Wales to call on Hawkins and Cracknell for France visit

Wales are set to make changes to midfield and their back-row for Sunday’s Six Nations game against France in Cardiff.

Steve Tandy names his side on Friday morning and will resist the temptation to make mass changes after the round one hammering by England.

Scarlets centre Joe Hawkins is in line to replace Ben Thomas at 12, while physical Leicester forward Olly Cracknell is poised to bolster the back-row.

Wales could also switch their props after loose-head Nicky Smith and tight-head Archie Griffin started at Twickenham, with Rhys Carre and Tomas Francis on the bench.

Fit-again 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 series before Hawkins, who returned to Wales from Exeter last summer, came in to face New Zealand and South Africa.

“If you are looking for consistency, the natural fit is bringing in Joe Hawkins at 12 with Eddie because they play together at regional level,” former Wales hooker Scott Baldwin told Scrum V: The Warm Up.

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

The 31-year-old blind-side or number eight made his Test debut off the bench against Argentina and then won man of the match in the last-kick win versus Japan.

Cracknell is in line to join Aaron Wainwright and Alex Mann in the starting back row at the expense of open-side Josh Macleod.

“The balance probably wasn’t right last weekend,” said former Wales flanker and captain Ellis Jenkins.

“It’s making sure we have enough physicality so that we can match France at the contact area, tackle and collision.

“I like Alex Mann and Josh Macleod in their own right, but I am not sure against England and France whether it’s a bit under-powered.”

Wales could stick with a split of six forwards and two backs on the bench against the physicality of Les Bleus.

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