Dragons Rhys Thomas is Gatland’s Choice
Dragons Rhys Thomas will face Italy in the 2008 RBS Six Nations Championship at the Millennium Stadium this Saturday (kick-off 3.00pm).
Warren Gatland made six changes to the team who beat Scotland and took the original step of naming his side well in advance of Italy’s visit to Cardiff on Saturday, giving the maximum preparation time to his new-look team striving to win three games on the bounce for the first time since 2005.
Up front, Wales field an entirely new front row with 55-times capped prop Gethin Jenkins partnering Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees and Dragons tight head prop Rhys Thomas.
The second row Ospreys pairing of Ian Evans and Ian Gough remains intact and Martyn Williams retains his influence alongside captain Ryan Jones and Jonathan Thomas in an unchanged back row.
In the backs, experienced half-back pairing Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel – who boast 127 caps between them – replace Mike Phillips and James Hook, who both move to the bench. Mark Jones also returns after missing out against Scotland in place of wing debutant Jamie Roberts.
Wales last won three matches on the bounce all of 32 games ago when they beat Japan, England, Italy, France, Scotland, Ireland, USA and Canada in the 2005 Grand Slam season.
Wales: Lee Byrne; Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Rhys Thomas, Ian Gough, Ian Evans, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones (Captain)
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones, Deiniol Jones, Gareth Delve, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Sonny Parker
