CERI Sweeney has won the Wales outside-half vote and the whole front row is changed as coach Steve Hansen makes 11 changes, one positional, for Saturday's crucial World Cup pool match against Italy at Canberra Stadium.

Sweeney has been preferred to Jones after the way he brought Iestyn Harris into the opening game against Canada. Jones failed to do a similar job when paired alongside inside centre Harris in the below-par performance against Tonga.

"Ceri is a cheeky little beggar who won't be overawed by the occasion," said Hansen. "He's a good ball player who combines well with Iestyn and he kicks well."

Jones had been Hansen's number one outside-half, with his kicking role and general soundness vital to his game, but the emergence of Harris in midfield has changed the emphasis.

Sweeney will be partnered at half-back by Dwayne Peel, who has surprisingly been given the nod ahead of Gareth Cooper, a try scorer against Tonga.

Gareth Thomas, just one try short of Ieuan Evans' Welsh record of 33 caps, has been restored to one of the wing positions while Kevin Morgan replaces the out-of-form Rhys Williams at full-back and Sonny Parker is in the centre.

The big talking point in the pack is the all-change front row, clearly done in an attempt to combat the Italian scrum which Rod Snow described as the best in the group yesterday.

Neath props Duncan Jones and Adam Jones are preferred to Iestyn Thomas and Gethin Jenkins while Robin McBryde makes his return at hooker.

Australian-born lock Brent Cockbain is also bought back after his successful game against Canada and will play in front of most of his family, while Martyn Williams returns at openside flanker.

Alix Popham misses out in the back row, with Jonathan Thomas preferred on the bench, while skipper Colin Charvis is at number eight.

Gareth Llewellyn remains at lock, with Chis Wyatt not even able to get a replacement spot, while the omission of opham means the Welsh back row does not have a specialist number eight in it.

The inclusion of Morgan, Sweeney and the Jones boys will meet with widespread approval, but the back five needs more aggression which Wyatt would have provided.

Hansen appeared edgy at today's Press conference, the exact opposite of Italy's John Kirwan, And he even denied Wales were favourites despite Italy's injury problems.

"Italy are the favourites, they're ahead of us in the Six Nations and they are as much under pressure as us," he said.

"There has got to be an edge, it's a big game and whoever wins this goes to the quarter finals.

"Italy haven't conquered until they've beat us. We've got our own goals, and we have worked our way steadily at achieving those. It hasn't been perfect so far, but life isn't perfect."

Team: K Morgan, M Jones, S Parker, I Harris, G Thomas, C Sweeney, D Peel, Duncan Jones, R McBryde, A Jones, B Cockbain, G Llewellyn, Dafydd Jones, C Charvis (captain), M Williams. Replacements: R Williams, S Jones, G Cooper, G Jenkins, M Davies, R Sidoli, J Thomas. Kick off 9.30am BST.