Wales' starting XV includes 11 GUINNESS PRO12 players, with six more on the bench.
Lydiate featured for the Ospreys in their GUINNESS PRO12 victory over Edinburgh last weekend and the ferocious tackling blindside has been drafted into contain France's big ball-carrying threats.
His return reunites Wales' Lions back-row trio, with Lydiate starting alongside Newport Gwent Dragons' Taulupe Faletau and Cardiff Blues' Sam Warburton.
Warburton's clubmate Alex Cuthbert is given the nod ahead of Tom James in recognition of his fine form, including a try in Blues' narrow 29-27 derby victory over Scarlets over Christmas.
The Scarlets are the biggest contributors to the squad with four starters and two more on the bench, while the Ospreys are not far behind with the same number in the starting line-up and Tipuric on the bench.
Wales team to face France: 15. Liam Williams (Scarlets), 14. Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), 13. Jonathan Davies (Clermont), 12. Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), 11. George North (Northampton Saints), 10. Dan Biggar (Ospreys), 9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets), 1. Rob Evans (Scarlets), 2. Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), 3. Samson Lee (Scarlets), 4. Bradley Davies (Wasps), 5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), 6. Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), 7. Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), 8. Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: 16. Ken Owens (Scarlets), 17. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), 18. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), 19. Jake Ball (Scarlets), 20. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), 21. Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), 22. Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), 23. Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues).
France team to face Wales: 15. Maxime Médard (Toulouse), 14. Djibril Camara (Stade Français), 13. Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), 12. Jonathan Danty (Stade Français), 11. Virimi Vakatawa (FFR), 10. Jules Plisson (Stade Français), 9. Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92), 1. Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux-Bègles), 2. Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), 3. Rabah Slimani (Stade Français), 4. Paul Jedrasiak (Clermont), 5. Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Français), 6. Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92), 7. Antoine Burban (Stade Français),8. Damien Chouly (Clermont)
Replacements: 16. Camille Chat (Racing 92), 17. Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), 18. Vincent Pelo (La Rochelle), 19. Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), 20. Loann Goujon (Bordeaux-Bègles), 21. Sébastien Bézy (Toulouse), 22. François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), 23. Gaël Fickou (Toulouse)
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