His Blues teammate and fellow openside flanker Sam Warburton is named skipper after injured hooker Matthew Rees captained Wales during the 2011 RBS 6 Nations.

However other injury victims Gethin Jenkins, the Blues prop who has not played since January, and Scarlets fly-half Stephen Jones are included despite their lack of match fitness, while Andy Powell also makes the squad in the back row.

There is no room for Gavin Henson though, who pays the price for dislocating a bone in his wrist in the defeat of England at the Millennium Stadium as does Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard who injured his right ankle against the Pumas.

Sale Sharks’ Dwayne Peel along with loose forwards Jonathan Thomas and Josh Turnbull are also excluded.

The squad balance of 16 forwards to 14 backs leaves Wales with only one specialist full-back in Lee Byrne although Rhys Priestland, James Hook and Leigh Halfpenny can cover that position.

Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Adam Jones, Paul James (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Craig Mitchell (Exeter), Bradley Davies, Sam Warburton (Blues, capt), Luke Charteris, Danny Lydiate, Toby Faletau (Dragons), Ryan Jones, Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks).
Backs: Michael Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Jonathan Davies, Stephen Jones, Rhys Priestland, Scott Williams (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), Lee Byrne (Clermont Auvergne), Aled Brew (Dragons), Shane Williams (Ospreys), George North (Scarlets)