Paris platform: Gatland believes opening wintees uptitle shot

Not many teams could start their Six Nations campaign without two leading British & Irish Lions and still be confident of success, but as Wales get ready to kick-off the tournament against France in Paris tonight, Warren Gatland’s are full of belief – rightly – that they can be title challengers.

The injured Leigh Halfpenny and Taulupe Faletau are absent due to a concussion and a broken arm respectively and there is no doubt both men would walk into Gatland’s first-choice XV.