Olly Cracknell Set for Six Nations Debut as Wales Make Four Changes for France Clash

Leicester back-rower Olly Cracknell is poised to make his Six Nations debut this Sunday as Wales head coach Steve Tandy announces four alterations to the starting lineup following last week's heavy defeat to England. The reshuffle sees Cracknell slot in at number eight, with Aaron Wainwright shifting to the blindside flank and Alex Mann taking the openside jersey in a reconfigured back row.

Prop Swaps and Centre Selection Adjustments

In the front row, Tandy has promoted Rhys Carre and Tomas Francis from the bench to start at loosehead and tighthead prop respectively, displacing Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin who move to replacement roles. Meanwhile, Joe Hawkins has been preferred over Ben Thomas at inside centre, forming a midfield partnership with his clubmate Eddie James as Wales seek to bolster their attacking options.

Wales face a formidable challenge as they welcome tournament favourites France to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The Welsh side has conceded an average of nearly 58 points across their last three international outings, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities that Tandy is urgently addressing.

Tandy's Candid Assessment and Team Focus

"There are a few changes for this week," Tandy explained during the team announcement. "A lot of it is based on who we are playing, and then Olly Cracknell has done a full training week this week and also played really well in the autumn."

The coach offered a frank evaluation of last week's performance, stating: "We were bitterly disappointed with the performance last week. We've addressed it in meetings. The boys were open and honest around the fact that we didn't put ourselves on the game. We felt we played into England's hands a little bit and obviously the discipline was hugely disappointing. It's a massive lesson for us. It's something we need to correct and put more of our game out on the field on Sunday."

Ticket Distribution Concerns and Match Details

Despite the Welsh Rugby Union reportedly distributing complimentary tickets in the lead-up to the fixture, empty seats are anticipated at the Principality Stadium, reflecting ongoing challenges with fan engagement following recent results.

The match kicks off at 3.10pm GMT on Sunday 15 February, with Wales fielding the following starting XV: