Newport Gwent Dragons lock Ian Gough is within touching distance of making his first Six Nations Champ-ionship appearance for three years.

Gough has been promoted from out of the squad to the replacements' bench for Saturday's tricky game against Italy in Rome.

He could even start because there is a slight doubt over Brent Cockbain who suffered a neck injury during Wales' epic victory over England, and coach Mike Ruddock has specified that Gough has been brought in as cover for Cockbain.

There seems at least a chance of Gough getting on the field at the Stadio Flaminio, which would be reward for his complete rehabilitation this season after a few years in the international wilderness. It would also earn him his 22nd cap.

As has been well documented by now, Gough angrily accused previous Wales coach Steve Hansen and his management team of knifing him in the back after he was left out of the World Cup squad 17 months ago.

But with a new coach who was in charge at his region last season it's been a case of forgive and forget, and Gough's return to the Wales fold is now complete.

He has been one of the few Dragons players to actually enhance his reputation and improve his form this season, and Ruddock declared that if he maintained that form through the Heineken Cup group matches he would consider him.

Gough did just that, especially in the last match at Newcastle, and Ruddock was true to his word as he recalled him to the Six Nations squad. Now that full return is but a step away.

Gough for the injured Ryan Jones is the only change in the Wales 22 on duty for the England game last Saturday.

"Goughie is a good, physical player and his line-out ability and strong tackling could come in useful," said Ruddock.

Gough wasn't even in the country when Wales achieved that memorable victory over England. He was thousands of miles away in Dubai playing for the Dragons in their 'duel in the desert' match against Investec Stormers after being released to travel.

Ruddock confirms that Stephen Jones will be first choice kicker against the Italians, despite the phenomenal late penalty by Gavin Henson which secured Wales their first victory over England in Cardiff for 12 years.

More specifially, he said that Jones will take the shorter range penalties while Henson will be handed the job from long distance.

"I've had a chat with Stephen and he knows he has to get his ratios up. Gavin is there for the back-up and also gives us the option to strike from longer range," he said.

WALES TEAM: G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); H Luscombe (Newport Gwent Dragons), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), G Henson (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), S Williams (Neath-Swansea Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Davies (Gloucester), A Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), B Cockbain (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), R Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), D Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), M Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: R McBryde (Llanelli Scarlets), J Yapp (Cardiff Blues), I Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), J Thomas (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), G Cooper (Newport Gwent Dragons), C Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), K Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons).