CALLS have been growing for Wales to drop latest captain Michael Owen, the Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons number eight.

Garin Jenkins, the former Pontypool and Wales hooker, is the latest to call for change in the back row involving the removal of Owen, who, he says, has been lack lustre and off the pace this season.

Jenkins would have Llanelli Scarlets pair Dafydd Jones and Alix Popham, the ex-Newport player, in a rejuvenated back row instead of Owen and Colin Charvis, playing alongside Martyn Williams.

Jenkins' move follows a call yesterday from Mervyn Davies, the former Wales and British Lions great, for Owen to be dropped.

He claimed Owen lacked the necessary drive and also urged for Popham to be included after his dynamic performance for the Scarlets in the Powergen Cup semi-final against Bath last Saturday.

But Wales caretaker coach Scott Johnson was expected to remain loyal to the team which performed against Ireland under his charge for the first time when he announced his team today for Saturday's tricky encounter with Italy at the Millennium Stadium.

There is little chance of Wales changing their captain again midway through the Six Nations, with Owen going a fortnight after losing former captain Gareth Thomas for the rest of the season with a damaged artery in his neck.

The one likely change, though, was probably enforced with winger Mark Jones struggling to make it after suffering a rib injury against Bath.

With Shane Williams fit again he was expected to be back on the left wing with Dafydd James moving to the right.

An unchanged team, with the possible exception of one injury victim, would hardly satisfy the great Welsh public though, dismayed after the collapse in Dublin last time out as Wales frittered away an early lead and Ireland claimed a runaway victory in the end.

The WRU, meanwhile, are believed to be making strenuous efforts to retain Johnson, strongly linked with his native Australia as an assistant coach alongside Michael Foley working under head coach John Connolly.