France v Wales, Six Nations, Febraury 27
Williams returns for Wales
Scrum.com
February 23, 2009
Wales' Shane Williams releases the ball against Scotland, Scotland v Wales, Six Nations Championship, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland, February 8, 2009
Williams has recovered from the ankle injury that ruled him out of the Six Nations victory over England © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Warren Gatland | Shane Williams
Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations
Teams: Wales

Winger Shane Williams has been named in Wales' starting line-up for their Six Nations clash against France in Paris on Friday

Williams, who has scored 45 tries in 62 Tests, has shaken off an ankle injury that ruled him out of the 23-15 victory over England and reclaims the No.11 shirt from Mark Jones. The return of Williams is the only change to the starting line-up while there is a place for fit-again Gavin Henson on the bench after he recovering from a calf muscle strain which sidelined him for the victories over Scotland and England.

Henson, who last played international rugby when Wales clinched last season's Six Nations title by beating France in Cardiff, takes over from Ospreys colleague Andrew Bishop on the bench.

"A fit Shane Williams is a player any coach would want in their side and so it was a natural decision for him to come in for Mark Jones, with no disrespect to Mark who did a good job for us against England," said coach Warren Gatland. "France are one of the top sides in the Championship and they are always going to be tough opposition - especially at home - and this is a must win game for them if they are to keep their title hopes alive.

"We also know how tough it will be for them with a short six-day turnaround for many of their players who have featured in domestic rugby this weekend - we had a similar experience ourselves in between the Scotland and England games and found it hard going - so that is something we must try to take advantage of."

The side features three players yet to lose a Six Nations match in Leigh Halfpenny and Andy Powell, who both made their Championship debuts this year and, on the bench, 2005 Grand Slam winner John Yapp. Meanwhile Ryan Jones has yet to lose a Six Nations match as captain after six tournament matches in charge.

Wales will be seeking to equal the record of both England and France in going nine Six Nations championship matches without defeat when they head to Paris this weekend.

The victory over England at the Millennium Stadium earlier this month made it eight wins in a row for Ryan Jones' men - one at the end of the 2007 championship, five in last season's Grand Slam campaign and two wins at the start of the 2009.

England's record run was between 2002 (wins in rounds four and five), a Grand Slam in 2003 and victories in the opening two rounds of 2004. The French had a run of nine wins with victories in the last two rounds of 2003, a Grand Slam in 2004 and wins in the opening two rounds of 2005.

The Welsh side of the early Seventies also won nine Five Nations matches in a row. They beat France at the end of the 1970 championship, completed a Grand Slam in 1971 (4 games) and were unbeaten again in 1972, although they only played three matches that season. They then beat England at the start of the 1973 campaign before losing in Scotland.

That was the start of the second 'Golden Era' in Welsh rugby, the first being at the start of the 20th century. While Wales claimed back-to-back Grand Slams in 1908 and 1909, not all teams played France.

England first met the French in 1906, Wales launched fixtures with them in 1908, Ireland in 1909 and the Scots in 1910. That is why many people claim the Five Nations Championship didn't officially start until 1910. However, Wales went 10 games undefeated between 1907-1910 - victory over Ireland in the last round of the championship in 1907, 'Grand Slams' in 1908 and 1909 and then a first round victory over the French in 1910. England also managed 10 successive championship wins between 1882-1886 and 1922-1925, including Grand Slams in 1923 and 1924.

Will Carling's England won back-to -back Grand Slams in 1991 and 1992, and went nine games without defeat, while the French recorded Grand Slams in 1997 and 1998 and also went nine runs unbeaten. On both occasions it was Wales who ended their winning streak.

Wales team to play France in the Six Nations Championship on Friday, February 27, 8pm:

L Byrne (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), M Phillips (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), A Jones (Ospreys), I Gough (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), R Jones (Ospreys, capt), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), A Powell (Cardiff Blues).

Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), J Yapp (Cardiff Blues), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), D Jones (Scarlets), D Peel (Sale Sharks), J Hook (Ospreys), G Henson (Ospreys).

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