Wales’ Dafydd Jenkins and Liam Williams have been ruled out of today’s Six Nations match against Italy. Williams has been dealing with a knee injury since the opening round defeat to France, where Wales suffered a 43-0 loss.
Warren Gatland disclosed in his post-match interview that if Owen Watkin hadn’t sustained his injury, Williams would have been substituted last week. On Friday, it was reported that 93-cap Williams was a significant doubt, revealing that his knee had swollen up again.
He was initially named to start against the Azzurri, but now Blair Murray from Scarlets will replace him at 15. The bigger surprise on Saturday afternoon was when Exeter second row Jenkins withdrew due to illness.
He is replaced in the starting XV by Freddie Thomas, with Teddy Williams joining the bench. New Zealand-born Murray usually plays on the wing, but was used at full-back in the autumn defeat to South Africa.
He trained in this position in Rome on Friday. Josh Hathaway joins the replacements bench for cover, with Josh Adams and Tom Rogers keeping their places in the back three.
Kick-off is at 2.15pm (UK time) at the Stadio Olimpico.
Wales XV line-up: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Nick Tompkins, Eddie James, Josh Adams; Ben Thomas, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Evan Lloyd, Henry Thomas, Will Rowlands, Freddie Thomas, James Botham, Jac Morgan (captain), Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Keiron Assiratti, Teddy Williams, Aaron Wainwright, Rhodri Williams, Dan Edwards, Josh Hathaway.
This article originally appeared on Wales Online