Dan Biggar will make his 100th Wales appearance this weekend as head coach Wayne Pivac names his side to take on Italy in the Guinness Six Nations finale.
The 32-year-old will round out the tournament with a century of Wales caps at the Principality Stadium as he captains the side on Saturday (19 March, kick-off: 2.15pm). Biggar and his side go into the final round of matches off the back of a frustrating loss to France last time out, welcoming Italy as they go in search of their second win of the competition.
Head coach Pivac said: “Italy are a side that’s improving, they’ve had some bad luck here and there and with a new coach transitioning we know it takes a bit of time.
“But we know they’ve got some very good rugby players and as you saw against Scotland they troubled them in that second half and for long periods of the first. So we’re going to have to be on our game and we’re very much looking forward to playing at home again this weekend.
Speaking on centurion Biggar, and lock Alun Wyn Jones who brings up 150 Wales caps this weekend, Pivac added: “Dan and Al are huge players for Wales and have been for many years now.
“We’ve said with other players reaching 100 appearances what an achievement that is and for Dan I know he’s been looking forward to this moment for a long time. For him to achieve it with Al, who is also getting the milestone of 150 caps – which no other player has ever done – I think it’s fitting for those two to share the day. They’ve played a lot of rugby together and have a healthy respect for each other. They’ve given so much for the game in Wales.”
WALES vs ITALY
Guinness Six Nations
Principality Stadium
Saturday 19 March, 2022
Kick-off: 2.15pm
15 Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets – 9 caps)
14 Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 15 caps)
13 Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 30 caps)
12 Uilisi Halaholo (Cardiff Rugby – 9 caps)
11 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 38 caps)
10 Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints – 99 caps), captain
9 Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 66 caps)
1 Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 9 caps)
2 Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 4 caps)
3 Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 37 caps)
4 Adam Beard (Ospreys – 33 caps), vice-captain
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 149 caps)
6 Seb Davies (Cardiff Rugby – 16 caps)
7 Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby – 29 caps)
8 Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby – 88 caps)
Replacements:
16 Bradley Roberts (Ulster Rugby – 1 cap)
17 Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 42 caps)
18 Leon Brown (Dragons – 21 caps)
19 Will Rowlands (Dragons – 17 caps)
20 Ross Moriarty (Dragons – 53 caps)
21 Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 10 caps)
22 Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears – 15 caps)
23 Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 19 caps)
