Wayne Pivac has made multiple changes to his Wales team to play Italy in their Six Nations finale on Saturday.
Captain Dan Biggar will win his 100th cap for Wales this weekend. He is joined in the starting line up by Alun Wyn Jones, who returns for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury against New Zealand in the autumn.
Jones will make his 150th appearance for Wales. Vice-captain Adam Beard partners Jones in the second row.
Pivac said: “
We’ve made a few changes this week. With one game to go there are some players we need to see out there and put them in the match day 23.
“We’ve certainly selected a side which we think can get the job done. Clearly that’s what we’re here for. There’s an opportunity to move up that table, so we think this is an exciting team and one we’re looking forward to seeing out there.
“Italy are a side that’s improving, they’ve had some bad luck here and there and with a new coach transitioning we know it takes a bit of time.
“But we know they’ve got some very good rugby players and as you saw against Scotland they troubled them in that second half and for long periods of the first. So we’re going to have to be on our game and we’re very much looking forward to playing at home again this weekend.
“We had a good result against Scotland, gave the fans something to cheer about and came very close against an in form France. Obviously disappointed we couldn’t get across the line for our fans there and we hope we can do that this weekend and finish on a high.”
Round five fixtures: Saturday 19 March
- Wales vs. Italy (2.15pm; Principality Stadium, Cardiff; BBC/S4C)
- Ireland vs. Scotland (4.45pm; Aviva Stadium, Dublin; ITV)
- France vs. England (8pm; Stade de France, Paris; ITV)
Table after round four
Graphic: twitter.com/SixNationsRugby
Wales team to play Italy:
15. Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets – 9 caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 15 caps)
13. Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 30 caps)
12. Uilisi Halaholo (Cardiff Rugby – 9 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 38 caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints – 99 caps), captain
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 66 caps);
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 9 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 4 caps)
3. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 37 caps)
4. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 33 caps), vice-captain
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 149 caps)
6. Seb Davies (Cardiff Rugby – 16 caps)
7. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby – 29 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby – 88 caps)
Replacements
16. Bradley Roberts (Ulster Rugby – 1 cap)
17. Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 42 caps)
18. Leon Brown (Dragons – 21 caps)
19. Will Rowlands (Dragons – 17 caps)
20. Ross Moriarty (Dragons – 53 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 10 caps)
22. Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears – 15 caps)
23. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 19 caps)