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Wales name team to face Italy

Wales team named for Italy clash (Getty Images)

Jonathan Davies will captain Wales for the first time on Saturday as he leads his country against Italy in Rome.

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Davies will win his 70th cap at Stadio Olimpico and becomes Wales’ 137th captain.

He will line up in midfield alongside Owen Watkin with Dan Biggar and Aled Davies named at fly-half and scrum-half respectively.

In total Wales have made 10 personnel changes from the side that beat France in Paris.

Liam Williams and Josh Adams, who both started in Paris last week, are joined by Jonah Holmes in the back-three with the latter making his first Six Nations appearance.

In the pack Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee and Samson Lee form a new look front-row with Jake Ball coming into the second-row alongside Adam Beard, with Alun Wyn Jones on the bench.

In the back-row Josh Navidi moves to No. 8, Aaron Wainwright starts at blindside flanker and Thomas Young makes his first Six Nations appearance on the openside.

“We have made a number of changes this weekend but have picked what we think is a very exciting team that still has huge experience throughout it,” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

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“We have made a similar number of changes to what we did last year, but it is all about opportunity for these players.

“We have had a squad of 31 training together, replicating the Rugby World Cup and it is important they get game-time.

“It is a great opportunity for Jon (Davies) as captain. He has a huge amount of experience, is a great leader and it is a great honour for him to lead his country.

“Italy will be hurting after last weekend but they are a different proposition in Rome. They are an experienced team themselves and they will be looking to put things right on the pitch after their opening defeat.”

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Ryan Elias, Wyn Jones and Dillon Lewis are the front-row replacements on the bench with Alun Wyn Jones and Ross Moriarty completing the forward contingent. Gareth Davies, Gareth Anscombe and Hallam Amos provide Wales’ backline cover.

WALES TEAM TO PLAY ITALY (Saturday February 9 KO 16.45 GMT – Live ITV & S4C)
15. Liam Williams (52 Caps)
14. Jonah Holmes (1 Cap)
13. Jonathan Davies (69 Caps) (Capt)
12. Owen Watkin (9 Caps)
11. Josh Adams (7 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (66 Caps)
9. Aled Davies (12 Caps)
1. Nicky Smith (24 Caps)
2. Elliot Dee (14 Caps)
3. Samson Lee (39 Caps)
4. Jake Ball (29 Caps)
5. Adam Beard (9 Caps)
6. Aaron Wainwright (4 Caps)
7. Thomas Young (2 Caps)
8. Josh Navidi (12 Caps)

Replacements:
16. Ryan Elias (6 Caps)
17. Wyn Jones (11 Caps)
18. Dillon Lewis (8 Caps)
19 Alun Wyn Jones (121 Caps)
20. Ross Moriarty (27 Caps)
21. Gareth Davies (37 Caps)
22. Gareth Anscombe (22 Caps)
23. Hallam Amos (18 Caps)

Watch: Guinness Six Nations: Week 1 Round Up

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J
JW 35 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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