MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 22:55:58| >> :600:614373:614373:
World Cup Warm-Up | World Cup Warm-Up
Sep 5, 2015 at 5pm UK
 
Wales
23-19
Italy
North (12')
FT
Sarto (2'), Palazzani (80')

Sam Warburton back for Wales against Italy

Sam Warburton returns to captain Wales for their final Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Italy in Cardiff.

Sam Warburton has returned to the Wales starting XV for their final Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Italy on Saturday.

The flanker missed his side's 16-10 win over Ireland last weekend through injury.

James King is also given the nod by coach Warren Gatland, while Dominic Day replaces the injured Alun Wyn Jones for the game in Cardiff.

Starts for Cory Allen and Jake Ball take the total changes made by Gatland to five following the team's victory in Dublin.

"With our opening Rugby World Cup fixture just two weeks away, this weekend is important run-out and opportunity for fine tuning," he is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

"We were happy with the performance away from home in Ireland last weekend, but there are plenty of things we need to work on from that victory so we will be looking to put those in place on Saturday.

"We've made a couple of changes to try a few new combinations and ensure players get some more game time under their belts."

Wales team to face Italy

Halfpenny, Cuthbert, Williams, Allen, North, Biggar, Webb, Jenkins, Baldwin, Francis, Ball, Day, King, Warburton, Faletau
Replacements: Dacey, James, Jarvis, Charteris, Moriarty, Davies, Priestland, Morgan

ID:243781: cacheID:243781:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2699:
Written by
Jack Prescott
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Alun Wyn Jones of Wales in action during the RBS Six Nations match between Wales and Scotland at Millennium Stadium on March 15, 2014
Read Next:
Four Wales players sign Dual Contracts
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!