France v Wales, Six Nations, February 9
Warburton ruled out of France clash
ESPN Staff
February 7, 2013
Justin Tipuric looks to offload under pressure, Wales v Italy, Six Nations, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, March 10, 2012
Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric will line up at openside in a re-jigged Wales back-row © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Richard Hibbard | Ryan Jones | Justin Tipuric
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Wales captain Sam Warburton has been ruled out of Saturday's Six Nations clash against France in Paris with a shoulder injury.

The flanker has been sidelined with a 'stinger' that he suffered during his side's 30-22 defeat to Ireland in Cardiff last weekend and as a result the captaincy passes to former skipper Ryan Jones who is recalled at blindside having recovered from a thumb injury.

Ospreys back-row Jones returns the Wales starting line-up at the expense of Scarlets flanker Aaron Shingler who drops to the bench with Ospreys' Justin Tipuric filling the openside void left by an injured Warburton. Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard comes in for Scarlets' Matthew Rees in the only other change to the side starting XV beaten last time out. There are a further two changes amongst the replacements with Shingler taking the place of Tipuric and Cardiff Blues lock Lou Reed stepping in for injured Quins second row Olly Kohn.

"We didn't start the tournament the way we wanted to on the weekend but Saturday is a chance for us to go out and show what we can do," said caretaker coach Rob Howley. "We know that we will have to start well and start the way we finished the game against Ireland.

"It's disappointing to have Sam ruled out but Ryan comes in as captain with a wealth of experience. Playing France in Paris is always a huge match but we have worked hard as a squad this week and want to deliver a performance we know we are capable of."

More to follow...

Wales: L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), G North (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), M Phillips (Bayonne); G Jenkins (Toulon), R Hibbard (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), A Coombs (Newport Gwent Dragons), I Evans (Ospreys), R Jones (Ospreys, capt), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), P James (Bath), C Mitchell (Exeter), L Reed (Cardiff Blues), A Shingler (Scarlets), L Williams (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Perpignan), S Williams (Scarlets).

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