Six Nations 2024: Wales recall the retiring George North and Nick Tompkins for Italy decider

George North returns for his 121st Wales cap

Wales centre George North will play his final international game after being recalled for the Six Nations match against Italy in Cardiff.

North has announced he will quit international rugby after this year's Six Nations tournament.

North and centre Tompkins return among five changes, including one positional, for Saturday's Wooden Spoon decider following the defeat by France.

They replace Owen Watkin and Joe Roberts while Dillon Lewis also starts.

The tight-head replaces Keiron Assiratti, while captain Dafydd Jenkins reverts to lock alongside Adam Beard with flanker Alex Mann recalled.

Flanker Tommy Reffell has been named despite hobbling out of the 45-24 loss to France with a knee injury, while lock Will Rowlands is dropped to the replacements.

Scarlets prop Harri O'Connor could make his Test debut having been included in one of the most inexperienced Wales' replacement benches.

Five of the eight replacements have made fewer than seven Test appearances with the front-row trio having just 41 minutes of international rugby between them.

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Wales are bottom of the Six Nations, four points behind Italy, and have not finished last for 21 years.

"This is an important game for us," said Gatland.

"We definitely don't want to finish bottom and the squad is hungry to win.

"We understand that external pressure and expectation comes with international rugby.

"It's about embracing that, continuing the hard work and fronting up to go out and be accurate and disciplined on Saturday."

Harri O'Connor was called into the Wales squad to replace injured Archie Griffin

Wales are in the grip of their worst home run in the Six Nations, having lost their last six games in Cardiff, since beating Scotland in February 2022 and have lost 11 of their subsequent 12 games in the tournament.

That run includes a defeat by Italy on their last visit to Cardiff two years ago.

"Italy have quality players throughout the side and have been good at taking opportunities to keep the scoreboard ticking over," added Gatland.

"We're excited and will step up and welcome the challenge ahead. We're still looking for that 80 minute performance and have spoken about needing to be better in the big moments."

Wales: Winnett; Adams, North, Tompkins, Dyer; Costelow, T Williams; Thomas, Dee, Lewis, Jenkins (capt), Beard, Mann, Reffell, Wainwright.

Replacements: E Lloyd, Mathias, H O'Connor, Rowlands, Martin, Hardy, I Lloyd, Grady.

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