TOMPKINS IN, TAULUPE BACK, REES-ZAMMIT ON THE BENCH
– THE WALES TEAM TO FACE ITALY
WALES are set to pick Saracens’ Nick Tompkins at centre when Wayne Pivac names his team to play Italy at noon today.
Tompkins is favourite to be handed his debut from the start, with George North chosen on the wing despite being widely tipped to wear 13.
Gloucester’s teenage sensation Louis Rees-Zammit is expected to be named on the bench, while Tomos Williams appears to have won the battle for the starting number nine shirt.
Taulupe Faletau comes straight back into the starting team at No.8 after an absence of nearly two years, with Aaron Wainwright believed to have got the nod at blindside flanker alongside Justin Tipuric.
Pivac is also expected to make a bold call at tighthead prop, opting for Dragons youngster Leon Brown ahead of World Cup player Dillon Lewis and new squad member WillGriff John.
Jake Ball looks favourite to line up next to captain Alun Wyn Jones after his impressive World Cup performances.
Elsewhere, Dan Biggar will be named at number 10, with Hadleigh Parkes outside him at 12 and his Scarlets teammate Leigh Halfpenny playing at full-back.
Josh Adams, who was the top tryscorer at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, starts on the other wing.
The match on Saturday (2.15pm) will be a huge opportunity for Tompkins, in particular, to make a mark following his shock selection in the squad earlier this month.
The 24-year-old qualifies for Wales through his grandmother Enid, who was born in Wrexham in 1933.
Since the start of last season Tompkins tops the charts for tries scored, metres made and defenders beaten for centres in the Gallagher Premiership.
The No.9 selection made by Pivac for the Italy clash also appears to be a big show of faith in Cardiff Blues scrum-half Williams amid a close battle with Gareth Davies and Rhys Webb, who is back in the Wales squad following the end of his 60-cap rule exile.
Expected Wales team: Leigh Halfpenny; George North; Nick Tompkins; Hadleigh Parkes; Josh Adams; Dan Biggar; Tomos Williams; Wyn Jones; Ken Owens; Leon Brown; Jake Ball; Alun Wyn Jones (capt); Aaron Wainwright; Justin Tipuric; Taulupe Faletau.