AARON Wainwright and Nick Tompkins have been named in Wayne Pivac’s starting line-up to face France on Saturday.

Fellow Dragons Leon Brown, Elliot Dee and Ross Moriarty have not been named in the matchday squad, after Jonah Holmes was released back to the region on Wednesday.

Wainwright will be joined by Justin Tipuric at flanker, with Bath's Taulupe Faletau at number eight.

Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar are named at half-back with Tompkins partnering the returning Jonathan Davies in midfield.

Josh Adams, George North and Leigh Halfpenny make up the back-three.

Head coach Wayne Pivac said: “The players are excited, it has been a long time, we can’t wait for Saturday.

“We have six matches this autumn and the game against France helps us get back into our stride international rugby-wise.

“We have picked an experienced side and are up against a good French team so we want to start this autumn well and get on the front foot for the Guinness Six Nations fixture against Scotland.

“We have talked already about how fortunate we are to be going about our work on a daily basis.

“A lot of people can’t do that and certainly within our organisation there are a lot of people not back at work. From our point of view this Saturday is an opportunity to prepare for this tournament and for Scotland, but two, to put some smiles on faces and put on a good performance and make the nation proud.”

Uncapped duo Sam Parry and Louis Rees-Zammit are both named on the bench for the test at Stade de France.

The match will see Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones level the world record of test appearances with his 148th international appearance, including nine British & Irish Lions test caps.

Jones will pack down alongside Cory Hill who makes his first start for his country since February 2019.

Commenting on the skipper's record, Pivac said: “It is a fabulous achievement. He epitomises what a great rugby player is all about.

"He is a true professional on and off the field and a gentleman of the game.

"On the field he leads by example and you can’t ask more of your captain and we are very privileged here in Wales to have him.”

Meanwhile, France have named a strong line-up for the Autumn Internationals opener.

There is just one change to the side which won 27-23 in Cardiff in the Six Nations earlier this year, with Vincent Rattez coming in at left wing, and Gael Fickou shifting across to inside centre. Arthur Vincent drops to the bench.

French head coach Fabien Galthié said following the announcement that keeping continuity with the side that performed at such a high level during the Spring was important going forward.

“Our team is growing and gaining individual and collective maturity,” he added.

Here are the line-ups in full:

Wales: Halfpenny, North, Jonathan Davies, Tompkins, Adams, Biggar, Webb; Carre, Elias, Lee, Hill, Jones (c), Wainwright, Tipuric, Faletau.

Replacements: Parry, Smith, Lewis, Seb Davies, James Davies, Gareth Davies, Patchell, Rees-Zammit.

France: Bouthier, Thomas, Vakatawa, Rattez, Ntamack, Dupont; Baille, Marchand, Haouas, Le Roux, Willemse, Cros, Ollivon (c), Alldritt.

Replacements: Chat, Gros, Bamba, Taofifenua, Cretin, Serin, Vincent, Ramos.

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)