Wayne Pivac Q&A: Why I've ripped up the Wales backline

Wayne Pivac has named his team to face Italy in Wales' final Six Nations match this weekend.

Pivac has made seven changes from the side that lost to France last Friday as he looks to end the tournament on a high.

Here's everything the Wales coach had to say...

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“Ryan Elias is pretty much on vapours. By that, I mean he’s been working hard to say on top of a niggly injury which he has done really well. He’s one we ruled out. If it was a World Cup final, he could have played. But it’s not and we’re looking after him.”

“He’s a champion, isn’t he? Dan is somebody who demands high quality training from himself and his team-mates. He works very, very hard at his game. He leads by example. He’s everything you want in a leader and a good number 10 in terms of managing and running the game.

"In terms of the captaincy, he’s done very well. He’s grown in terms of the tournament. If you look back from week one to now, he’s handled himself well on the field. The feedback has been great. He’s doing well in the training sessions. Real credit to Dan. To play 100 games, it shows resilience.

"The fact that he’s been able to come back from injury and non-selection at times and he’s acquitted himself so well over his career. I’m really, really pleased that he gets to do it in front of a home crowd."

“There are a number of guys in the squad we believe can do that (come straight back in). It’s the preparation they do coming into camp and then when they’re in camp.

"He’s been with us a few weeks and we’ve monitored him. He’s trained very well, ticked all the boxes. I think the injection of a few fresh players will be good. To be playing 150 Test matches, something no-one else on the planet has ever done,