Rugby World Cup 2015: Warburton back to lead Wales

Sam Warburton made his Wales debut against the United States in 2009

Sam Warburton returns from injury to lead Wales in their final World Cup warm-up against Italy in Cardiff on Saturday.

Bath's Dominic Day replaces injured Alun Wyn Jones at lock, James King at blind-side and Tom Francis earns his second cap at tight-head prop.

Alex Cuthbert and George North stay on the wings while Cory Allen comes in at centre for Jamie Roberts.

Sergio Parisse is back to lead Italy from the back row.

Injured Wales trio Alun Wyn Jones (knee), Liam Williams (foot) and Samson Lee (ankle) all miss out but Gatland expects them to be fit for World Cup duty.

Jake Ball returns at lock against the Azzurri at Bradley Davies' expense to partner Day, taking the total starting changes from the team that beat Ireland 16-10 last weekend to five.

Warburton has overcome a shoulder blow to take over from Justin Tipuric, the man-of-the-match in Dublin.

Blues star Warburton regains the captaincy from Ospreys lock Jones, who suffered a knee injury against Ireland.

Two players who were omitted from Wales' 31-man World Cup squad are on the bench - Blues hooker Kristian Dacey and Gloucester back-rower Ross Moriarty.

Wales coach Warren Gatland said: "With our opening Rugby World Cup fixture just two weeks away, this weekend is important run-out and opportunity for fine tuning.

"We were happy with the performance away from home in Ireland last weekend, but there are plenty of things we need to work on from that victory so we will be looking to put those in place on Saturday.

"We've made a couple of changes to try a few new combinations and ensure players get some more game time under their belts."

Parisse's return is one of seven Azzurri changes from their 48-7 defeat by Scotland last weekend.

Leicester prop Michele Rizzo and lock Quintin Geldenhuys line up alongside Parisse.

Also back in their starting line-up are Wasps full-back Andrea Masi, centre Gonzalo Garcia, Newcastle wing Giovanbattista Venditti and scrum-half Edoardo Gori.

Wales team

Backs: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), George North (Northampton), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys).

Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Dominic Day (Bath), James King (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt).

Replacements: Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Paul James (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Bath), Matthew Morgan (Bristol).

Italy team

Backs: Andrea Masi; Leonardo Sarto, Luca Morisi, Gonzalo Garcia, Giovanbattista Venditti; Tommaso Allan, Edoardo Gori.

Forwards: Michele Rizzo, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Martin Castrogiovanni, Quintin Geldenhuys, Josh Furno, Alessandro Zanni, Sergio Parisse (capt), Francesco Minto.

Replacements: Andrea Manici, Matias Aguero, Lorenzo Cittadini, Valerio Bernabo', Samula Vunisa, Guglielmo Palazzani, Carlo Canna, Luke McLean.