Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Wales' Jonah Holmes and Thomas Young to make Six Nations debut in Italy

Wales head coach Warren Gatland makes 10 changes to the side that won in Paris

Thursday 07 February 2019 13:13 GMT

✕

Six Nations round-up: England beat champions Ireland

Wasps flanker Thomas Young and Leicester wing Jonah Holmes will make their Six Nations debuts for Wales in Saturday's clash with Italy.

Young, who won two caps on Wales' 2017 summer tour against Tonga and Samoa, lines up in Rome alongside back-row colleagues Aaron Wainwright and Josh Navidi.

Centre Jonathan Davies captains his country for a first time - regular skipper Alun Wyn Jones is on the replacements' bench - as Wales head coach Warren Gatland makes 10 changes and one positional switch from the side that beat France last week.

There is also a Six Nations bow for Holmes, who made his Test debut during this season's autumn series, with scrum-half Aled Davies and flanker Wainwright handed first starts in the tournament.

Centre Owen Watkin, fly-half Dan Biggar, who replaces Gareth Anscombe, hooker Elliot Dee and lock Jake Ball also feature, with Navidi moving from blindside flanker to number eight.

Six Nations: Team of the week

Show all 15

1/15Six Nations: Team of the week

Six Nations: Team of the week

1. Mako Vunipola (England)

It might already be the performance of the championship. The England loosehead made a game-leading 25 tackles and was a rock in the scrum, not to mention a wrecking ball when carrying. Continues to defy logic as he plays like a 19-stone back-row.

REUTERS

Six Nations: Team of the week

2. Jamie George (England)

Put any lineout demons from the autumn behind him with a creative and accurate display. Impressive with ball in hand as he looked to make the most of holes in the Ireland defence and is very much becoming England’s No 1 No 2.

PA

Six Nations: Team of the week

3. Tomas Francis (Wales)

Wales had little to should about in the first half in Paris but Francis stood out among the rest of those in red. Carried well and took on responsibility when others lost their heads. Stood up well in the scrum against a mammoth French pack.

Getty Images

Six Nations: Team of the week

4. Ben Toolis (Scotland)

His long locks make him stand out regardless, but the Edinburgh lock was one of the noticeable carriers in dark blue and managed to win the physical collisions by always going forwards in contact. Mention to England’s Maro Itoje, who was on course for the shirt until injury cruelly forced him off the field.

Action Images via Reuters

Six Nations: Team of the week

5. George Kruis (England)

Brought in to run the England lineout and delivered emphatically. Lost just two of their 10 lineouts and even managed to pinch one off Ireland, which is easily said than done. Supported England’s big impact runners really well to retain the ball.

Getty Images

Six Nations: Team of the week

6. Mark Wilson (England)

An area of big competition this weekend but the Englishman shades it ahead of Wales’ Josh Navidi, who it must be said was exceptional against the French. However, Wilson continues to prove why he belongs on the Test arena, and could well have delivered a performance in Dublin that pushes him ahead of Brad Shields in the No 6 shirt pecking order.

REUTERS

Six Nations: Team of the week

7. Justin Tipuric (Wales)

A brilliant defensive effort from the openside sees him take the shirt ahead of Tom Curry, though Scotland’s Jamie Ritchie also deserves a strong mention for an all-round impressive showing. However, it was Tipuric’s composure in the breakdown that kept Wales in the game and allowed them to seize the opportunities that France threw their way.

REUTERS

Six Nations: Team of the week

8. Billy Vunipola (England)

His first Six Nations outing in two years did not disappoint as the No 8 announced his return to international rugby with a bang. Looks to be getting back to the level he was before his injury nightmare began, which given this was only his fourth appearance since returning from injury is nothing short of astounding. A special mention to Louis Picamoles too, who showed what a farce it has been in omitting him from the national team.

AP

Six Nations: Team of the week

9. Ben Youngs (England)

The scrum-half’s best performance for quite some time as he injected pace into England’s game and produced what felt like his best kicking display of his career. Smart, tactical decisions kept Ireland pegged back and made good use of the blindside to bring both Jonny May’s and Henry Slade’s tries.

PA

Six Nations: Team of the week

10. Finn Russell (Scotland)

Played a key role in Scotland’s victory over Italy, proving the creative spark in four of their five tries. A lovely cross-field kick off the outside of his boot set-up Blair Kinghorn for his first, a loop move lead to the wing’s second, a chip behind the Italian defence laid on the third for Stuart Hogg and his delayed pass ultimately lead to Chris Harris’ final score.

AP

Six Nations: Team of the week

11. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)

On that note it is no surprise to see the hat-trick hero take his place in the side. Showed his clinical finishing with his first two tries, while the third was undoubtedly his best as he linked well with Greig Laidlaw to deceive the defence and race through to score.

EPA

Six Nations: Team of the week

12. Manu Tuilagi (England)

Like Billy Vunipola, Tuilagi took to international rugby after a lengthy lay-off like a duck to water. The centre offered plenty attacking-wise, but it was his defence that really stood out as he put in bone-crunching tackles on Johnny Sexton, Bundee Aki and Tadhg Furlong. Played a key role in executing England’s plan.

PA

Six Nations: Team of the week

13. Henry Slade (England)

His coming of age as an international player. All the talk had been of Tuilagi’s return, but Slade delivered a masterclass performance to show why he remains so crucial to England’s creativity. Two tries - his first in the Six Nations - were just rewards for his smart play in Dublin.

PA

Six Nations: Team of the week

14. George North (Wales)

Opportunistic, and then some. Coaches will tell children to never give up on lost causes on the rugby field, and North is a prime example of that. His committed performance saw him end the weekend with two tries to his name, the first no doubt through luck as Yoann Huget spilled the ball, but the second stemmed from choosing the right decision to race up and intercept the ball.

AP

Six Nations: Team of the week

15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland)

Look around the SIx Nations and there is a wealth of attacking full-backs, but Hogg just rises above the rest. Quick hands set-up Kinghorn’s second try, before his pace secured him his own as he won the race to Russell’s chip through. Still had time to display his running skills as he cut Italy in half that brought up the final score for Harris.

EPA

Players that started the 24-19 victory over France who are not involved in Wales' match-day 23 this weekend include wing George North, centre Hadleigh Parkes and hooker Ken Owens as Gatland maximises a 31-man squad who have trained in Nice this week.

Young is the son of Wasps rugby director and former Wales prop Dai Young, and he has been among the Gallagher Premiership's most consistent performers this season.

He now has a glorious chance to show his Test credentials at the start of a World Cup year.

Victory for Wales at the Stadio Olimpico would make it 11 successive wins and equal their all-time unbeaten record set between 1907 and 1910.

They have also not lost to Italy for 12 years, while the Azzurri are without a win against any Six Nations team since 2015.

Gatland said: "We have made a number of changes this weekend, but have picked what we think is a very exciting team that still has huge experience throughout it.

"We have made a similar number of changes to what we did last year, but it is all about opportunity for these players. We have had a squad of 31 training together, replicating the Rugby World Cup, and it is important they get game time.

"It is a great opportunity for Jon (Davies) as captain. He has a huge amount of experience, is a great leader and it is a great honour for him to lead his country.

"Italy will be hurting after last weekend (they lost to Scotland), but they are a different proposition in Rome.

"They are an experienced team themselves and they will be looking to put things right on the pitch after their opening defeat."

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies