Wales coach Warren Gatland has made 11 changes to his starting XV for Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final against France in Oita.

Gatland selected most of his fringe players to do duty in their final pool game against Uruguay last Sunday, but has recalled his first-choice players for the crunch playoff encounter against their Six Nations rivals.

Centre Hadleigh Parkes, wing Josh Adams and loose forwards Justin Tipuric and Aaron Wainwright are the only ones who survived the cut to retain their places in the run-on team.

In the back division, fullback Liam Williams, wing George North, centre Jonathan Davies, flyhalf Dan Biggar and scrumhalf Gareth Davies return to the fold. There were injury concerns for Biggar (concussion), Jonathan Davies (knee) and North (ankle), but all three men passed late fitness tests to come into consideration for selection.

Up front, Josh Navidi comes into the loose trio at the expense of Aaron Shingler. Captain Alun Wyn Jones and Jake Ball return as the lock preferred lock pairing and while props Tom Francis and Wyn Jones and hooker Ken Owens are the starting front rowers.

Captain Jones will play his 141st Test match (for Wales and the British & Irish Lions) to equal Brian O’Driscoll’s tally. Only Richie McCaw (148) and Sergio Parisse (142) have more Test caps.

Wales – 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Josh Navidi, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Jake Ball, 3 Tom Francis, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Wyn Jones.
Subs: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Owen Watkin.

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