Johnson faces calls to reassess his Wales selection

The Australian said before the poor 18-18 draw with Italy that it was the last chance for many players.

Pundits and fans have called for change - notably in the pack and at centre - but Johnson, who names his side on Wednesday, says options are limited.

"I keep hearing we need fresh blood, but we don't have many fit players left in the bank," Johnson told BBC Sport.

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"We'll look at it and try to be fair across the board, then get a highly competitive team selected for France."

Johnson will have to make a change at scrum-half, with Mike Phillips expected to step in for Dwayne Peel, whose shoulder injury could keep him out for the rest of the season.

We thought of bringing Henson on against Italy Scott Johnson

The centre partnership of Haldane Luscombe and Matthew Watkins has been criticised for lacking variety, which means Gavin Henson could come into the reckoning at 12.

"Injuries and suspensions have left us short of options at inside centre, but Luscombe and Watkins are talented kids, we feel they're the best around," said Johnson.

"We thought of bringing Gavin on against Italy, but we thought we'd give the centres a chance and I always felt we were close to breaking the Azzurri down.

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"Bedding in new players takes time, especially with our all-action style of play, but we created the openings against Italy and just failed to finish them properly."

Wales' options have been limited by a crippling injury list that sees Peel, Gareth Cooper, Gareth Thomas, Tom Shanklin, Brent Cockbain, Kevin Morgan, Iestyn Thomas, Ryan Jones and Chris Horsman out as long-term casualties.

The back-row balance was fine when we beat Australia Martyn Williams Gwyn Jones calls for change

Former Wales captain and flanker Gwyn Jones has led calls for major changes in Wales' pack, including the dropping of captain Michael Owen.

The balance of the back row and its lack of ball carriers has been heavily criticised, but flanker Martyn Williams feels that he, Owen and Colin Charvis can do a job.

"The back-row balance was fine when we beat Australia in the autumn, but obviously when a team doesn't perform people will look at selection," Williams told BBC Sport Wales.

"As players you just have to take it on the chin, hope to get selected, and then get on with it.

"It wasn't nice to get booed off by your home crowd after the Italy game, but you can understand the crowd's frustrations.

"As a team all our preparations have been superb, but we just can't quite seem to put it together on match day.

"No-one will expect us to do anything against France, but hopefully that will see us come out at our best."

*Wales' team to face France is due to be named live on Wales Today on Wednesday, 15 March (BBC One Wales, 1330 GMT).