Wales boss Warren Gatland says he will not be “going on bended knees” to celebrated prop Adam Jones following his retirement from Test rugby.
Jones, who has won 95 Wales caps and played in five Tests for the British and Irish Lions, made his surprise announcement earlier this season.
Wales are without current first-choice props Gethin Jenkins and Samson Lee through injury for their final Six Nations game against Italy in Rome on Saturday, while experienced Bath loosehead Paul James is also injured.
Rob Evans and Aaron Jarvis will start in Rome for the only changes to the XV from last weekend’s 23-16 victory over Ireland, with Rhys Gill and Scott Andrews providing prop cover on the bench, while uncapped Exeter tighthead Tomas Francis is also part of Wales’ Six Nations squad.
Many pundits, though, believe 34-year-old Jones could still do a job for Wales, especially in a World Cup year.
“I was surprised at the timing of his (retirement) announcement,” Gatland said. “He was not out of our thoughts.
“We had played a little bit of phone tag, leaving messages and going backwards and forwards.
"If he has changed his mind and wants to get on the phone and say I made a rash decision, retired too early and want to be part of the World Cup squad, that is a different conversation.
“At the moment, I will not be going on bended knees ringing him saying ‘please come back we really desperately need you’. It is about dealing with the other players.”
Gatland has awarded call-ups on the bench to hooker Ken Owens, props Rhys Gill and Scott Andrews and scrum-half Gareth Davies, with Mike Phillips missing out.
Owens features among the substitutes instead of hooker Richard Hibbard, who had been following return-to-play protocols after taking a blow to his head during the Ireland game.
Saracens forward Gill, meanwhile, gains a match-day place after only joining the squad for training on Monday, while Davies – a livewire operator and consistent try-scorer for the Scarlets – gets his chance instead of the hugely-experienced Phillips.
In terms of the starting line-up, it will be Evans’ full Wales debut after he went on as a replacement for Jenkins at half-time last Saturday, with Jarvis continuing instead of Lee.
Wales will head to the Stadio Olimpico lying third in the Six Nations table behind England and Ireland on points difference.
A comprehensive win over Italy, though, would turn up the heat on their title rivals, with Ireland tackling Scotland at Murrayfield next Saturday, followed by England hosting France.
