Six Nations Team News:  James Hook has been given the responsibility of guiding Wales to Grand Slam glory after reclaiming the outhalf jersey for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations showdown with France in Cardiff.

Head coach Warren Gatland described the decision to select Hook ahead of the more experienced, steadying hand of Stephen Jones as one of the toughest of his career.

Jones started Wales' last two victories, over Italy and Ireland, and he played a key role off the bench in closing out the win against Scotland.

But in the end, Gatland and his staff decided Hook's creative qualities will be more suited to tackling the French, who have shown a propensity for open, attacking rugby under Marc Lievremont.

"We have an historic opportunity and we intend to grasp it with both hands," said Gatland.

"Just like every game, we have looked at the 10 situation and who would do the best job for the game. We have afforded ourselves the luxury of bringing in James Hook.

"We have spoken to the players and we feel that, against France, James gives us slightly more attacking options.

"It is no consolation to Stephen but coming off the bench he gives us that maturity and experience in being able to change a game if we need to, or close it down.

"We have used both players in every game except England and I see that happening again on Saturday."

While the rest of Wales has spent the last three days whipping itself into frenzied Grand Slam excitement following the Triple Crown triumph in Dublin, Gatland and his staff have been agonising over their outhalf decision.

In the end, it came down to a horses for courses selection, as it did when Jones was returned to the side after Hook started the victories over England and Scotland.

Gatland explained: "It definitely ranks up there as one of the hardest decisions I have had to make.

"Sometimes you have got to make those calls and when you have got to let players down, that is the hardest side of the job.

"Stephen Jones is absolutely gutted and I really felt for him. It was an agonising decision to make.
As a coach, you get no pleasure telling a player he has been dropped for a game.

"Stephen has taken it on the chin and you have got to admire his response. I have a huge amount of respect for Stephen as a person and I am sure his experience will add to us this week."

The only other change from the 16-12 win at Croke Park was the return of hooker Huw Bennett, who missed out in Ireland after catching the 'flu.

Scrumhalf Mike Phillips had been nervous about retaining his place in the side after being sin-binned in the first half against Ireland for dropping a knee on Marcus Horan.

Gatland considered his options but is a confirmed fan of Phillips, who redeemed himself at Croke Park with a try-saving tackle on Shane Horgan and a powerful all-round performance.

"I talked to Mike after the game. Discipline is one area we are really trying to work on and hopefully Mike learns from that. If the result had been different perhaps it could cost him his place," said Gatland.

"I hope there has been a lesson in it because I have told Mike he can be the biggest, most physical, imposing scrum-half in world rugby."

Nine of the Wales starting XV were involved in the victorious 2005 Grand Slam campaign and Gatland believes that experience will hold his side in good stead.

"I think it gives us an advantage that the players have been through the experience before," said Gatland.

"But in fairness to the players, they are not looking in the past. They have not spoken about 2005. It is a bonus that they know what the week is like, what the support and expectation is like."

Wales can afford to lose by 19 points on Saturday and still be crowned Six Nations champions - but they are determined to finish the campaign on an historic high with their 10th Grand Slam triumph.

"It will be nice if we can take the championship, but we'd like to be doing it with a win over France. To win on points difference would be something of a hollow victory," said Gatland.

"We have already achieved something in this campaign that can't be taken away from us with the Triple Crown, but we have an opportunity now to push on and do something a little bit special in front of our home crowd.

"We are confident, we have worked hard and if we continue in the same vein in which we started this campaign, we believe we can come away with a deserved victory."

France have won their last six matches at the Millennium Stadium, including the World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.

The last time they beat Wales in Cardiff by more than 20 points - the amount required to snatch the title - was in 2000.

Gatland added: "We have momentum, which is what this tournament is all about, but you can never underestimate the French.

"We will probably be tipped as favourites after putting a run of results together and it is how we handle that pressure which will be a deciding factor."

Lievremont, meanwhile, has delayed naming his team until tomorrow.  The coach initially intended to reveal his starting XV today, after making six changes to his 22 following Sunday's 25-13 win over Italy

Wales team:  Lee Byrne, Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams, James Hook, Mike Phillips; Ryan Jones (c), Martyn Williams, Jonathan Thomas, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ian Gough, Adam Jones, Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: Matthew Rees, Duncan Jones, Ian Evans, Gareth Delve, Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones, Sonny Parker

France Squad:
Backs:Cedric Heymans, Anthony Floch, Julien Malzieu, Vincent Clerc, Damien Traille, Yannick Jauzion, David Skrela, Francois Trinh-Duc, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Dimitri Yachvili.
Forwards: Fabien Barcella, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Nicolas Mas, William Servat, Dimitri Szarzewski, Jerome Thion, Lionel Nallet, Arnaud Mela, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Elvis Vermeulen