Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland has named eight Ospreys in his starting line-up for the second successive RBS Six Nations fixture, with a further two named among the replacements.
There is a positional change for James Hook who will switch from fly-half to outside centre for Saturday’s game against Italy in Rome,Stephen Jones returning at ten with Scarlets midfielder Jonathan Davies not considered after picking up a hamstring injury. There are a further two Ospreys on the bench, taking the total in the 22 to 10.
On the bench Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny returns from an ankle injury to fill the berth vacated by the 97-times capped Jones.
“We have selected the strongest possible side, showing the utmost respect to Italy,” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
“We know only too well what tough opponents they are in Rome and so we have picked the strongest team available to us.”
With the only change coming in the backs it’s a case of ‘same again’ for the forward pack that performed so well against Scotland at Murrayfield, according to attack coach Rob Howley.
“This is very much a vote of confidence for the forwards, they have been going extremely well as a unit and we are looking for more of the same against Italy,” said Howley.
“Our hand has been forced in the back line, Jonathan is simply not ready this weekend after struggling with his hamstring since the Scotland game.
“The obvious decision then is to move James (Hook) into the centre where he has done well in partnership with Jamie (Roberts).
“And bringing Stephen (Jones) in at fly half is a great luxury to have. He was hurting after the England game, he will be looking forward to getting back out there and we are very happy to have that option available to us.
“James wins his 50thcap and we all know what a valuable player he is to this team and what a great servant he has been to Welsh rugby already at just 26 years of age.”
Wales go to Rome looking to build on their performance in Edinburgh and to attempt to consolidate a winning mentality.
“Italy are a different animal at home, they showed that against Ireland,” added Howley.
“Since the inception of Italy as a part of the Six Nations they have continued to improve year on year and they are always capable of turning you over.
“We are under no illusion as to how tough it is going to be for us out there on Saturday, history shows us that it is going to be a very hard day at the office, but we have picked a side to go out there and win.”
Hook will become the 25thWelshman to join the 50 cap club when he runs out at the Stadio Flamino on Saturday and fly half Jones will join Blues flanker Martyn Williams in second place on the all time Welsh appearance list, just two behind Gareth Thomas who leads with 100 caps.
WALES: LEE BYRNE; MORGAN STODDART, JAMES HOOK, JAMIE ROBERTS, SHANE WILLIAMS; STEPHEN JONES, MICHAEL PHILLIPS; PAUL JAMES, MATTHEW REES (CAPT), CRAIG MITCHELL, BRADLEY DAVIES, ALUN WYN JONES, DAN LYDIATE, SAM WARBURTON, RYAN JONES?REPLACEMENTS: RICHARD HIBBARD, JOHN YAPP, JONATHAN THOMAS, JOSH TURNBULL, TAVIS KNOYLE, RHYS PRIESTLAND, LEIGH HALFPENNY
WALES
15 Lee BYRNE (OSPREYS– Cap No 1,041)? DoB: 01.06.80. 6'3" / 1.91m. 14st 12lb / 94kgs? International record: 40 caps (W 15, L 23, D 2; 45 pts – 9T)
14 Morgan STODDART (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,056)? DoB: 23.09.84. 6’1” / 1.86m. 14st 13lbs / 95kgs? International record: 5 caps (W 2, L 3; 15 pts – 3T)
13 James HOOK (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,047)? DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0” / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs? International record: 49 caps (W 19, L 28, D 2; 254 pts – 11T, 35C, 40PG, 3DG)
12 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057)? DoB: 08.11.86. 6’4” / 1.93m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs? International record: 26 caps (W 11, L 15; 10 pts – 2T)
11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS – Cap No 976)? DoB: 26.02.77. 5’7” / 1.71m. 12st 1lb / 77kgs? International record: 77 caps (W 36, L 39, D 2; 265 pts – 53T)
10 Stephen JONES (SCARLETS– Cap No 966) ? DoB: 08.12.77. 6'1” / 1.86m. 14st 7lbs / 92kgs? International record: 97 caps (W 40, L 54, D 3; 870 pts - 7T, 137C, 181PG, 6DG)
9 Michael PHILLIPS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,022)? DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3” / 1.91m. 15st 10lb / 101kgs? International record: 48 caps (W 22, L 24, D 2; 20 pts – 4T)
1 Paul JAMES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,021)? DoB: 13.05.82. 6’1” / 1.86m. 18st 2lbs / 115kgs? International record: 19 caps (W 6, L 12, D 1)
2 Matthew REES (SCARLETS, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,033)? DoB: 09.12.80. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs? International record: 44 caps (W 18, L 25, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)
3 Craig MITCHELL (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,068)? DoB: 03.05.86. 6’1” / 1.85m. 17st 2lbs / 109kgs? International record: 6 caps (W 4, L 2)
4 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)? DoB: 09.01.87. 6’6” / 1.98m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs? International record: 19 caps (W 7, L 11, D 1)
5 Alun Wyn JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,046)? DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5” / 1.96m. 18st 10lbs / 119kgs? International record: 45 caps (W 17, L 28; 25 pts – 5T)
6 Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,071)? DoB: 18.12.87. 1.93m / 6’4”. 17st 10lbs / 112kgs? International record: 7 caps (W 2, L 4, D 1)
7 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,070)? DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6’2”. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs? International record: 11 caps (W 5, L 6)
8 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,029)? DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs? International record: 48 caps (W 24, L 22, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Richard HIBBARD (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,048)? DoB: 13.12.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 7lbs / 111kgs? International record: 11 caps (W 4, L 7)
17 John YAPP (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,031)? DoB: 09.04.83. 6’2” / 1.88m. 19st 4lbs / 122.4kgs? International record: 19 caps (W 13, L 6)
18 Jonathan THOMAS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,013)? DoB: 27.12.82. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 7lbs / 111kgs? International record: 64 caps (W 28, L 33, D 3; 35 pts – 7T)
19 Josh TURNBULL (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,079)? DoB: 12.03.88. 1.93m / 6’4”. 15st 8lbs / 99kgs? International record: 1 cap (W 1)
20 Tavis KNOYLE (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,076)? DoB: 02.06.90. 6’1” / 1.85m. 14st 5lbs / 91kgs? International record: 2 caps (W 1, L 1)
21 Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,080)? DoB: 07.01.87 1.82m / 6’0”. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs? International record: 1 cap (W 1)
22 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,060)? DoB: 22.12.88. 5’10” / 1.77m. 13st 2lbs / 83kgs? International record: 17 caps (W 6, L 11; 59 pts – 7T, 8PG)