WALES have ruled out fielding a 10-12 combo of Sam Davies and Dan Biggar together, stating that they have the perfect playmaker in Scott Williams.

England have enjoyed great success with their partnership of George Ford and Owen Farrell, who play fly-half for Bath and Saracens respectively.

There have been suggestions that Wales could experiment with Biggar outside Davies to add another ball player to their side and help their intention to play a wider, more expansive game.

However, the former gets the nod at 10 for the Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome with the in-form Scott Williams selected at inside centre.

The Scarlets man has earned a shot after displacing powerhouse Jamie Roberts to combine with regional teammate Jonathan Davies in midfield.

“We have a 12 who is a ball-player in Scott Williams. He’s got the ability to play into the wide channels,” said coach Rob Howley.

“I’m not saying Sam or Dan can’t do that. I know Dan hasn’t started at 12 for the Ospreys and I don’t think Sam has either.

“The Ospreys would have to go down that road (playing Biggar and Sam Davies at 10 and 12) week in, week out.

“Owen Farrell has played for Saracens in that position (inside-centre) over a period of time. “Before you play it in the international game I think you have to experience it first playing for your club and I believe Owen has done that.”

Davies has to be content with a bench place after making his Test debut against Australia in November.

“Sam will play a huge part, he’s already played a huge part. We have already had two hit-outs in training, it’s been 15 versus 15 in training,” said Howley.

“We did it on Saturday morning, we did it on Tuesday afternoon and Sam has displayed his skills.

“In Dan we have a very experienced 10. He delivered in the autumn – I thought he played particularly well against South Africa.

“We have got two 10s who, along with Owen Williams, will be hugely competitive in that position. We all understand the great number 10 debate. That’s Wales.”

There were no surprises in Howley’s XV for the Stadio Olimpico with former captain Sam Warburton selected at blindside flanker with Ross Moriarty deputising for number eight Taulupe Faletau, who is not fully fit after a knee injury.

Newport Gwent Dragons lock Cory Hill, capped three times last autumn, will make his Six Nations debut after being named on the bench as cover for skipper Alun Wyn Jones and Jake Ball.

Scrum-half Rhys Webb is recalled after suffering a serious knee injury in the defeat to the Wallabies in the first November Test.

“We are against a very competitive Italian side away from home,” said Howley.

“We have gone with a lot of experience. We believe the majority of those players – 10 out of those 15 players started the game with South Africa – gave a good account of themselves, from a winning perspective, during the autumn period and it’s important we start well.”

Wales: L Halfpenny (Toulon); G North (Northampton), J Davies (Scarlets), S Williams (Scarlets), L Williams (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), R Webb (Ospreys); N Smith (Ospreys), K Owens (Scarlets), S Lee (Scarlets), J Ball (Scarlets), A W Jones (Ospreys, captain), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), J Tipuric (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Gloucester).

Reps: S Baldwin (Ospreys), R Evans (Scarlets), T Francis (Exeter), C Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons), J King (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets), S Davies (Ospreys), J Roberts (Harlequins).