Centre Mark Taylor, prop Gethin Jenkins, lock Michael Owen and flanker Colin Charvis all feature following the 36-15 drubbing by Ireland 10 days ago.

Taylor takes over from broken thumb victim Sonny Parker, with Jenkins replacing Adam Jones, who has an ankle injury.

In-form Gwent Dragons forward Owen, meanwhile, is preferred to Robert Sidoli, and Charvis has recovered from a finger injury. Charvis replaces Martyn Williams, both in the back-row and as captain.

There are three switches on the bench, with Williams, prop Ben Evans and lock Gareth Llewellyn all involved.

Sidoli, who struggled during the Ireland game after being sidelined through injury, will play for the Celtic Warriors this weekend.

Hansen said: Sid will turn out for his region because he needs more match play.

He has only played two games in the last eight weeks because of his pelvis problem, and in Michael Owen we have someone who is in excellent current form.

Mark Taylor comes in at centre and offers a valuable level of experience and, of the options available to us to replace Sonny, Tom Shanklin is able cover wing, centre and full-back for us from the bench.

Jamie Robinson is unlucky to miss out after showing some good form for the Blues, but that just shows the competition for places we have in his position.

We had a tough decision in the back-row, and weve gone for size to combat a big French pack.

The decision is no reflection on Martyn Williams performance last time out, and he will no doubt come on and play a part later in the game, as he has done so effectively in the past.

In the front-row, Duncan Jones has a slight wrist injury, so we decided it was too risky to consider him for selection, and in Iestyn (Thomas) we have a top quality player who made the decision easy, and he keeps his place.

Gethin Jenkins, meanwhile, was the obvious replacement at tighthead for Adam (Jones), and Ben Evans joins the bench to cover for that specialist position.

Wales team to play France in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

G Thomas (Celtic Warriors); R Williams (Cardiff), M Taylor (Llanelli), I Harris (Cardiff), S Williams (Neath-Swansea); S Jones (Llanelli), G Cooper (Celtic Warriors); I Thomas (Llanelli), R McBryde (Llanelli), G Jenkins (Celtic Warriors), B Cockbain (Celtic Warriors), M Owen (Gwent Dragons), J Thomas (Neath-Swansea), C Charvis (Tarbes, capt), D Jones (Scarlets).

Replacements: M Davies (Celtic Warriors), B Evans (Cardiff), G Llewellyn (Neath-Swansea), M Williams (Cardiff), D Peel (Llanelli), C Sweeney (Celtic Warriors), T Shanklin (Cardiff).