WALES boss Warren Gatland believes France will be feeling the heat to 'express themselves' in Paris on Saturday evening rather than just resorting to brute force.

Les Bleus have not scored a try against Wales since Vincent Clerc crossed the whitewash in the 2011 Six Nations clash in the French capital.

It is expected that they will adopt a direct approach to try and change that, applying the squeeze at the set piece, rumbling forward at the driving lineout and unleashing the bulky frames of the likes of Mathieu Bastareaud, Uini Atonio, Yoann Maestri and Louis Picamoles.

However, Gatland believes opposite number Philippe Saint-Andre will face calls from the famously fickle home fans to play with a bit more flair.

"They are under a bit of pressure to go and play some rugby," said Gatland. "The last 20 minutes against Ireland, when they started to keep the ball and move the ball, was when they looked their most dangerous.

"They have probably been conservative in the way they have played and I think they will go and express themselves a bit more and potentially throw the ball around.

"They have so much strength in depth in terms of numbers, so they are always going to be a tough proposition in terms of up front.

"Scrum and lineout are going to be pretty competitive, and they have got players that can score from anywhere in the back line."

Gatland has moved to try and counter France's power in the tight five by bringing in lock Luke Charteris, a fine defender of the driving lineout, and Scott Baldwin and Samson Lee in the front row.

Charteris slots in next to talisman Alun Wyn Jones and the pair are backed up by Wasps' Bradley Davies with Jake Ball missing out altogether.

"There isn't any difference between the four second rows we've got," said Gatland, although that point could be challenged given the quality of Jones. "It was always in our mind to try to give Luke and Brad some time in the Six Nations.

"All the second rows have contributed a heck of a lot at training, and when you see that you want to reward some players for not just their work on the park, but also the hard work they are doing off it."

Gatland has opted to bring George North back into the back three at the expense of Alex Cuthbert, slotting in alongside Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny.

The coach says that he is spoilt for choice in that department, highlighting Hallam Amos' fine form for Newport Gwent Dragons, and hopes it brings the best out of Cardiff Blues speedster Cuthbert.

"We are expecting a reaction from him," said Gatland. "He's not quite as sharp as he was in the summer when the South Africans struggled to handle him.

"Alex was bursting through tackles and bumping players off. We're trying to get him back to that sharpness where he's dangerous with the ball in hand. He's aware of that and I think he will respond accordingly."

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Paul James (Bath), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets).