Gatland continues to ring changes

Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel will start in the half-backs against Italy a week on Saturday after Wales head coach Warren Gatland…

Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel will start in the half-backs against Italy a week on Saturday after Wales head coach Warren Gatland made six changes to the side that beat Scotland.

Gatland has also named a whole new front row, with Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas and hooker Matthew Rees given their first starts of this year's Six Nations Championship.

The other change is on the wing where Mark Jones, who was dropped following the win over England at Twickenham, returns in place of weekend debutant Jamie Roberts.

Gatland had promised changes following the 30-15 victory and he has taken the unusual step of announcing his line-up 11 days before the game to ensure maximum preparation time.

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"We've made six changes but are in the enviable position of being able to do so without weakening our line-up," said the former Ireland coach, who has brought in players boasting a total of 239 caps between them.

"Players have put their hands up with performances from the bench and in Stephen, Dwayne, Mark and Gethin we are a bringing a wealth of experience and talent into the side. Italy are tough opposition and have been progressing well under a new coach in Nick Mallett.

"They gave England a scare last week and they always rise to the occasion and pick up a result somewhere in the Six Nations and we need to be on our guard."

Jones and Peel have been rewarded for their performances off the bench at the weekend, when they came on with 20 minutes remaining and guided Wales to victory.

As a result, James Hook and Mike Phillips have been included among the replacements, alongside hooker Huw Bennett and prop Duncan Jones who also started against Scotland.

Wales' opening victories over England and Scotland has set up a shot at the Triple Crown, when they travel to Ireland in a month's time.

But before then, they must see off Italy at the Millennium Stadium and the last time Wales won three matches on the bounce was nearly three years ago, at the end of the 2005 Grand Slam season.

"All talk of Triple Crowns or even Championships needs to be put on hold, we've won two games in a row and it's our mission now to win three," added Gatland. "The Ireland game will be a defining moment for our season, but we need to be travelling to Dublin with a good win against Italy under our belts."

Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); M Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), G Henson (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), R Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), I Gough (Ospreys), I Evans (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt). Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Deiniol Jones (Cardiff Blues), G Delve (Gloucester), M Phillips (Ospreys), J Hook (Ospreys), S Parker (Ospreys).