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Six NationsWales

Title-chasing Wales make two changes to their Six Nations XV to face Italy

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Grand Slam-chasing Wales have made two changes to their XV to play Italy next Saturday in Rome, bringing Cory Hill and Gareth Davies into the side that beat England on February 27 to make it three wins from three in the 2021 Guinness Six Nations. Hill is the only change in the Triple Crown-winning pack, taking over from Adam Beard to partner captain Alun Wyn Jones in the second row.

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The front row remains unchanged for the fourth successive game with Wyn Jones, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis packing down together. Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau comprise the back row.

Davies, meanwhile, comes in to start at scrum-half alongside Dan Biggar, repacing the injured Kieran Hardy. Jonathan Davies and George North continue their Six Nations partnership in the Wales midfield with Josh Adams, Louis Rees-Zammit and Liam Williams named in the back three.

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“We are really looking forward to this weekend and are ready to get out there on Saturday,” said Wales head coach Wayne Pivac. “Three from three is a great start but there has been plenty to do and plenty of work-ons. We have had a two-week build-up to this game, trained really well in the fallow week and are looking forward to round four.”

Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre and Leon Brown comprise the front row replacements. Jake Ball, who could win his 50th test cap in Rome and Aaron Wainwright complete the forward contingent. Lloyd Williams, Callum Sheedy and Uilisi Halaholo provide the backline cover.

Rhodri Jones has been released from the squad due to a calf injury suffered at training. He has been replaced by Ospreys prop Nicky Smith. Meanwhile, the following players will be released back to their respective regions for this weekend and will link back up with the national squad on Monday: Jarrod Evans, Owen Watkin, Johnny Williams, Nick Tompkins.

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WALES (vs Italy, Saturday)
1. Wyn Jones (33 caps)
2. Ken Owens (80 caps)
3. Tomas Francis (55 caps)
4. Cory Hill (30 caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (capt – 146 caps)
6. Josh Navidi (26 caps)
7. Justin Tipuric (83 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (84 caps)
9. Gareth Davies (60 caps)
10. Dan Biggar (90 caps)
11. Josh Adams (30 caps)
12. Jonathan Davies (86 caps)
13. George North (100 caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (7 caps)
15. Liam Williams (69 caps)
Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee (35 caps)
17. Rhys Carre (12 caps)
18. Leon Brown (15 caps)
19. Jake Ball (49 caps)
20. Aaron Wainwright (28 caps) 
21. Lloyd Williams (31 caps)
22. Callum Sheedy (7 caps)
23. Uilisi Halaholo (2 caps)

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Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 7 minutes ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

This is true.


But perhaps because rugby is Australia’s fourth (or worse) most popular sport, there is just no coaching talent good enough.


It’s interesting that no players from the Aussies golden era (say between 1987 - 2000) have emerged as international quality coaches. Or coaches at all.


Again, Australians are the problem methinks. Not as interested in the game. Not as interested to support the game. Not as interested to get into the game.


And like any other industry in the world - when you don’t have the capabilities or the skills, you import them.


Not difficult to understand really.

27 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 15 minutes ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

I would say at least one of the 6 if you’d be so kind as to name them?


I’m thinking you can’t name 6 Australian coaches who would be as good as or better than Schmidt.

27 Go to comments
F
Frans 36 minutes ago
Autumn Nations Series 2024: Everything you need to know about round four

i think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.

2 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 45 minutes ago
Autumn Nations Series 2024: Everything you need to know about round four

Australia definitely the game of the weekend. Wallabies by 3.

2 Go to comments
t
tt 56 minutes ago
Jake White: Ireland, Australia and Wales all have the same problem

Smith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.

Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?

10 Go to comments
O
OJohn 1 hour ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

Which Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ?

27 Go to comments
S
SF 1 hour ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

I'm a SA'can and like Ben I hate the springboks.

32 Go to comments
C
CC 1 hour ago
South Africa vs Wales | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

I reckoned the springbok coach, has now started to underestimate Wales, sending 8players home? Really? It’s not yet over until it’s over Coach

3 Go to comments
U
Utiku Old Boy 1 hour ago
David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

I am waiting for your list of candidates. We had several from which to choose so give me some choice (your list) in Aussie candidates for the ABs. You imply that any Australian would be preferrable to Schmidt, yet E Jones and Cheika obviously didn't meet your standards either. Are you angry that Schmidt is far exceeding Jones? All Oz coaches you have quoted are from way back in time. When you had some choice. What you won't admit, is you got nobody better than a kiwi currently. Otherwise you would be putting them up. The fact you don't shows you are a blowhard because you want to groan about Schmidt purely on the basis he is kiwi - not his impressive results.

27 Go to comments
L
LV 1 hour ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

Another poorly written article. Well done Ben, keep up the good work!

32 Go to comments
C
CC 1 hour ago
Cheslin Kolbe backed to end 16-year wait

Thanks Steve D

12 Go to comments
S
SteveD 1 hour ago
'Lightweight' Premiership not preparing England players for Test rugby

Too many pampered, precious Posh Boys who think the sun shines out of their backsides?

14 Go to comments
O
OJohn 1 hour ago
Jake White: Ireland, Australia and Wales all have the same problem

Nothing would have been better. In the last 6 months of McKenzie's coaching, the Wallabies were really starting to hum. They were playing some brilliant rugby, even with no Pocock and came so close to winning the Bledisloe Cup. Only 3 points short I think.


Schmidt is a competent coach and after Jones destroying the Wallabies moral with picking useless Tah players (Bell is very good) any coach could have improved the Wallabies. We have achieved nothing so far really.

10 Go to comments
S
SteveD 1 hour ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

I'm afraid Gatland lost my respect with his uncalled for comments earlier in the year and his whinging about the so-called Boks' bad attitude in the Lions' 2021 tour. I also think he's not done my '6 nations' team much good this time round and they'll be well rid of him with his dated approach.

22 Go to comments
S
SteveD 1 hour ago
Cheslin Kolbe backed to end 16-year wait

(Erm, quietly, he's Irish)

12 Go to comments
A
Ardy 1 hour ago
'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

He's coaching like Eddie V2 did in Australia...You need someone with bigger balls and an understanding of what to do to improve what is going on. It is a dynamic environment that is constantly changing as coaches dream up new ways to win. He is like an automaton of Eddie's creation.

12 Go to comments
A
Ardy 2 hours ago
'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

Only if you think like the org writer ie Except for Elon Musk, he is perhaps the least popular South African ~ Which is a shame for a man who is so clearly sensitive and introspective.


Does he know Rassie personally or is this just a woke joke

12 Go to comments
A
Ardy 2 hours ago
Jake White: Ireland, Australia and Wales all have the same problem

Not my perception John, I think he is trying to develop a settled team but also needs players with some experience to step in if we get some injuries. As an example, someone said today we are only 2 injuries to THP's away from a nightmare situation. We have double the LHP's to THP's.

None of this is going to convince you. I was hoping Ewen would step in before we employed the nasty little toad who stuffed up Aussie scrummaging and lineouts in 2003, the effects of which we have lived with for 20 years.

10 Go to comments
J
Johnny 2 hours ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

Great article! So controversial it will no doubt get suckers to comment and raise clicks and views!!! Its by design that Ben writes such biased and skewed opinioned articles to get the anger and shock affect. Great marketing

32 Go to comments
H
Head high tackle 2 hours ago
How leviathan Will Skelton and the Wallabies reversed the World Cup fiasco

Are Leinster etc all releasing their players for Ireland?

186 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall' 'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall'
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