Lions scrum Mike Phillips will be on the bench for Wales in Friday night's Six Nations clash with France, despite having played only 40 minutes of rugby in the past four months.

Phillips made his comeback from a serious ankle injury for Celtic League side Ospreys on Sunday and Wales coach Warren Gatland has fast-tracked him back into the national squad as back-up for Cardiff number nine Richie Rees.

Rees replaces Gareth Cooper in one of four changes and a positional switch from the XV that started the last gasp 31-24 win over Scotland earlier this month.

Hooker Huw Bennett takes over from the injured Gareth Williams, and there is an all-Blues second-row partnership of Bradley Davies and Deiniol Jones, with Jonathan Thomas switching from lock to flanker.

Thomas fills the back-row vacancy created by Andy Powell's axing from the Wales squad after he was charged with drink driving last week.

Davies, who is currently mourning the death of his mother Cheryl, joins Rees and Jones in making a first Six Nations start.

Jones, 32, was given the nod ahead of Luke Charteris and experienced Ospreys forward Ian Gough after elbow surgery sidelined Alun-Wyn Jones.

Charteris joins Phillips among the substitutes, with two uncapped players - Scarlets hooker Ken Owens and Saracens prop Rhys Gill - also named as replacements.

Gatland said: "Richie has played himself into the starting line-up and deserves his chance. But once we had decided on his selection we couldn't ignore the opportunity to bring Mike Phillips back into the fold.

"It was great to see Mike get a full half for the Ospreys at the weekend and he is someone who can give us a different option from the bench.

"He is a world class player and he has been champing at the bit to get back to international rugby.

"He may not be 100 per cent match fit but he still has probably the best pass in northern hemisphere rugby and is a big physical presence, so we know he won't let us down."

Phillips was hurt during the Ospreys' Heineken Cup victory over Clermont Auvergne on October 18, that setback coming less than four months after he starred for the Lions during their gripping Test series against world champions South Africa.

Gatland admitted Wales would have to be significantly sharper than they were against the Scots if they are to destroy France's Grand Slam hopes.

"We know we will create chances but we need to work hard in defence and improve in that area, as well as concentrate on maintaining discipline," Gatland said.

"Then we need to be clinical and take our points and build in attack. If we can do those things, we know we are in with a chance.

Wales (15-1)

Lee Byrne; Leigh Halfpenny, James Hook, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Richard Rees; Ryan Jones (capt), Martyn Williams, Jonathan Thomas; Deiniol James, Bradley Davies; Adam Rhys Jones, Huw Bennett, Paul James

Replacements: Ken Owens, Rhys Gill, Luke Charteris, Sam Warburton, Mike Phillips, Andrew Bishop, Tom Shanklin

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