 Wales fly-half Stephen Jones has recovered from his dead leg |
Wales fly-half Stephen Jones and wing Mark Jones have won their fitness battles to face Italy in the RBS Six Nations match in Cardiff on Saturday. Fly-half Jones suffered a dead leg in the loss to Ireland in Dublin, while Scarlets wing Jones had rib damage.
The only change to the starting line-up sees fit-again Ospreys wing Shane Williams replacing Dafydd James.
Gavin Henson retains his place on the bench, but Nicky Robinson of Cardiff Blues is also there as fly-half cover.
Robinson's call-up and Henson's retention means there is no place on the bench for James, who drops out of the match-day squad along with Scarlets team-mate Barry Davies.
The other change among the replacements sees Scarlets number eight Alix Popham rewarded for his man-of-the-match display in last weekend's Powergen Cup semi-final win over Bath.
 Wales wing Mark Jones had been troubled by bruised ribs |
He replaces Bath back-row Gareth Delve, who has been suffering with blood poisoning.
Despite calls from former players such as Mervyn Davies that Michael Owen should be dropped, the Dragons number eight keeps his place and the captain's armband.
Owen has started at the base of the scrum in all three Six Nations games so far, and has taken over the captaincy since Gareth Thomas' absence with injury.
But the Lions tourist has struggled to make much of an impact as a ball carrier.
Long-term injury continues to keep Gareth Cooper, Tom Shanklin, Brent Cockbain, Luke Charteris, Kevin Morgan, Iestyn Thomas, Ryan Jones and Chris Horsman sidelined.
Wales: L Byrne; M Jones, H Luscombe, M Watkins, S Williams; S Jones, D Peel; D Jones, R Thomas, A Jones; I Gough, R Sidoli; C Charvis, M Williams, M Owen (capt).
Replacements: M Davies, G Jenkins, J Thomas, A Popham, M Phillips, G Henson, N Robinson.
MMIX
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