Wales change two for Italy game
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has made two changes for Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Italy in Rome.
Scrum-half Gareth Davies takes over from his injured Scarlets colleague Kieran Hardy, while lock Cory Hill starts instead of Adam Beard.
Victory over Italy would tighten Wales’ grip on the Six Nations title race following their Triple Crown-clinching success against England last time out, and also leave them one win away from achieving a second Grand Slam in three seasons.
Hardy suffered a hamstring injury during the England game after earlier scoring a try in Wales’ 40-24 triumph.
Hill, meanwhile, impressed with a try-scoring contribution after going on as a replacement, and he now partners captain Alun Wyn Jones in the second-row.
Rhys Carre back on the bench
Changes on the bench, meanwhile, include places for Cardiff Blues prop Rhys Carre and Scarlets lock Jake Ball, who will win his 50th cap if he goes on at Stadio Olimpico.
Carre replaces Rhodri Jones, who has been released from the Wales squad after suffering a calf muscle injury in training.
Pivac said: “We are really looking forward to this weekend and are ready to get out there on Saturday.
“Three (wins) from three is a great start, but there has been plenty to do and plenty of work-ons.
“We’ve had a two-week build-up to this game, trained really well in the fallow week and are looking forward to round four.”
Wales have not lost to Italy since 2007, while the Azzurri last tasted Six Nations success against any opponent when they beat Scotland at Murrayfield six years ago.
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 George North, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Josh Navidi, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Cory Hill, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Wyn Jones
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Leon Brown, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Uilisi Halaholo
Date: Saturday, March 13
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 15:15 local (14:15 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Pascal Gauzere (France), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)