Wales recall Hawkins and Cracknell for France visit

Wales have brought in Scarlets centre Joe Hawkins and Leicester number eight Olly Cracknell for Sunday’s Six Nations game against France in Cardiff.

The pair are among four personnel changes to the team thrashed 48-7 by England, with props Rhys Carre and Tomas Francis also starting.

Hawkins replaces Ben Thomas in midfield, while Cracknell comes into the back row for Josh Macleod.

Aaron Wainwright switches from number eight to blind-side flanker and Alex Mann moves to open-side.

Carre and Francis start after being named on the bench against England, swapping roles with Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin.

Head coach Steve Tandy has named five forwards and three backs on the bench, with Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias and Harlequins fly-half Jarrod Evans coming into the squad.

Fit-again Ospreys centre Owen Watkin was another option to come into midfield, but Tandy has gone with the Scarlets pair of Hawkins and Eddie James against France’s new-look Pau combination of debutant Fabien Brau-Boirie and Emilien Gailleton.

Cardiff’s Thomas started against Argentina and Japan in the autumn before Hawkins, who returned to Wales from Exeter last summer, came in to face New Zealand and South Africa.

Cracknell was a late call-up for the November series after the loss of Cardiff number eight Taulupe Faletau to injury.

The 31-year-old made his Test debut off the bench against Argentina and was man of the match in the last-kick win over Japan.

With captain Jac Morgan injured, Mann, normally a specialist blind-side flanker, is again asked by Wales to play out of position at open-side flanker.

Tandy has other options such as Macleod, Harri Deaves and James Botham in his squad, with Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell again overlooked for the tournament.

In the front-row, Provence prop Francis, who will join Sale next season, will make his first international start in three years after returning to the Test stage against England.

“There are a few changes for this week,” said Tandy.

Tandy’s side are huge underdogs against a France team that eased past Ireland on opening weekend.

Wales have lost their past 12 games in the Six Nations, a streak that goes back to the win against Italy in Rome in March 2023.

“We were bitterly disappointed with the performance last week,” said Tandy.

“We’ve addressed it in meetings. The boys were open and honest around the fact we didn’t put ourselves on the game.

“We felt we played into England’s hands a bit and the discipline was hugely disappointing.

“It’s a massive lesson for us. It’s something we need to correct and put more of our game out on the field on Sunday.”

The most recent home victory in the tournament for Wales was against Scotland in February 2022, while Wales have lost 22 of their previous 24 internationals.

Tandy says Wales will try to inspire the crowd with thousands of tickets still left to be sold for the fixture.

“We’re excited to get back to Principality Stadium,” said Tandy.

“We had four games in the autumn and the crowd was incredible.

“I know I’ve spoken a lot about the New Zealand game – the crowd, the energy it brought and the response from players.

Wales: Rees-Zammit; Mee, James, Hawkins, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Carre, Lake (capt), Francis, Jenkins, Beard, Wainwright, Mann, Cracknell.

Replacements: Elias, Smith, Griffin, Carter, Plumtree, Hardy, J Evans, Grady.

France: Ramos; Attissogbe, Gailleton, Brau-Boirie, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont (capt); Gros, Marchand, Aldegheri, Ollivon, Guillard, Cros, Jegou, Jelonch.