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The Ospreys lock joins Blues No8 Andy Powell as the only forwards to keep their places, whilst in the backs Ospreys pair full back Lee Byrne and wing Shane Williams feature again with Blues back Jamie Roberts moving wider to outside-centre.
Gavin Henson partners Roberts in midfield and Blues centre Tom Shanklin moves to the bench. Scarlets flier Mark Jones returns on the wing in place of Leigh Halfpenny and the halfback partnership of Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks) and James Hook (Ospreys), last seen against South Africa in November 2007, is re-formed with both Mike Phillips (Ospreys) and Stephen Jones (Scarlets) acting as replacements.
Jones becomes Wales’ 127th captain and leads the side from the second row where he partners Dragon Luke Charteris.
Squad captain Ryan Jones also moves to the bench making way for fellow Osprey Jonathan Thomas, whilst Scarlets flanker Dafydd Jones replaces Martyn Williams to complete the back row trio.
It’s all change in the front row with the props John Yapp (Blues) and Rhys Thomas (Dragons) lining up either side of Ospreys hooker Huw Bennett.
Matthew Rees (Scarlets) and Gethin Jenkins (Blues) provide the front row cover and Blues lock Bradley Davies is in with the chance of winning his second cap after coming on as a replacement against Scotland.
“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,” said Gatland.
“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: Lee Byrne; Mark Jones, Jamie Roberts, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams; James Hook, Dwayne Peel; John Yapp, Huw Bennett, Rhys Thomas, Luke Charteris, Alun-Wyn Jones (Capt), Jonathan Thomas, Dafydd Jones, Andy Powell.
Replacements: Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins, Bradley Davies, Ryan Jones, Mike Phillips, Stephen Jones, Tom Shanklin
WALES
15 Lee BYRNE (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,041)
DoB: 01.06.80. 6’3″ / 1.91m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 25 caps (W 11, L 13, D 1; 35 pts – 7T)
14 Mark JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 984)
DoB: 07.11.79. 6’2” / 1.88m. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 44 caps (W 20, L 22, D 2; 60 pts – 12T)
13 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057)
DoB: 08.11.86. 6’4” / 1.93m. 16st 10lbs / 107kgs
International record: 10 caps (W 5, L 5; 5 pts – 1T)
12 Gavin HENSON (OSPREYS – Cap No 990)
DoB: 01.02.82. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 10lbs / 100kgs
International record: 29 caps (W 16, L 12, D 1; 130 pts – 3T,29C,18PG,1DG)
11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS – Cap No 976)
DoB: 26.02.77. 5’7” / 1.71m. 12st 13lbs / 82kgs
International record: 63 caps (W 31, L 30, D 2; 225 pts – 45T)
10 James HOOK (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0” / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 32 caps (W 13, L 18, D 1; 199 pts – 6T,32C,33PG,2DG)
9 Dwayne PEEL (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 994)
DoB: 31.08.81. 5’9” / 1.76m. 13st 8lbs / 86kgs
International record: 67 caps (W 30, L 35, D 2; 25 pts – 5T)
1 John YAPP (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,031)
DoB: 09.04.83. 6’2” / 1.88m. 18st 8lbs / 118kgs
International record: 11 caps (W 9, L 2)
2 Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,017)
DoB: 11.06.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 0lbs / 108kgs
International record: 21 caps (W 13, L 8)
3 Rhys THOMAS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,049)
DoB: 31.07.82. 6’1” / 1.86m. 19st 3lbs / 122kgs
International record: 6 caps (W2, L4)
4 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030)
DoB: 09.03.83. 6’9” / 2.06m. 19st 9lbs / 125kgs
International record: 11 caps (W 6, L 5)
5 Alun-Wyn JONES (OSPREYS, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,046)
DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5” / 1.96m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs
International record: 29 caps (W 12, L 17; 20 pts – 4T)
6 Jonathan THOMAS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,013)
DoB: 27.12.82. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 46 caps (W 22, L 22, D 2; 35 pts – 7T)
7 Dafydd JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,008)
DoB: 24.06.79. 6’3” / 1.90m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 37 caps (W 16; L 21; 10 pts – 2T)
8 Andy POWELL (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,061)
DoB: 23.08.81. 6’4” / 1.94m. 17st 6lbs / 111kgs
International record: 7 caps (W 4, L 3)
Replacements
16 Matthew REES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,033)
DoB: 09.12.80. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs
International record: 28 caps (W 13, L 14, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)
17 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,006)
DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2” / 1.88m. 18st 13lbs / 120kgs
International record: 66 caps (W 28, L 36, D 2; 15 pts – 3T)
18 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)
DoB: 09.01.87. 6’6” / 1.98m. 18st 1lb / 115kgs
International record: 1 cap (W1)
19 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5” / 1.96m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs
International record: 29 caps (W 16, L 12, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)
20 Michael PHILLIPS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,022)
DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3” / 1.91m. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs
International record: 36 caps (W 19, L 16, D 1; 20 pts – 4T)
21 Stephen JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 966)
DoB: 08.12.77. 6’1” / 1.86m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 78 caps (W35, L41, D2; 678 pts – 6T,117C,134PG,4DG)
22 Tom SHANKLIN (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 993)
DoB: 24.11.79. 6’2” / 1.88m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 61 caps (W 29, L 31, D 1; 95 pts – 19T)
