Lock Adam Brown wins his first Wales U19 cap and he will play alongside fellow Academy members centre Gareth Maule, wing Jimmy Norris, prop Jamie Corsi and No.8 Lewis Evans. On the replacements bench three Academy members Ashley Smith, Rob Lewis and James Lewis have been named.
The Welsh youngsters have already clinched the Triple Crown and on Thursday continue their quest for Grand Slam glory. At the end of March the U19s travel to Dubai for the U19 World Cup, a tournament where they hope to make their mark.
Justin Burnell, the Wales U19 Head Coach, has made nine changes to the team who beat Ireland as they attempt to make it five wins on the bounce following their historic 27-7 victory over Australia - the young Wallabies' first Test defeat on Welsh soil - and the Six Nations wins over the English, Scots and Irish. "I have got no doubts whatsoever about the abilities of the players coming in," said Burnell. "At the end of the month we go to Dubai for four weeks for the U19 World Cup and it is essential that everyone in the squad has game time before that tournament so they are now given their opportunities to impress. We have got to a level where all the boys are such a massive part of our environment and the match against Italy is the chance to keep the drum beating. It is great to have won the Triple Crown but that is only half the job done - we want the Grand Slam as well."
In addition to three players making their debuts, the other changes from the starting line-up against Ireland see Blues lock James Down, threequarters Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) and Jimmy Norris (Dragons) and Scarlets half backs Rhys Priestland and Darren Allinson called up to start against the Azzurri.
Wales U19:
Martyn Thomas (Scarlets); Alec Jenkins (Scarlets), Gareth Maule (Dragons), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jimmy Norris (Dragons); Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Darren Allinson (Scarlets); Hugh Gustafson (Scarlets, captain), Marc Jones (Exiles), Jamie Corsi (Dragons), Adam Brown (Dragons), James Down (Blues), Sam Kiley (Ospreys), Daniel Franks (Blues), Lewis Evans (Dragons).
Replacements (from):
Keiron Jenkins (Blues), Nicholas Eaves (Blues), Bradley Davies (Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Ashley Smith (Dragons), Robert Lewis (Dragons), James Lewis (Dragons), Matthew Larsen (Blues), Marc Breeze (Ospreys),
