Wales make five changes for Italy clash

Wales interim coach Rob Howley has made five changes to the team for the upcoming Six Nations clash against Italy on Sunday.

Alun Wyn Jones will captain the side taking over the reins from Sam Warburton, who now moves to blindside flanker while scrum-half Rhys Webb makes a comeback from injury.

Luke Charteris and Bath's Taulupe Faletau have been ruled out of the encounter with respective injuries allowing props Nicky Smith and Samson Lee and lock Jake Ball to comeback into the team.

Jamie Roberts has been named among the replacements with Scott Williams being the preferred centre while Dan Biggar will partner his Ospreys team-mate Webb at half-back.

Uncapped players fail to find a place in the matchday 23 as Howley banks on experience to start the tournament well.

"We've gone with a lot of experience with 10 out the XV who started against South Africa," he said.

"It's important to start well hence the selection you see.

"We've been there as coaches and some of the players have - 2009 comes to mind - when we made a number of changes and given opportunities but we just feel for the start of the campaign we want to start well.

"We believe the Six Nations is going to be about momentum and we wanted to pick a rather experienced team to start the tournament."

Wales team for clash against Italy: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon); George North (Northampton), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins).