Rugby-North back for Wales as Jenkins returns to lock to against Italy

Wales coach Warren Gatland's experiment to move Dafydd Jenkins to the back row is over for now as he returns to lock for their final Six Nations fixture at home to Italy on Saturday, as centres George North and Nick Tompkins are restored to the team.

Wales coach Warren Gatland's experiment to move Dafydd Jenkins to the back row is over for now as he returns to lock for their final Six Nations fixture at home to Italy on Saturday, as centres George North and Nick Tompkins are restored to the team. Gatland's side are facing the wooden spoon having lost all four games in the championship to date, including a 45-24 home loss to France this past weekend, where they were in the game for an hour but wilted in the closing quarter.

Jenkins is back in the second row to partner Adam Beard, while North and Tompkins, surprising exclusions for the French Test, come in for Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin respectively. The other changes to the starting line-up see flanker Alex Mann replace lock Will Rowlands to allow Jenkins to make his switch, while prop Dillon Lewis comes in for Keiron Assiratti in the front row.

Hooker Elliot Dee also retains his place having been a late replacement for the injured Ryan Elias against France. Wales team:

15-Cameron Winnett, 14-Josh Adams, 13-George North, 12-Nick Tompkins, 11-Rio Dyer, 10-Sam Costelow, 9-Tomos Williams; 1-Gareth Thomas, 2-Elliot Dee, 3-Dillon Lewis, 4-Dafydd Jenkins (captain), 5-Adam Beard, 6-Alex Mann, 7-Tommy Reffell, 8-Aaron Wainwright Replacements: 16-Evan Lloyde, 17-Kemsley Mathias, 18-Harri O’Connor, 19-Will Rowlands, 20-Mackenzie Martin, 21-Kieran Hardy, 22-Ioan Lloyd, 23-Mason Grady.

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