Warren Gatland has welcomed the idea of promotion and relegation within the Six Nations as World Rugby mull over new plans for a global rugby championship.
The Wales coach – who has named Tomos Williams for his first Six Nations start against France on Friday night – has no concerns about replacing the existing teams in the tournament with new ones.
His only condition would be the introduction of play-offs to ensure countries coming up are better than those on their way down.
Gatland’s comments came after reports that World Rugby are in advanced discussions with major nations over a “Nations Championship” that would involve 12 teams in a top division and 12 more below and begin in 2022.
The idea is that promotion and relegation would provide a route into the top level via either the Six Nations or expanded six-team Rugby Championship in the southern hemisphere.
“I’ve said it before when I’ve answered this question, it would be healthy for the bottom team to play the top team of the other European rugby championship,” said Gatland when asked if he was in favour of such changes to the Six Nations.
“But the team coming up has to be better than the team going down when you only have six teams in the competition.
“(Otherwise) . . . that devalues the Six Nations and the history of it. Georgia have been pretty successful. If Georgia went to Rome and beat Italy after they finished last, then they probably deserve to go up.”
That idea is at least three years away, by which time Gatland will have long gone from his current role with Wales.
But he intends to bow out with some tangible success in both the World Cup later this year and the Six Nations which starts with Friday’s clash in Paris.
Wales have only begun the six-team tournament against the French once before – in 2000, when they were thrashed 36-3 in Cardiff.
Much has changed in the relative recent paths of both teams, though, and the New Zealander is clear he thinks Wales should be considered potential tournament winners.
Wales have won three Six Nations titles (2008, 2012 and 2013) under Gatland, who will step down as head coach after the World Cup later this year.
With home games against Ireland and England – who have won the last five titles between them – later in the tournament, Gatland feels Wales are well placed to win another if they can get past the French.
“I’ve been pretty open that we have a good chance of winning the Six Nations. I think if we win this first game, we can win it given we have home games.
“I haven’t really contemplated anything other than winning the Six Nations. I haven’t talked or thought about another finishing position. We came second last year which was ok. It would be great for us to win the Six Nations but we know there’s also the World Cup.”
Williams – the 24-year-old Cardiff Blues No.9 – has been given the scrum-half spot ahead of Gareth Davies of the Scarlets, who has been struggling for fitness.
It means Williams will partner his Blues teammate Gareth Anscombe at half-back but Gatland conceded the fitness of Davies played a part in his choice.
“Gareth did not train all the first week so basically the call was made on fitness as much as anything.”
Gatland admitted he was surprised France have left powerhouse centre Mathieu Bastareaud out of their match day squad.
France coach Jacques Brunel has opted to pair 19-year-old Romain Ntamack – son of legendary winger Emile Ntamack – with Wesley Fofana for the game at the Stade de France.
Geoffrey Doumayrou and Gael Fickou will provide back-line cover from the bench.
Gatland admits the absence of Bastareaud, who weighs over 18 stone, makes it more likely Wales will target Camille Lopez’s No 10 channel with their ball carriers.
We had expected him to be included,” Gatland admitted. “They have obviously decided to go with a different attacking option.
“Probably what surprised me as much as anything was he is not a part of their 23. I thought if he was not in the starting XV he would have been on the bench as an impact player for the last 20 minutes or so.
“They have not got the biggest nine and ten in the world but neither have we so I expect they will come pretty direct through that channel and we will look at the same.
“[They have] a young 19-year-old in the midfield as well, playing in a big game.
“The game at the moment is about trying to get some front-foot ball and getting across the gain-line. We will probably use that, whether we use our wingers or our midfield. They will probably use their big forward pack.”
France had a mixed November series with a last-gasp defeat against South Africa followed by a win over Argentina and a loss to Fiji.
Prior to that they were whitewashed in their three-Test tour of New Zealand and lost their final Six Nations game last season against Wales in Cardiff.
“There is a bit of pressure on them, in terms of, they have only won one of their last seven games but three of those games were against New Zealand in the summer,” Gatland said.
“Their last [home] game in the Six Nations was a win against England. They should have beaten Ireland in that first game as well so they are going to a tough proposition.
“It looks to me like they have got big, bruising forward pack and they have picked a back-line with flair and talent and footwork.
“It is not the biggest backline in the world but [they will] try to use their big forwards to get them on the front foot and then use their pace and skill in the backs with Fofana and Entemac. Lopez has got a good kicking game and Parra is back in there so it going to be a tough ask for us.”
France: Maxime Medard; Damian Penaud, Wesley Fofana, Romain Ntamack, Yoann Huget; Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra; Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado (capt), Uini Atonio, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Paul Willemse, Wenceslas Lauret, Arthur Iturria, Louis Picamoles.
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Dany Priso, Demba Bamba, Felix Lambey, Gregory Alldritt, Baptiste Serin, Gael Fickou, Geoffrey Doumayrou.
Wales: Liam Williams (Saracens); George North (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Worcester); Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, captain), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Dragons).
Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Cory Hill (Dragons), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Northampton), Owen Watkin (Ospreys).