Wales coach Rob Howley has stressed the need for experience after ignoring the new breed for his team’s Six Nations opener in Italy.
Howley has made five changes from the team that beat South Africa back in November, but they are mostly old heads with Rhys Webb, Sam Warburton, Nicky Smith, Samson Lee and Jake Ball coming into the starting line-up.
Webb is recalled after missing most of Wales’ autumn Test series this season through injury, with Scarlets pair Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies teaming up in midfield and 86 times-capped Jamie Roberts named on the bench.
Former Wales captain Warburton will start at blindside flanker in Rome, meaning none of the uncapped players in the squad, such as Thomas Young, make the team or the bench.
Justin Tipuric retains the number seven shirt, with Gloucester’s Ross Moriarty completing the back-row and Scarlets’ Ball chosen as new skipper Alun Wyn Jones’ second-row partner.
“I’m delighted to name an experienced team for the game against Italy and to welcome back five players who missed out on the opportunity against South Africa in the autumn,” said Howley.
“The Six Nations is a special tournament and we are looking forward to being highly competitive. We feel this is the best side selected to start the campaign, we want to get off to a good start and we feel experience will be vital in that.
“There has been a lot of energy and enthusiasm over the past two weeks and we are excited going into Sunday. We know we are going to Rome to face a hugely motivated and very competitive Italian side.”
The team also includes Ospreys loose-head prop Smith, who takes over from an injured Gethin Jenkins, but uncapped flankers Young and Olly Cracknell have missed out making the match-day 23.
Bath forwards Taulupe Faletau and Luke Charteris both miss the Stadio Olimpico encounter due to injury.
There is just one change in the backline from the side that beat the Springboks, with Webb returning from injury to start at scrum-half, partnering Dan Biggar at half-back. Scarlets duo Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies make up the midfield with
George North, who scored a hat-trick for Wales on his last outing in Rome and Liam Williams occupying the wing positions with Leigh Halfpenny at full-back.
Wales’ match-day squad features four players seeking their first taste of Six Nations action – prop Smith who starts at loose-head along with replacements Cory Hill, James King and Sam Davies.
Smith is joined in the front-row by Scarlets pair Lee and Ken Owens, with their regional team-mate Ball packing down alongside captain Jones in second-row.
On the bench Rob Evans, who missed the autumn series through injury is included alongside fellow front-row replacements, Scott Baldwin and Tomas Francis. Hill and King complete the forward contingent with Gareth Davies, Sam Davies and Jamie Roberts the back-line cover.
WALES TEAM TO PLAY ITALY:
Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon) (66 Caps)
George North (Northampton Saints) (65 Caps)
Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (59 Caps)
Scott Williams (Scarlets) (41 Caps)
Liam Williams (Scarlets) (38 Caps)
Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (51 Caps)
Rhys Webb (Ospreys) (23 Caps)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (7 Caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets) (45 Caps)
Samson Lee (Scarlets) (29 Caps)
Jake Ball (Scarlets) (21 Caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)(105 Caps) (CAPTAIN)
Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues) (69 Caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (46 Caps)
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby) (12 Caps)
Replacements:
Scott Baldwin (Ospreys) (28 Caps)
Rob Evans (Scarlets) (12 Caps)
Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (17 Caps)
Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons) (3 Caps)
James King (Ospreys) (10 Caps)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (21 Caps)
Sam Davies (Ospreys) (3 Caps)
Jamie Roberts (Harlequins) (86 Caps)
