Wales Pair Williams and Jenkins to Miss Italy Match

Men’s six nations: Italy against Wales

Place: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Date: Saturday, February 8 Kick-off: 14:15 GMT

Coverage: Listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales & BBC Radio Cymru; Text comment and highlights of the BBC Sports Web site and app; Look at ITV1 and S4C.

Wales has suffered a double late beat with Liam Williams and Dafydd Jenkins excluded from the Six Nations game against Italy on Saturday.

Blair Murray and Freddie Thomas are now starting the most important fixture at Stadio Olimpico.

It is a big battle for Warren Gatland to lose his most experienced back and one of his best priests ahead for such an important game.

The veteran’s full back Williams had struggled with a knee injury that was maintained against France in the opening match and missed training on Friday.

Scarlets Wing Murray – playing all three tests in the fall, including at full back against South Africa – wins only its fifth hood.

Jenkins, who made the second most tackles of any player in the six nations last week, has been excluded through illness.

Gloucester Lock Thomas gets his first Wales to start debuting against South Africa in November.

His Kingsholm clubmate Josh Hathaway and Cardiff Lock Teddy Williams have been promoted to the bench.

Wales lost 43-0 against France in Paris in their opening of the SIX Nations game and increased the problems for Gatland’s team after 13 consecutive test defeat.