Dragons quartet Aaron Wainwright, Leon Brown, Elliot Dee and Jonah Holmes are named on the bench as Wales prepare to take on Italy in their final Autumn Nations Cup fixture in Llanelli on Saturday (December 5, KO 16.45, Amazon Prime/S4C).
Nicky Smith, Sam Parry and Tomas Francis comprise the front-row, with Parry making his first start for Wales after three appearances from the bench.
Will Rowlands partners Alun Wyn Jones in the second-row with James Botham lining up alongside British & Irish Lions duo Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau in the back-row.
Kieran Hardy and Callum Sheedy start at half-back together for the second time this campaign with Johnny Williams partnering George North in the midfield. North’s last start at centre was Wales’ 42-0 victory over Italy in the Guinness Six Nations earlier this year.
Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams and Liam Williams comprise the back-three.
“Saturday is another opportunity for these players and for us as a squad it is another opportunity to continue to build and to see the results of all the hard work in training,” said head coach Wayne Pivac.
“We have blooded eight new caps this campaign and importantly by the end of the match each of them would have had a number of appearances to their name.
“From the outset we wanted this campaign to be about giving players opportunity and we have done that.
“The hard work in training is coming through and we want to show that again on Saturday and finish the campaign on a high, with the performance and result we want.”
On the bench Dee, Wyn Jones and Brown provide the front-row cover. Cory Hill and Wainwright complete the forward contingent. Gareth Davies, Ioan Lloyd and Holmes are named as the backline replacements.
WALES TEAM TO PLAY ITALY (Saturday December 5, KO 16.45 Amazon Prime / S4C)
1. Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (37 Caps)
2. Sam Parry (Ospreys) (3 Caps)
3. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (51 Caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Wasps) (4 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (142 Caps) (CAPT)
6. James Botham (Cardiff Blues) (2 Caps)
7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (79 Caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath) (80 Caps)
9. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets) (1 Cap)
10. Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears) (3 Caps)
11. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester) (3 Caps)
12. Johnny Williams (Scarlets) (2 Caps)
13. George North (Ospreys) (97 Caps)
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues) (29 Caps)
15. Liam Williams (Scarlets) (66 Caps)
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Elliot Dee (Dragons) (32 Caps)
17. Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (29 Caps)
18. Leon Brown (Dragons) (11 Caps)
19. Cory Hill (Cardiff Blues) (28 Caps)
20. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) (26 Caps)
21. Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (56 Caps)
22. Ioan Lloyd (Bristol Bears) (1 Cap)
23. Jonah Holmes (Dragons) (4 Caps)
We have blooded eight new caps this campaign and importantly by the end of the match each of them would have had a number of appearances to their name...
