Lydiate to captain Wales in Italy Six Nations match

Dan Lydiate will captain Wales in their final match of the 2016 Six Nations at home to Italy after first-choice captain Sam Warburton was given more time to recover from concussion, the Welsh Rugby Union announced Tuesday.

Warburton left the field in the second half of Wales's 25-21 defeat by England at Twickenham last weekend -- a result that ended his side's title hopes.

He has now been replaced as skipper by fellow flanker Lydiate in one of four changes announced by coach Warren Gatland for Saturday's match against bottom-of-the-table Italy in Cardiff.

Wing Hallam Amos, scrum-half Rhys Webb, flanker Justin Tipuric and lock Luke Charteris have all been brought into the starting side.

Victory for Wales will see them finish second behind already-crowned champions England and they will be firm favourites to beat an Italy side who have lost all four of their Six Nations matches so far this season.

Wales (15-1)

Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Hallam Amos; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Dan Lydiate (capt); Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies; Samson Lee, Scott Baldwin, Rob Evans

Replacements: Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins, Tomas Francis/Aaron Jarvis, Jake Ball, Ross Moriarty, Gareth Davies, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Anscombe
Source: AFP