a great way to approach the game, and something we will further endorse with the players this week."

France coach Bernard Laporte has made four changes from the side that pipped England 18-17 nine days ago, calling up full-back Julien Laharrague, wing Aurelien Rougerie, Toulouse centre Yannick Jauzion and Beziers flanker Yannick Nyanga.

Ruddock is under no illusions about the size of his team's task.

"France have picked an incredibly strong team a very powerful pack and an exceptional back line," he said.

"The new cap at full-back has a massive reputation for attacking rugby, and with the return of Rougerie and Jauzion, it looks like they have picked a back line to attack."

Ruddock revealed that Ospreys prop Duncan Jones, who has been out injured for six weeks, came under close scrutiny in selection.

"We looked closely at Duncan on his return from injury for his region at the weekend, and felt that after six weeks out he was understandably a little rusty," Ruddock continued.

"We feel he needs more conditioning work and extra game time at regional level."

Wales v France: G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); K Morgan (N/G Dragons), T Shanklin (Cardiff), G Henson (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne), D Peel (Llanelli); G Jenkins (Cardiff), M Davies (Gloucester), A Jones (Ospreys), B Cockbain (Ospreys), R Sidoli (Cardiff), R Jones (Ospreys), M Williams (Cardiff), M Owen (N/G Dragons).

Replacements: R McBryde (Llanelli), J Yapp (Cardiff), J Thomas (Ospreys), R Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff), G Cooper (N/G Dragons), C Sweeney (N/G Dragons), R Williams (Cardiff).