My job is on the line says Wales boss Warren Gatland
WARREN GATLAND may have revealed concern over his future yesterday but Rhys Webb has no such doubts ahead of facing France in Paris.
Gatland admits his position will be uncertain when his appointee, Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis, quits after this autumn's World Cup.
The head coach knows his fate will be in the hands of the as yet unknown successor to Lewis.
"His departure probably will have an effect on my position," said Gatland.
"I've made a commitment to Welsh rugby until 2019 but other people make those decisions because professional sport is about results."
It is Gatland's players in the firing line this week, particularly his half-backs given how Mathieu Bastareaud targeted Ireland's Jonathan Sexton, left sporting eight stitches in a gash above his eye. But Webb warned France against employing the same tactics on Saturday.
"Send them down that channel if they want. Teams targeted Dan in the autumn and already in the Six Nations," said Webb.
"They don't get much bigger than the South Africans and he stopped them dead.
His [Roger Lewis] departure probably will have an effect on my position
"We've got the players to stop them so if that's what they want to do, then we are ready."
Webb is likely to be marked just as closely given his four tries in five Tests.
He said: "They [France] can try to pay more attention to me but if they have their eyes on me, it can create more space for others.
"I'm on a good run but the last few have just been about being in the right place at the right time with support lines. It's great to score but winning is more important."
Hooker Scott Baldwin and Paris-based lock Luke Charteris replace Richard Hibbard and Jake Ball amid four changes from the win in Scotland. George North and Samson Lee both return from head injuries but Alex Cuthbert is dropped.
Gatland said: "Alex is not as sharp as he was last summer when even South Africa were struggling to handle him."
Wales: Halfpenny, North, Davies, Roberts, L Williams; Biggar, Webb, Jenkins, Baldwin, Lee, Charteris, A-W Jones, Lydiate, Warburton (capt), Faletau.
Replacements: Hibbard, James, Jarvis, Davies, J Tipuric, Phillips, Priestland, S Williams (Scarlets).
****
Steffon Armitage will have to wait to discover whether he is found guilty of assault after a French court sent the case back to police for further investigation yesterday.
Armitage, who denies any wrongdoing, is accused of assaulting a 30-year-old tennis instructor in a restaurant in Toulon in December.
