Welsh make eight changes

WALES have made eight changes and awarded five new caps for the match against Italy at the Cardiff Arms Park on January 16th.

Centres Leigh Davies of Neath and Matthew Wintle of Llanelli and Bristol fly half Arwel Thomas are the newcomers behind the scrum.

Cardiff's prop, Andrew Lewis, and Llanelli flanker Gwyn Jones make their debuts in the pack.

The last time Wales introduced five new caps was in the first Test against Namibia in Windhoek on June 2nd, 1990.

Coach Kevin Bowring has made the changes following the 19-15 home win over Fiji in November.

"We are looking forward with this selection. We need to evolve a pattern of play and that pattern will revolve around an openside flanker who can win the ball at the breakdown and an inside centre with good distribution skills," he said.

"We need a pack that can provide quicker support for the backs to ensure greater continuity in our game. There are some exciting young players, all of them currently in very good form, who have been given the chance to show what they can do in this match.

"We were unable to consider five of the side who faced Fiji, Gareth Thomas, Nigel Davies, Neil Jenkins, Andrew Moore and Mark Bennett, because of injuries.

"Injury also ruled out Mark Spiller and Paul Jones, who were members of the 42-man squad."

As well as the enforced changes through injury, Bowring has brought Lewis in at loose head prop in place of Christian Loader and recalled his Cardiff clubmate Emyr Lewis at flanker ahead of Craig Quinnell.

Wales's most capped second row, Gareth Llewellyn, returns to make his 41st appearance for his country. His Neath clubmate, John Davies, resumes at tight head prop in place of Lyndon Mustoe after missing the Fiji game with a rib injury.