Wales' Warren Gatland should call Adam Jones, says Shane Williams

Adam Jones toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2009 and 2013

Coach Warren Gatland should contact retired prop Adam Jones and recall him to the Wales side, says Shane Williams.

Wales have been hit by front-row injuries, prompting speculation Cardiff Blues' Jones may reconsider his decision to quit international rugby.

"He's a great character to have in the squad so, come on Warren, give him a ring," said ex-Wales wing Williams.

Williams does not think Mike Phillips's Wales career is over, despite his omission for Saturday's game in Italy.

Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies takes Phillips's place on the replacements bench for the final Six Nations match in Rome.

Wales have made two enforced changes for the game, including Aaron Jarvis replacing the injured Samson Lee at tight-head.

Former international Jonathan Davies had suggested Wales should call on Jones, who quit Test rugby in January after being omitted from the Six Nations squad.

Lee, Jarvis and Scott Andrews were preferred to Jones, who retired from Test rugby in January, for the 2015 tournament.

But Lee may not make the 2015 World Cup in the autumn after suffering an Achilles tendon injury in Wales' win over Ireland last weekend.

Gatland says he will not go "on bended knees" to Jones to ask the prop to come out of international retirement.

"It seems to be the case that if Adam doesn't phone Warren then Warren's not going to phone Adam, and we are not going to get Adam out there," Wales' record try scorer Williams told Sport Wales.

"He'll always be my favourite, he'll always be the first player in my team sheet. Unfortunately he's not going to be there Saturday.

"You've got to swallow pride in rugby because you want to win these games.

"You want to win the Six Nations, you want to win the World Cup that's coming soon.

Mike Phillips was a second-half replacement for Rhys Webb against Ireland

"I think Adam Jones would be a massive part of the Welsh pack and the Welsh squad, and morale boosting [to have him there] as well."

Racing Metro's Phillips, meanwhile, has played second fiddle to Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb during the 2015 Championship.

Phillips, who has 93 caps, drops out of the match-day 23 and is replaced by Davies, who has made one appearance for Wales - against South Africa in Durban in June 2014.

"That's a big call. It's a big game," Williams said of Gatland's decision to omit his former Ospreys team-mate from the match-day squad.

"Warren Gatland said in the press this week he wants Gareth to come in and be an impact [player] when he comes on. He is a try scorer and that's true.

"However, is Mike Phillips going to be happy? I can tell you now, no he isn't.

"That's not it for Mike. He brings great experience to the squad, he's still a world class inside-half and personally I hope we still see Mike about.

"I'm sure he's got a lot more to offer and to give to this Welsh squad. At the end of the day, the World Cup is a squad tournament.

"You're going to have your injuries, you're going to have players who run out of form and you're going to have players who suit different games. And I think Mike Phillips will be a big part of that."

There's more from Shane Williams on this Fridays's Sport Wales on BBC Two Wales at 20:00 GMT and on the iPlayer for seven days after transmission.