Given Wales’ sorry recent form, only a handful of players can be sure of their places in the team to face France on Sunday.
“We have to change some players because some of those players have had plenty of chances, and they’re simply not good enough on the international level,” ex-Wales back-rower Emyr Lewis told BBC Radio Cymru’s Dros Frecwast.
“I don’t like to name individuals but, without a doubt, the balance in midfield isn’t right, so I would definitely bring bigger players in like Owen Watkin. We know how good he is defensively and we have to have a strong defence against France.
“The back row, again no balance there, we have to bring in bigger players especially against such a huge French pack. I’d definitely bring in Ollie Cracknell.
“We have to look at bringing in big, strong, rough players who will give the French pack a challenge.”
Former Wales centre Scott Williams is another who would like to see changes in his old position.
“As a former centre, Ben Thomas didn’t have the best of games if I’m honest,” Williams said on Scrum V.
“Eddie James can be a real weapon for us, he’s a massive guy, but I looked at the stats and he had three carries.
“I know that’s not all on him, that’s the way the game went. But he’s a 12 in my eyes. He needs to get on the ball, needs to get Wales over the gain line. He’s 108 kilos, or whatever he is, he’s hard to stop.
“I’d like to see Eddie James at 12. He needs to be at 12. Whether Ben Thomas goes 13 or whatever, I just think he’s a little bit lost there.”
Rees also wants to see bigger, more physically imposing players selected.
“For me you need [wing or centre] Mason Grady and [prop] Rhys Carre on the field,” he said on the same podcast.
“Otherwise France could run away with the game early on and it becomes difficult when you try and bring them on too late, as we saw against England.”
