Sam Warburton returns to Wales team for Italy's visit
Thursday 3 September 2015 16:30, UK
Captain Sam Warburton returns to the Wales starting line-up for Saturday's World Cup warm-up game against Italy in Cardiff.
Warburton, who missed last weekend's 16-10 win in Ireland after taking a knock to his shoulder during a training session, will be part of a new look back-row alongside James King at flanker and Taulupe Faletau at No 8.
Head coach Warren Gatland has retained the same front row that started in Dublin with the world's most-capped prop Gethin Jenkins packing down with Ken Owens and Tomas Francis, who will make his first appearance at the Millennium Stadium, while Jake Ball and Dominic Day have been named in the second row.
Half-backs Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar continue their partnership but there is a new-look centre pairing with Scott Williams lining up alongside Cory Allen.
The back three from the Aviva Stadium also remains unchanged with George North and Alex Cuthbert on the wings and Leigh Halfpenny at full-back.
"With our opening Rugby World Cup fixture just two weeks away, this weekend is an important run-out and opportunity for fine tuning," said Gatland.
"We were happy with the performance away from home in Ireland last weekend, but there are plenty of things we need to work on from that victory so we will be looking to put those in place on Saturday.
"We've made a couple of changes to try a few new combinations and ensure players get some more game time under their belts."
This weekend is an important run-out and opportunity for fine tuning.
Kristian Dacey, Paul James and Aaron Jarvis are named as the front-row replacements with Luke Charteris and Ross Moriarty completing the forward contingent. Gareth Davies, Rhys Priestland and Matthew Morgan provide cover for the backline.
Dacey and Moriarty were not included in Gatland's 31-man World Cup squad but have remained with the Wales camp and will look to win their second caps this weekend.
Prop Samson Lee, who is progressing well and continuing his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury suffered in March, does not feature among the match-day 23, but Gatland has delivered an encouraging fitness bulletin 15 days before the World Cup kicks off.
"Liam Williams (foot) is taking a full part in training next week, and Samson is full-out scrummaging in training, so that's a huge positive for us. He is going to be fit and available, which is great," Gatland said.
"Alun-Wyn Jones (knee ligament strain) is fresh and ready to go. It was sort of a one-week injury, and he's basically fit now."
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Scott Williams, 11 George North, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 1 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Dominic Day, 6 James King, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 8 Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Paul James, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Matthew Morgan.
