Wales head coach Warren Gatland has flagged the end of an era for Wales in Paris on Saturday, with up to eight players potentially making their final Guinness Six Nations appearances. 

Just under half of Gatland’s starting lineup and replacements to tackle France are aged 30 or over, and while the overwhelming majority should have key roles to play at the World Cup later this year, long-term planning after that will continue at a new pace.

“If I look at the squad, going through it, there are up to eight players in there who are potentially playing their last Six Nations game,” Gatland said, speaking at his squad’s training base in Nice. “We have got to think about building for the World Cup this year but also think about the 2027 (World Cup). You need to bring in some younger players and give them that time to develop. The ideal scenario is you want to go to a World Cup with a squad of mid-to-late 20s with 40 or 50 caps.

“That is some of the thinking behind the selection of guys who have been great servants to Welsh rugby but are probably involved in their last Six Nations game. The message to those who might be playing their last Six Nations game is to enjoy the occasion and the moment. For a lot of them, it might be the last time they do that.”

🚨 Diweddariad Carfan

Warren Gatland has selected a 32-man squad to prepare for the game against France 👉 https://t.co/RENV94DGpf

#WelshRugby | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/Asm6CLp4nk

— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 14, 2023

Gatland has recalled three thirtysomethings with 375 caps between them – center George North, fly-half Dan Biggar and lock Alun Wyn Jones – to face France. 

North replaces Mason Grady, partnering with Nick Tompkins in midfield, with Joe Hawkins also dropping out, while Biggar is preferred to Owen Williams. Jones takes over from Dafydd Jenkins.

Elsewhere, Louis Rees-Zammit replaces fullback Liam Williams, who suffered a shoulder injury during the 29-17 victory over Italy last weekend, and there also is a start for flanker Aaron Wainwright, with Jac Morgan sidelined due to an ankle injury suffered in training. 

No. 8 Taulupe Faletau will win his 100th cap, joining fellow Welsh centurions Jones, North, Biggar, Gethin Jenkins, Stephen Jones, Gareth Thomas and Martyn Williams.

Elsewhere, replacement prop Dillon Lewis is in line to reach 50 appearances, with full-back Leigh Halfpenny also among those players providing bench cover. 

Assessing Faletau’s achievement, Gatland added: “He has been an incredible servant to Wales. I remember in the early years, he was just a constant, and he became absolutely world-class in terms of his performances.

“There are a lot of things that people don’t see in terms of his ability to read the game – he will run support lines that people don’t see. He has been brilliant for the Lions, as well, and it is a great accolade for him and his family.”

Gatland, meanwhile, lavished praise on France following a 53-10 demolition of England, which underlined the huge task facing Wales as it tries to end an underwhelming Six Nations campaign on a high. 

Defeat for England. #ENGvFRA | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/NTCEe80u1B

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) March 11, 2023

“France, last weekend, put in probably one of the best performances seen in a long, long time,” Gatland said. “They are the No. 2 team in the world, they bring a really physical approach to the way they play and they have tended to start well. We have got to go out there and start well, make sure we are in that arm-wrestle with them and give ourselves that opportunity.

“They are a team that kicks the ball a lot, so we’ve also got to make sure that our backfield is right, and we have got to be good in the air.”