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Anscombe handed number 10 jersey for Wales' Italian job

7th March 2018


Gareth Anscombe has been handed the number 10 jersey for Wales' NatWest 6 Nations clash against Italy on Sunday.

The Cardiff Blues star has featured in all of Wales' matches during this campaign, starting at full back in the clash against England at Twickenham, and appearing from the bench in the Tests against Scotland and Ireland.

Anscombe is one of ten changes made from the defeat to Ireland in round three, as Warren Gatland names an exciting and attacking side for the encounter.

Cardiff Blues duo, Seb Davies and Ellis Jenkins, both feature on the bench, and are set for their first appearances of the campaign.

Bath number eight, Taulupe Faletau, is appointed captain, while Scarlets back row, James Davies, is handed his first appearance on the international stage.

Four former Cardiff Blues players are also involved in the form of Cory Hill, Bradley Davies, Rhys Patchell and Leigh Halfpenny.

Wales: Liam Williams (Saracens) (46 Caps); George North (Northampton Saints) (71 Caps), Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (3 Caps), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (4 Caps), Steff Evans (Scarlets) (8 Caps); Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) (14 Caps), Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (30 Caps); Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (16 Caps), Elliot Dee (Dragons) (5 Caps), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (29 Caps), Cory Hill (Dragons) (13 Caps), Bradley Davies (Ospreys) (60 Caps), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (55 Caps), James Davies (Scarlets) (*Uncapped), Taulupe Faletau (Bath) (70 Caps) (CAPT)

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets) (55 Caps), Rob Evans (Scarlets) (23 Caps), Samson Lee (Scarlets) (37 Caps), Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues) (3 Caps)Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) (5 Caps), Aled Davies (Scarlets) (7 Caps), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets) (7 Caps), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (76 Caps)