Wales interim head coach Rob Howley has rewarded the starting XV that beat France 16-6 last weekend by confirming the same line-up will start the clash against Italy in Rome on Saturday, February 23rd.

Howley has kept faith with the side that recorded Wales’s first win in Paris since 2005 and believes the players deserve to keep their places for the clash in Rome.

“On the back of the performance at the weekend, we have decided to reward the players who took to the field and the same XV who started in Paris will start against Italy,” said Howley. “It’s a reward for their performance. We talked about attitude, determination and resilience and a side that comes up with a win out in France, which is not an easy place to win on any occasion, deserves to start the next match. ”

Wales:L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), G North (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), M Phillips (Bayonne); G Jenkins (Toulon), R Hibbard (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), A Coombs (Newport Gwent Dragons), I Evans (Ospreys), R Jones (Ospreys, capt), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons)