Dominguez the danger as Wales name Harris at fly-half

It is a billing that will scare the life out of the Principality but the trusty old boot of Italy will take on the rusty old boot of Wales in the Six Nations opener at Stadio Flaminio here tomorrow. While howls of delight will welcome the return of Diego Dominguez, the self-confessed "godfather" of all things egg-shaped in Italy, it is fair to say that the odd whimper of anguish may greet the return of Iestyn Harris to the most hallowed berth in world rugby.

Steve Hansen, the Welsh coach, had little option but to name Harris as his No 10 yesterday after the loss of Llanelli's Stephen Jones to a broken thumb. Indeed, many will claim Harris was worth his place simply because of those long-range, defence-splitting passes that he has been perfecting for Cardiff of late. But even his most loyal fan would have thought twice before investing in the rugby league convert the responsibility of being both playmaker and points scorer.

However, with no other recognised international goalkicker in an inexperienced back line, and with the uncapped Pontypridd fly-half Ceri Sweeney rattling his knees on the bench, it could be a case of hit or bust for both Harris and Wales.

If the 26-year-old can somehow conquer his kicking gremlins and concentrate on his rapidly improving running game, then there is no shortage of pace waiting outside to be exploited. Saracens' Tom Shanklin earns the nod at outside centre ahead of Matthew Watkins to strike an attractive partnership with Llanelli's Leigh Davies, who is winning his first cap in almost two years.

In all, Hansen has made six changes to the side who performed so admirably against New Zealand in November. Most have been because of injury but there were shocks, with the veteran Neath lock Gareth Llewellyn being banished once more to make way for Northampton's Steve Williams and the Pontypridd blind-side flanker Michael Owen winning a heavyweight battle over Llanelli's Dafydd Jones.

If Owen's 18 stones will add the bluster to Colin Charvis's back row, then the 12 stones of Dominguez are sure to add the fluster. The 36-year-old – who is just 35 points from joining Neil Jenkins in a two-man international 1,000 club – was destined to sit out the first few games of the tournament to rest a long-standing hip injury, but answered the call of the Italy coach, John Kirwan, when Ramiro Pez injured an ankle last weekend. Dominguez has scored 97 points in a mere seven Tests against Wales.

Another boy in blue who will spell danger is Mauro Bergamasco, acknowledged as one of the very best flankers in the world but who was yesterday chosen to start his first international on the wing. "He's our Jonah Lomu," said Kirwan of the sickeningly talented 23-year-old. "Mauro's fantastically strong in attack and we wanted to utilise his strengths as a supreme athlete more. I can tell you there's not too many players like him in the world. He's definitely the new Lomu."

As Lomu was once described as "the new Kirwan", Wales would be advised to heed the former All Black's words.

WALES (v Italy, Stadio Flaminio, Rome, tomorrow): R Williams (Cardiff); M Jones (Llanelli), T Shanklin (Saracens), L Davies (Llanelli), G Thomas (Bridgend); I Harris (Cardiff), D Peel (Llanelli); I Thomas (Llanelli), M Davies (Pontypridd), B Evans (Swansea), R Sidoli (Pontypridd), S Williams (Northampton), M Owen (Pontypridd), M Williams (Cardiff), C Charvis (Swansea, capt). Replacements: G Williams (Bridgend), G Jenkins (Pontypridd), D Jones (Llanelli), G Thomas (Bath), G Cooper (Bath), C Sweeney (Pontypridd), M Watkins (Llanelli).

ITALY: P Vaccari (Calvisano); Mauro Bergamasco (Treviso), C Stoica (Castres), G Raineri (Calvisano), D Dallan (Treviso); D Dominguez (Stade Français), A Troncon (Treviso, capt); G De Carli (Calvisano), C Festuccia (Gran Parma), R Martinez (Treviso), C Bezzi (Viadana), M Bortolami (Padova), A De Rossi, M Phillips (Viadana), A Persico (Viadana). Replacements: A Moretti (Calvisano), S Perugini (Calvisano), M Giacheri (Rotherham), S Palmer (Treviso), J Queirolo (Dax), R Pez (Rotherham), Mirco Bergamasco (Padova).