Six Nations 2024: Wales fans back George North and Nick Tompkins recall to face Italy
- Published
George North has 120 Wales caps having made his debut in 2010
Guinness Six Nations: Wales v Italy |
|---|
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 16 March Kick-off: 14:15 GMT |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and online from 13:45 GMT; listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Radio Wales & Radio Cymru; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app. |
BBC Sport website voters back the recall of centres George North and Nick Tompkins for Saturday's Wooden Spoon decider against Italy in Cardiff.
Head coach Warren Gatland has restored the experienced pair surprisingly left out of last weekend's Six Nations defeat to France and replaced by Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin.
Fans who took part in our online poll would have chosen wing Mason Grady ahead of Cardiff team-mate Josh Adams who keeps his place in Wales XV.
You agreed though with prop Dillon Lewis' tight-head selection in place of Keiron Assiratti.
Skipper Dafydd Jenkins switches back from back-row to lock in Gatland's selection, with Will Rowlands dropping to the bench.
In teams submitted by online voters Jenkins was a more popular choice than Beard at lock, but a majority also voted for the captain to remain in the open-side flanker role he was given for last weekend's game. Beard, therefore, takes up the other place in the fans' second row alongside Rowlands who was in 81% of your selections.
Overall Jenkins was in 91% of teams submitted, with scrum-half Tomos Williams (91%), wing Rio Dyer (96%) and number eight Aaron Wainwright (97%) all overwhelming choices.
Like Gatland, Tommy Reffell (82%) was your clear open-side choice despite his injury against France.
North (69%) polled significantly more than Roberts (22%) at outside centre despite the 23-year-old scoring on his Six Nation's debut last weekend.
The decision at inside centre was far closer with Tompkins polling 51% and Watkin 49%.
You can still pick your XV but your selections will not be counted towards the result.
Share your picks on social media using #bbcrugby.