What is the Wales team?
George North has announced that he will retire from international rugby after Saturday’s match.
North, who has won 120 caps, made his Wales debut as an 18-year-old against South Africa and has scored 47 tries for his country, a figure bettered only by Shane Williams.The 31-year-old also toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 2013 and then New Zealand four years later.
North, who was omitted from the starting line-up beaten 45-24 by France last weekend, replaces Joe Roberts against Italy, with his fellow centre Nick Tompkins returning instead of Owen Watkin.
Two other changes are in the pack, where Harlequins prop Dillon Lewis is preferred to Keiron Assiratti and Cardiff flanker Alex Mann packs down alongside back-row colleagues Tommy Reffell and Aaron Wainwright.
Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins, who featured at blindside flanker against France, returns to the second row alongside Adam Beard, with Will Rowlands dropping to the bench.
Also among the replacements are uncapped Scarlets prop Harri O’Connor and Cardiff hooker Evan Lloyd, who made his Test debut against France.
Wales XV: Winnett; Adams, North, Tompkins, Dyer; Costelow, T Williams; Thomas, Dee, Lewis, Jenkins (capt), Beard, Mann, Reffell, Wainwright.
Replacements: E Lloyd, Mathias, H O’Connor, Rowlands, Martin, Hardy, I Lloyd, Grady.
What is the Italy team?
A broken finger has ruled out full-back Ange Capuozzo. Tests following the 31-29 comeback win over Scotland last weekend revealed Capuozzo broke the middle finger of his left hand.
His absence is a blow after he was instrumental in Italy’s two best results in the championship: the draw in France and defeat of Scotland, Italy’s first home win in 11 years. Capuozzo also started the late attack against Wales in Cardiff in 2022 that netted the match-winning converted try for Edoardo Padovani.
Capuozzo has been replaced by Zebre full-back Lorenzo Pani, who started on the wing against England and Ireland to accommodate Tommaso Allan and Capuozzo in the 15 jersey.
Coach Gonzalo Quesada made two other changes on Thursday, swapping in No 8 Lorenzo Cannone and scrum-half Stephen Varney for Ross Vintcent and Martin Page-Relo, who have dropped to the reserves.
Cannone’s return gives Benetton Treviso seven of the pack, the only exception being Zebre loosehead Danilo Fischetti.
Benetton flanker Manuel Zuliani also returns to the reserves with Italy going back to a 6-2 split.
Italy XV: Pani; Lynagh, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane; Garbisi, Varney; Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari, Cannone, Ruzza, Negri, Lamaro (capt), Cannone.
Replacements: Lucchesi, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Zambonin, Vintcent, Zuliani, Page-Relo, Marin.
