Jones gets nod to step into Welsh second row

Former Wales captain Ryan Jones will take the place of banned lock Bradley Davies in Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Millennium Stadium visitors Scotland.

Wales coach Warren Gatland has, as expected, moved Jones from blindside flanker to partner his Ospreys colleague Ian Evans in the second row.

Flanker Dan Lydiate has recovered from an ankle injury to reclaim the number six shirt, prop Gethin Jenkins has shaken off knee trouble to start and skipper Sam Warburton also features.

Warburton went off at half time during Wales’ 23-21 victory over Ireland in Dublin five days ago because of a leg injury, but he has been named to pack down alongside back-row colleagues Lydiate and Toby Faletau.

Saracens loosehead Rhys Gill drops out of the match day 22, with Paul James providing prop cover. The bench also includes 24-year-old uncapped Scarlets lock Lou Reed.

All Gatland’s changes are up front, as he predictably retains the back division en bloc that caused mayhem for Ireland’s defence and conjured tries for Jonathan Davies (two) and George North.

Scotland plan to meet fire with fire in Cardiff, with captain Ross Ford yesterday confirming the visitors have asked for the Millennium Stadium roof to be closed.

Despite wet weather being forecast and the profligate showing in the 13-6 loss to England last Saturday, head coach Andy Robinson has backed his Scotland side to take on Wales at their own expansive game.

Ford said: “We’ve asked for the roof to be closed, so that guarantees us a nice dry ball to go out and play the way we want to.

“We believe we’ve got the ability there to put pressure on Wales with the way we want to play and we’d prefer it if the roof was closed.”

Meanwhile, Chris Robshaw will captain an unchanged England team into Saturday’s clash with Italy in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

Northampton’s Phil Dowson has held off a challenge from Ben Morgan to keep his place at number eight, in direct opposition to the dynamic Italy captain Sergio Parisse.

Morgan will be primed to make an impact off the bench at the sold-out venue, just as the 22-year-old did on a confident Test debut in last weekend’s gritty 13-6 win against Scotland.

Charlie Hodgson has recovered from a blow to the shoulder to continue at fly-half with Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt again forming an all-Saracens midfield.

Saints scrum-half Lee Dickson has recovered from a hand injury to retain his place on the bench, where England stick with a four-three split between forwards and backs. Harlequins prop Joe Marler and Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson will provide injury cover.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel makes two changes to the side beaten 30-12 by France, handing starts to Aironi lock Marco Bortolami and Clermont Auvergne centre Gonzalo Canale.

Veteran flanker Mauro Bergamasco has been included on the bench after recovering from the shoulder injury that ruled him out of the 2011 championship.