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Rob Howley sticks with same starting 15 for Italy game

Howley sticks with same players
© PA Photos
Wales will start their Six Nations match against Italy with the same 15 players who beat France on Saturday.

Rob Howley has announced that Wales's starting lineup for their Six Nations match against Italy will be the same as the side that started against France on Saturday.

The interim head coach of the 2012 Grand Slam winners will stick with the team that recorded a 16-6 win in Paris.

Howley told Sky Sports News: "I have told the players the same 15 will start in Italy. I think it is pretty important from a coach's perspective that we reward the players who have gone out on the field.

"Sam [Warburton] is better, he is still feeling the stinger to some extent but I wanted clarity. In terms of preparation, the team comes first. What I don't want is to wait on medical opinions, and the way the team went on the weekend they deserve to start again.

"It is a reward for the performance. We have talked about the determination, the attitude and resilience, and that is what you reward a side for when they come up with a win in France, which is not easy to get on any occasion."

Wales face Italy in Rome when the Six Nations resumes on February 23.

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