Italy’s Edoardo Gori, left, is challenged by France’s Bernard Le Roux
Wales has been forced by injuries to start new props in the Six Nations decider against Italy in Rome on Saturday.
Loosehead Rob Evans and tighthead Aaron Jarvis will carryo on where they finished the 23-16 win over Ireland last Saturday at Millennium Stadium.
Jarvis was flung against Ireland early, after Samson Lee went down with left Achilles trouble. Evans joined him for the start of the second half, after Gethin Jenkins, who entered the game with a calf problem, hurt his hamstring but carried it for half an hour to halftime. A front row with 146 test caps suddenly had only 18, including hooker Scott Baldwin. Evans made his debut.
“Rob and Aaron stepped up well last weekend, and we expect the same on Saturday,” coach Warren Gatland said at the team announcement yesterday.
Forwards coach Robin McBryde ruled out a summons for 100-cap tighthead Adam Jones, who announced his international retirement in January after he wasn’t picked in the Six Nations squad. However, McBryde said they were open to a call from Jones.
The rest of the team was unchanged, with inside center Jamie Roberts cleared after an accidental head knock in the second half.
In the reserves, Saracens’ Rhys Gill and Cardiff’s Scott Andrews were the covering props, and fit-again Scarlets hooker Ken Owens was recalled for the first time since last June, as Richard Hibbard was undergoing concussion protocols.
Scrumhalf Mike Phillips, capped 98 times, was dropped for Scarlets’ Gareth Davies, whose only cap was as a second-half replacement for Phillips in a loss to South Africa last June.
Of the four teams trying to win the title on points difference in the last round, Wales had the third-best points difference and a second disadvantage, the earliest kickoff.
“The challenge to us is to go to Italy and win, and try and win by a significant margin, but we know that’s an extremely tough ask, and the first job will be to simply get the result,” Gatland said.
“Italy build their confidence around the scrum and lineout drive, and that’s an area we are going to have to compete strongly in.” AP
wales lineup
Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton (captain), Dan Lydiate, Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Aaron Jarvis, Scott Baldwin, Rob Evans. Reserves: Ken Owens, Rhys Gill, Scott Andrews, Jake Ball, Justin Tipuric, Gareth Davies, Rhys Priestland, Scott Williams.
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