SIX NATIONS: Ospreys lock Alun-Wyn Jones will captain Wales for the first time when the Grand Slam champions take on Italy in Rome next weekend. Jones will lead a team that shows 10 changes and one positional switch from the side beaten 21-16 by France in Paris last Friday night.
The only players retained are Jones, fullback Lee Byrne, wing Shane Williams and number eight Andy Powell, while Jamie Roberts moves from inside to outside centre.
Regular skipper Ryan Jones is on the bench, along with fellow Grand Slam stars from last season in Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips and Gethin Jenkins.
Players rested completely from the Rome-bound match day 22 on Saturday week include prop Adam Jones, lock Ian Gough and flanker Martyn Williams.
Ospreys centre Gavin Henson is among a raft of players promoted to the starting line-up.
Henson, set to make a first Test match start since last season’s Grand Slam-clinching victory over France, replaces Tom Shanklin, with Roberts switching midfield roles.
It is Wales head coach Warren Gatland’s third attempt this season to pair Henson and Roberts.
Gatland’s hopes were dashed against South Africa during the autumn, and then for Wales’ opening Six Nations clash with Scotland because Henson pulled out injured both times.
Other changes following the France loss see starts for wing Mark Jones, outhalf James Hook, scrumhalf Dwayne Peel, hooker Huw Bennett, props John Yapp and Rhys Thomas, lock Luke Charteris, plus flankers Jonathan Thomas and Dafydd Jones.
Sale Sharks number nine Peel has not started in Wales’ last 12 Tests, playing a support role to Phillips and Gareth Cooper since the Italy Six Nations game more than a year ago.
Peel, who could be in Guinness Premiership action for Sale against Newcastle on Sunday, was originally left out of Gatland’s current Six Nations squad, but was recalled after Cooper required surgery on his knee.
Hook, meanwhile, replaces Stephen Jones, with Peel taking over from Phillips and Bennett preferred to Matthew Rees. Newport Gwent Dragons forwards Rhys Thomas and Charteris replace Adam Jones and Gough, respectively.
Wales’ dream of achieving back-to-back Grand Slams ended with defeat in Paris but they will view Italy as a stepping stone to a potential championship decider against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium in the final round of matches.
Gatland said: “We have made a series of changes. With no disrespect to Italy, if we are to consistently be one of the top four or five teams in the world we need to back the depth in our squad.
“We have made changes, but there are arguments to say we are stronger in certain positions.
“If I was playing against Italy I would be excited about both the opportunity which presents itself and, looking around me, about the team which has been selected.
“We have come a long way in the last 12 months and achieved a fantastic amount, but the best teams in the world develop depth of experience in their squad and back themselves.
“The choice of Alun-Wyn as captain next week is an example of us doing exactly that and also looking to the future.”
Wales team (v Italy)
L Byrne, M Jones, J Roberts, G Henson, S Williams, J Hook, D Peel; J Yapp, H Bennett, R Thomas, L Charteris, AW Jones (C), J Thomas, D Jones, A Powell. Replacements: M Rees, G Jenkins, B Davies, R Jones, M Phillips, S Jones, T Shanklin.
