The 25-year-old, who has helped Ospreys qualify for the last 16 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup, is the only the change to the side who thrashed Italy last weekend, replacing Cardiff Blues’ Cory Hill.

Beard was part of the Ospreys team who beat Castres Olympique 39-15 and Worcester Warriors 38-29 in the preliminary stage of the Challenge Cup, setting up a clash with Newcastle Falcons on April 3.

He comes into a Wales starting XV featuring three of his Ospreys team-mates in captain and second-row partner Alun Wyn Jones, flanker Justin Tipuric and centre George North.

There are two Cardiff Blues in the starting side in wing Josh Adams and flanker Josh Navidi, plus four on the bench in Hill, flanker James Botham, scrum-half Tomos Williams and centre Uilisi Halaholo. They face a trip to London Irish in the Challenge Cup last 16.

Northampton Saints fly-half Dan Biggar and Bath Rugby No.8 Taulupe Faletau, who will be taking on Dragons and Zebre Rugby respectively in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup, also both start.

Dragons team-mates Elliot Dee and Leon Brown are also on the bench, as is Ospreys prop Nicky Smith.

Ospreys’ Adam Beard returns to the second row for Wales as they bid to complete a Guinness 6 Nations Grand Slam against France in Paris on Saturday.