Jenkins to lead Wales against Azzurri
Wales captain Sam Warburton will miss the Six Nations match against Italy through injury and will be replaced as skipper by Gethin Jenkins for the match at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Veteran prop Jenkins will lead the team, while Warburton’s place on the side of the scrum will be taken by Justin Tipuric.
In one other change to the starting side that beat England 19-12 at Twickenham last time out, fit again former captain Matthew Rees returns at hooker in place of fellow Scarlets forward Ken Owens, now on the bench.
Wales are the only side left in the tournament who can win the Grand Slam after World Cup finalists France drew 17-17 with Ireland in Paris last weekend.
Warburton did not play against Scotland last month because of a thigh injury that forced him off at half-time in Dublin the previous weekend.
Tipuric, 22, is now set to make his first Test start.
In the backs, centre Jamie Roberts takes his place in midfield following a knee injury that forced him off at half-time against England.
Scott Williams, who scored the only try of the match at Twickenham after coming off the bench for Roberts, remained among the replacements as Wales coach Warren Gatland named an unchanged back division for the fourth successive game.
On the bench, lock Luke Charteris returns having played just one game – for the Newport Gwent Dragons against Munster last weekend – since undergoing wrist surgery following the World Cup.
Elsewhere among the replacements utility back James Hook, recovered from chickenpox, replaces Stephen Jones.
Gatland was pleased to have the chance to field the front row of Adam Jones, Rees and Jenkins who all starred together for the British and Irish Lions in South Africa two years ago.
“Due to injuries to all three players at one time or another, we have not been able to field this 2009 Lions front-row too often,” Gatland said Tuesday.
“So, although we are more than happy with the job Ken has done for us, we are giving Matthew the opportunity make his contribution as the competition reaches its climax,” the New Zealander added.
Wales are at home to France on March 17 in what has long been billed as a Championship decider and given the Welsh have never lost to Italy in Cardiff, many pundits regard Saturday’s result as a foregone conclusion.
But Gatland, bidding to win the second Six Nations Championship and Grand Slam since taking charge of Wales in 2008, said: “Italy will be hoping to find us complacent, and with one eye on the French game.
“But nothing less than victory on Saturday will be accepted by this Wales team or satisfy the nation behind us, and all of that leaves the players themselves brimming with ruthless intent.”
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Michael Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins (captain).
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Luke Charteris, 19 Ryan Jones, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 James Hook, 22 Scott Williams.
Date: Saturday, March 10
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Peter Allan (Scotland)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
AFP
