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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

Wales name team to face Italy two days early as Gareth Davies and Cory Hill handed starts

Wales have announced their team to face Italy, with Gareth Davies and Cory Hill being handed starts.

Wayne Pivac was scheduled to name his side on Thursday, but the Wales coach has jumped the gun with a surprise announcement on Tuesday afternoon.

Second-row Hill comes in for Adam Beard following his try-scoring cameo against England, while Davies is handed the scrum-half jersey following injury to Kieran Hardy.

The front-row remains unchanged for the fourth successive game with Wyn Jones, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis packing down together.

Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau comprise the back-row.

Davies comes in to start at scrum half alongside Dan Biggar - who retains the 10 jersey ahead of Callum Sheedy.

Jonathan Davies and George North continue their partnership in the midfield with Josh Adams, Louis Rees-Zammit and Liam Williams named in the back-three.

“We are really looking forward to this weekend and are ready to get out there on Saturday,” said Pivac.

“Three 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 4.”

Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre and Leon Brown comprise the front-row replacements for Wales.

Jake Ball could win his 50th cap in Rome, after being recalled to the Wales side. He was not involved in the first three rounds.

Wales team to face Italy: Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Jonathan Davies, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Leon Brown, Jake Ball, Aaron Wainwright, Lloyd Williams, Callum Sheedy, Uilisi Halaholo

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