Prydie handed shock Wales call-up

Ospreys teenager Tom Prydie has won a shock call-up to the Wales team for Saturday’s RBS Six Nations Championship finale against Italy in Cardiff.

Wing Prydie, at just 18 years and 27 days, will become the youngest Welsh international player of all time.

Prydie replaces Cardiff Blues’ Leigh Halfpenny as one of five changes from the side that crashed 27-12 defeat against triple crown-chasing Ireland three days ago.

Wales coach Warren Gatland welcomes back three fit-again British and Irish Lions in scrum-half Mike Phillips, prop Gethin Jenkins and skipper Ryan Jones, who replaces Gloucester’s Gareth Delve.

And there is a first Six Nations start for 21-year-old Cardiff flanker Sam Warburton, who is preferred to 95-times capped veteran Martyn Williams.

Both Williams and scrum-half Richie Rees, who has been replaced by Phillips, failed to win a place on the bench as Wales look for a winning finish to what has been a hugely disappointing Six Nations campaign.

TEAM:

L Byrne (Ospreys), T Prydie (Ospreys), J Hook (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), M Phillips (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), A Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), J Thomas (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).

Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), P James (Ospreys), I Gough (Ospreys), G Delve (Gloucester), D Peel (Sale Sharks), A Bishop (Ospreys), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues).