Gatland warns Moriarty to control red mist on Wales return

Moriarty has not played since suffering a concussion in the European Challenge Cup defeat at Clermont Auvergne on December 15.

However, the back row forward will start in the tournament opener at Stade de France to provide some oomph in the absence of injured number eight Taulupe Faletau.

He joins forces with Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi with Aaron Wainwright hoping for a Six Nations debut as a replacement.

PARIS RETURN: Ross Moriarty (right) will start against France

Moriarty has been sidelined for seven weeks but Gatland pointed to the summer, when the number eight had not featured for previous club Gloucester but started all three Tests.

"Ross is a real competitor and surprised me in the summer – I did not think that he could put three games back-to-back," said the head coach.

"I thought that we would have to rest him in one of them but he got better as the summer went on.

"He has had a few weeks out but is training well and looking sharp."

In the last of the June outings the combative back rower sent off in the last minute after getting Argentina fly-half in a choke-hold.

FLASHPOINT: Ross Moriarty was sent off and sparked a dust-up with Argentina after his choke-hold

He was also sin-binned for the Dragons at Leinster in September after a late hit on Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton and was warned for his backchat to referee Ian Davies in the October derby loss to Cardiff Blues.

"He is uncompromising in his approach and has that winning attitude. Ross loves being on the rugby field and loves being physical," said Gatland.

"He loves playing for Wales, wants to win and has that bit of an edge about him. We've got to make sure that red mist doesn't come down too quickly, because it can come down pretty fast, so he is learning to control himself a little bit.

"That's a work-on for him, he understands that, but he is a quality player to have in the side."

While Moriarty starts, three of his Dragons teammates will be charged with adding impact from the bench.

IMPACT SUB: Dragons captain Cory Hill is on the Wales bench

Lock Cory Hill, hooker Elliot Dee and flanker Aaron Wainwright will be among the replacements in Paris.

Hill repeats the role that he played against Australia and South Africa last autumn when he backed up captain Alun Wyn Jones and Adam Beard while Dee is deputy for Ken Owens, who becomes Wales' most capped hooker.

Wainwright is set for his Six Nations debut after making his Test debut against Argentina last summer, earning his first start against Tonga in November and then coming off the bench to replace Moriarty in the opening stages of the win against the Springboks.

"Our bench was very significant in the autumn," said Gatland. "There was impact from Elliot Dee and Dillon Lewis, Cory Hill was great from the perspective of accuracy at the lineout and calling, and then Dan Biggar was good as well."

Lewis misses out to Samson Lee as cover for tighthead Tomas Francis, who is rewarded for a strong autumn with the 3 jersey.

Cardiff Blues scrum-half Tomos Williams is given the start ahead of Gareth Davies while Josh Adams is selected on the wing with Liam Williams starting at full-back in the absence of Leigh Halfpenny (concussion).

There is no place in the 23 for Dragons wing/full-back Hallam Amos with centre Owen Watkin preferred as cover for the three-quarters.

READ MORE: France go with heavyweights for Paris

Wales: L Williams (Saracens); G North (Ospreys), J Davies (Scarlets), H Parkes (Scarlets), J Adams (Worcester); G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), T Williams (Cardiff Blues); R Evans (Scarlets), K Owens (Scarlets), T Francis (Exeter), A Beard (Ospreys), A W Jones (Ospreys, captain), J Navidi (Cardiff Blues), J Tipuric (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Dragons).

Replacements: E Dee (Dragons), W Jones (Scarlets), S Lee (Scarlets), C Hill (Dragons), A Wainwright (Dragons), G Davies (Scarlets), D Biggar (Northampton), O Watkin (Ospreys).