Dan Lydiate replaces injured Sam Warburton as Wales captain for Italy clash

Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate will captain Wales for the first time in a Test match when Wales conclude their RBS 6 Nations campaign against Italy on Saturday.

Lydiate takes over leadership duties from Sam Warburton, who suffered concussion during last weekend's 25-21 loss to England at Twickenham and has been given more time to recover.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland makes four changes from the England clash, with Justin Tipuric replacing Warburton, lock Luke Charteris in for Alun Wyn Jones, scrum-half Rhys Webb replacing Gareth Davies and wing Hallam Amos taking over from Alex Cuthbert.

The Welsh Rugby Union said that Jones has a heel problem, while Cuthbert is nursing a foot injury.

Exeter prop Tomas Francis, meanwhile, has been named among the Wales replacements, subject to the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.

Francis was cited for allegedly making contact with the eyes or eye area of England prop Dan Cole at Twickenham, and is set to face a Six Nations hearing this week, possibly on Wednesday.

If he is unavailable for the Italy game, then Ospreys tighthead Aaron Jarvis will line up on the bench.

Lydiate's previous captaincy experience came in a midweek match against Eastern Province Kings on Wales' 2014 South Africa tour, and Gatland has now turned to him for a game that will secure the Six Nations runners-up spot behind England if Italy are despatched.

Webb, who replaced Davies during the second half at Twickenham, will make his first Test appearance since suffering a serious foot injury during Wales' final World Cup warm-up game - against Italy - last September.

Jones' absence means that Gatland retains the second-row pairing of Charteris and Bradley Davies that finished the match against England, while Amos will wear the number 11 shirt, with George North switching to right wing duties.

Among the replacements, prop Gethin Jenkins returns after recovering from a calf muscle injury, and there are also call-ups for Scarlets lock Jake Ball and Gloucester back-row forward Ross Moriarty.

Gatland said: "This weekend, it is all about finishing off the tournament well and putting in a big performance.

"We are disappointed with last week, especially the first half, but a win on Saturday will see us finish the tournament in second, and we have to aim for that now.

"There are a number of changes, a couple injury enforced.

"Alun Wyn Jones has an injury that we have been managing for a while, and he has played a lot of games.

" We have given Sam Warburton the week off. We decided not to push him through all the return to play protocols, and we have also been managing an injury with Alex (Cuthbert), so Hallam comes on to the left wing.

"Saturday is a good chance for some of the players to redeem themselves, and we are looking for a big performance.

"I've been involved in a couple of games when Dan (Lydiate) has captained the midweek sides. He jumped at the opportunity this weekend, and it will be good to see how he goes."