Gatland calls on Wales players to 'step up' a level against France
Warren Gatland has targeted "another step up" from his players on Friday night when they chase a victory over France that would send them top of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.
Wales have not lost to France since suffering an agonising 2011 World Cup semi-final defeat in Auckland, reeling off four successive Six Nations wins.
And after an opening weekend draw against Ireland, which was followed by victory over Scotland in Cardiff, Wales can effectively set up a title showdown with Eddie Jones' England at Twickenham on March 12 by toppling France, given that their final fixture is a Principality Stadium appointment with struggling Italy seven days later.
"It's set to be another huge Six Nations weekend," Wales head coach Gatland said.
"France come to Cardiff unbeaten in the campaign so far, and impressing under Guy (Noves). We are looking to continue our unbeaten run and will be looking for another step up after the victory over Scotland."
Lock Luke Charteris, though, will miss France's Cardiff visit because of a knee injury and is replaced in the starting XV by Wasps forward Bradley Davies.
Charteris, who has won 64 caps, was not involved for Racing 92 against Grenoble last Saturday, and his loss will be a blow to Wales, given the considerable impression he made in Ireland and at home to Scotland.
Two other changes from the side that defeated Scotland 10 days ago see call-ups for Cardiff Blues wing Alex Cuthbert and Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate, with Wales skipper Sam Warburton switching to more familiar openside flanker duty after two successive starts at blindside. Justin Tipuric drops out of the back-row.
But centre Jonathan Davies will feature alongside regular midfield partner Jamie Roberts after he missed his club Clermont Auvergne's league game against Castres three days ago because of a groin problem.
Cuthbert, meanwhile, is handed a first start of the Six Nations campaign, replacing his Blues colleague Tom James, who does not make the matchday 23.
And Lydiate starts following two outings off the bench, with Gatland reverting to a blindside specialist in his back-row after two runs together for regular openside exponents Warburton and Tipuric.
Elsewhere, fly-half Rhys Priestland, who suffered a dead leg during Bath's Aviva Premiership defeat against Wasps last weekend, is fit to take his place among the replacements, where Scarlets lock Jake Ball also lines up following his return from injury.
"We have made a couple of changes, one injury-enforced with Luke missing out with a knee injury, but Bradley deserves a starting spot as well, so it's a good opportunity for him," Gatland added.
"We have made two other personnel changes, with Alex and Dan coming into the starting team. They have trained well and will suit the game France will potentially bring as well.
"We initially thought we would have to wait until later in the week to have a final update on injuries, but we know where we are earlier than expected and have told the squad, hence announcing (the team) today as well."
Assessing the challenge against France, whose opening Six Nations encounters produced victories over Italy and Ireland by a combined total of just three points, Warburton said: "I have played France for the last five or six years in a row, and I have never found them easy.
"Even though we have quite a good record against them in the Six Nations, it has always been a very tough set-piece battle, very physical, and they have individuals with a massive amount of skill and ability.
"There is not a French team I have ever written off. I always rate them very highly.
"It will be quite strange not playing against (Thierry) Dusautoir this year because he has been there for the last five or six years, but they have top players with experience at big clubs."