Wales’ Dan Biggar and Alun Wyn Jones to hit milestones against Italy

Dan Biggar will win his 100th Wales cap in Saturday’s Six Nations game against Italy, becoming only the seventh Welshman to clock up a century for their country.

The others are Alun Wyn Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Stephen Jones, George North, Martyn Williams and Gareth Thomas, with lock Jones poised to collect cap No 150 – an ongoing world record – after being named in the starting lineup. The 36-year-old has not played since suffering a shoulder injury during Wales’ Autumn Nations series opener against New Zealand in late October. He had two operations, and most medical forecasts were that he would miss the entire Six Nations, but he is back ahead of schedule and partners Adam Beard in the second-row.

The fly-half Biggar captains a team showing seven changes following the 13-9 defeat against title and grand slam-chasing France last Friday. Jones apart, other players called up are full-back Johnny McNicholl, wing Louis Rees-Zammit, centre Uilisi Halaholo, scrum-half Gareth Davies, hooker Dewi Lake and prop Dillon Lewis.Players dropping out include Liam Williams, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Ryan Elias and Will Rowlands.

Hailing the career milestones of Biggar and Jones, the Wales head coach, Wayne Pivac, said: “Dan and Al are huge players for Wales and have been for many years now. We’ve said with other players reaching 100 appearances, what an achievement that is and for Dan I know he has been looking forward to this moment for a long time.

“For him to achieve it with Al, who is also getting the milestone of 150 caps – which no other player has ever done – I think it’s fitting for those two to share the day. They have played a lot of rugby together and have a healthy respect for each other. They’ve given so much for the