Shane Williams returns from a dead leg to replace Llanelli Scarlets wing Dafydd James, and amongst the replacements there are berths for Scarlets' Alix Popham and Blues' Nicky Robinson who have both played themselves into the squad after impressing at the weekend for their respective regions.

Johnson said,
"Nicky Robinson comes onto the bench with Barry Davies missing out, he impressed for his region at the weekend. Nicky is direct cover for Stephen Jones at fly-half, whose injury issues have been well documented but is thankfully reporting to us fully fit and raring to go, and we have retained Gavin Henson as cover for a number of positions in the backs.

"The philosophy here is to keep this side tight, we are a close knit group and we have had to maintain our focus in the last fortnight to ensure the performance will be right in front of our home fans at the Millennium Stadium."

"We have kept the faith with the majority of the side that underperformed in Dublin and told them to go out there on Saturday and put things right," stated Johnson.

"The boys have a second chance to prove what they are capable of and that the last outing was just a blip. What we saw against Ireland just wasn't us and my message to the fans is don't give up on us yet, this is our 'hour of need' and we need you know more than ever.

"Wales has the best rugby fans in the world, every country says it, but this is the one place where it is true and they really do have a role to play in the helping us perform on Saturday.

"Italy will be strong, they are the biggest improvers in the Championship, but that is exactly the test we need, to get ourselves back on track.

"This season's Championship is the most open in years, which is great for the competition. If we do our part well and get our performances right in the next two weeks who knows were we will end up, after all it's still our title to defend."

Wales: Lee Byrne (Llanelli Scarlets); Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Hal Luscombe (Newport-Gwent Dragons), Matthew Watkins (Llanelli Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (ASM Clermont Auvergne, Vice-Captain), Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Cardiff Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Newport-Gwent Dragons), Rob Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), Colin Charvis (Newcastle Falcons), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Michael Owen (Newport-Gwent Dragons, Captain)

Replacements: Mefin Davies (Gloucester Rugby), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Alix Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Cardiff Blues), Nicky Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys)