Warren Gatland on Wednesday made five changes to his honger Wales starting XV for their Six Nations showdown with Italy on Saturday, with veterans George North and Nick Tompkins back in midfield.
Having lost all four games heading into the final round of the competition, Wales currently sit bottom of the table four points behind the Azzurri.
🎙️ Gats on George 🏴![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]> (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 13, 2024
Come along Saturday to give him a proper send off!
👉 https://t.co/XcI6Gyv9TB pic.twitter.com/ERYWPQDVIy
Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin have been dropped while Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins is also moved back to lock from blindside flanker against France last week, with Alex Mann taking back the No.6 jersey. Jenkins will be partnered by Adam Beard, with Will Rowlands on the bench.
Gatland says: “This is an important game for us. We definitely don’t want to finish bottom and the squad is hungry to win.”
Meanwhile, England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will miss Saturday’s Six Nations game against France because of a self-diagnosed concussion.
Attack coach Richard Wigglesworth explains: “We don’t take any risks. He did the right thing.”
🏴![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]> 𝐗![CDATA[]]>𝐕 𝐂![CDATA[]]>𝐘![CDATA[]]>𝐌![CDATA[]]>𝐑![CDATA[]]>𝐔 🏴![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]>![CDATA[]]> (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 13, 2024
⚔️ The Welsh team to face Italy
👊 Amdani bois
#SixNationsRugby pic.twitter.com/tC5ApItf8t
Wales – 15. Cameron Winnett, 14. Josh Adams, 13. George North 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Rio Dyer, 10. Sam Costelow, 9 Tomos Williams; 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Elliot Dee, 3. Dillon Lewis 4. Dafydd Jenkins (capt), 5. Adam Beard, 6. Alex Mann, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Aaron Wainwright. Replacements: 16. Evan Lloyd, 17. Kemsley Mathias, 18. Harri O'Connor, 19. Will Rowlands, 20. Mackenzie Martin, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Ioan Lloyd, 23. Mason Grady.
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