Six Nations: Wales centre Jonathan Davies to captain Wales for first time
- Published
Jonathan Davies has won 69 caps for Wales and played six Tests for the British and Irish Lions
Six Nations: Italy v Wales |
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Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Date: Saturday, 9 February Kick-off: 16:45 GMT |
Coverage: Live on S4C, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app, plus live text commentary. |
Jonathan Davies is set to captain Wales for the first time in Saturday's Six Nations match against Italy.
Head coach Warren Gatland will name his line-up on Thursday, with Wasps flanker Thomas Young poised to make his Six Nations debut in Rome.
Ospreys pair Owen Watkin and Aled Davies are expected to start in place of Hadleigh Parkes and Tomos Williams.
Regular skipper Alun Wyn Jones, Rob Evans and Tomas Francis are set to be on the bench in a much-changed team.
Wyn Jones and Samson Lee are expected to start in place of Evans and Francis in a new-look front row.
Wales defeated France 24-19 in their opening match in Paris after coming from 16 points down at half-time to get off to winning ways.
That was Wales' 10th successive victory and if they beat Italy for a 13th time on the bounce, it will equal Wales' all-time unbeaten record of 11 Tests set between 1907 and 1910.
Wales' 31-man squad in Nice
Forwards: Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Beard, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty, Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Samson Lee, Cory Hill, Aaron Wainwright, Dillon Lewis, Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Jake Ball, Thomas Young.
Backs: Liam Williams, George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams, Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams, Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar, Owen Watkin, Aled Davies, Hallam Amos, Jonah Holmes.