UPDATE 1-Rugby-Gatland picks Williams at scrum-half for France opener
Williams made his Wales debut in June last year and has six caps, 30 fewer than Davies, who has only recently returned from a thigh injury and will take his place among the replacements. Gatland opted instead to pair Williams with his Blues team mate Gareth Anscombe, who will start in the flyhalf berth at the Stade de France.
Ken Owens is set to make a 61st appearance that would make him the most capped hooker in Welsh history. Josh Navidi is back from injury to start at flank in a back-row that also includes Justin Tipuric and number eight Ross Moriarty.
Alun Wyn-Jones will captain the side from lock in what is his 49th Six Nations appearance. Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies continue their partnership at centre with Josh Adams, George North and Liam Williams making up the back three.
Leigh Halfpenny, Leon Brown, Rhys Patchell and Scott Williams were not considered due to injury. "We come into the game on an impressive run of results but we know how tough it will be to face France in Paris in the tournament opener," Gatland said in a media statement from Welsh Rugby.
"It will be a huge contest but we are excited going into it. We have a great deal of experience across the team and on the bench and we want to kick things off well on Friday." Wales finished runners-up in the Six Nations last year and are on a nine-match unbeaten run in what is Gatland's final season with the side before he ends his 12-year tenure after the World Cup in Japan.
Team: 15-Liam Williams, 14-George North, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Hadleigh Parkes, 11-Josh Adams, 10-Gareth Anscombe, 9-Tomos Williams, 8-Ross Moriarty, 7-Justin Tipuric, 6-Josh Navidi, 5-Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4-Adam Beard, 3-Tomas Francis, 2-Ken Owens, 1-Rob Evans Replacements: 16-Elliot Dee, 17-Wyn Jones, 18-Samson Lee, 19-Cory Hill, 20-Aaron Wainwright, 21-Gareth Davies, 22-Dan Biggar, 23-Owen Watkin (Reporting by Nick Said; editing by Ken Ferris)
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