Wales have made 10 changes, plus one positional, to the side that faced Tonga for their ‘must win’ Rugby World Cup Pool D clash with Italy on Saturday.
But coach Steve Hansen has named a similar team to the one that figured in Wales’ first RWC outing and won a bonus point against Canada, with only two changes from that line-up – Dwayne Peel at scrum-half instead of Gareth Cooper and Adam Jones, in his second start for Wales, ahead of Gethin Jenkins at tighthead prop.
Players to miss out from the starting line-up that faced the South Sea Islanders are Rhys Williams, Mark Taylor, Tom Shanklin, Stephen Jones, Cooper, Iestyn Thomas, Jenkins, Mefin Davies, Robert Sidoli and Alix Popham.
The centre-field partnership of Iestyn Harris and Sonny Parker which fared so well against the Canucks is reunited, with Taylor absent. Ceri Sweeney takes over the fly-half berth from Stephen Jones, although Jones kicking duties are likely to revert to Harris.
Veteran try-scorer Gareth Thomas is back on the wing for Shanklin and Kevin Morgan returns to full-back in place of Williams.
Martyn Williams returns to the back row after his try – and drop-goal – scoring appearance as a substitute last week, with captain Colin Charvis moving to number 8. Brent Cockbain adds some height to the second row and Robin McBryde returns in the front row as hooker, with Jones in for Jenkins at prop.
Wales: Kevin Morgan; Mark Jones, Sonny Parker, Iestyn Harris, Gareth Thomas; Ceri Sweeney, Dwayne Peel; Duncan Jones, Robin McBryde, Adam Jones, Brent Cockbain, Gareth Llewellyn, Dafydd Jones, Martyn Williams, Colin Charvis (Captain)
Replacements: Mefin Davies, Gethin Jenkins, Robert Sidoli, Jonathan Thomas, Gareth Cooper, Stephen Jones, Rhys Williams
Italy – Gonzalo Canale; Nicola Mazzucato, Christian Stoica, Andrea Masi, Denis Dallan; Rima Wakarua, Alessandro Troncon (captain); Andrea Lo Cicero, Fabio Ongaro, Leandro Castrogiovanni; Carlo Checchinato, Santiago Dellape; Andrea De Rossi, Aaron Persico, Sergio Parisse.
Replacements – Carlo Festuccia, Salvatore Perugini, Matthew Phillips, Scott Palmer, Christian Bezzi, Mauro Bergamasco, Francesco Mazzariol.
