WALES PROP Tomas Francis has been banned for eight weeks.
The Exeter Chiefs man was adjudged to have made contact with the ‘eye or eye area’ of Dan Cole in the clash with England on Saturday at Twickenham.
In a statement the disciplinary committee said: “[We] heard submissions on sanction before concluding that the offending be characterised as being at the lower end of World Rugby’s scale of seriousness for this type of offending, which has an entry point of 12 weeks.
“The disciplinary committee was then required to consider aggravating and mitigating factors, which it did before concluding that the appropriate sanction be a playing suspension of eight weeks. Mr Francis is free to play again on Monday, 9 May 2016. He was reminded of his right of appeal.”
Earlier, Warren Gatland named Dan Lydiate as the man to lead Wales against Italy this weekend.
Lule Charteris, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb and Hallam Amos all come into a much-changed side.
Sam Warburton will miss the match after he suffered a concussion against England last time out.
Charteris comes in for Alun Wyn Jones who misses out due to a heel injury.
It will be the first time Lydiate skippers the national side in a Test game.
“This weekend it is all about finishing off the tournament well and putting in a big performance,” says Gatland. “We are disappointed with last week, especially the first half but a win on Saturday will see us finish the tournament in second and we have to aim for that now.
“There are a number of changes, a couple injury enforced. Alun Wyn Jones has a foot problem that we have been managing for a while and he has played a lot of games. We have given Sam Warburton the week off, we decided not to push him through all the return to play protocols and we have also been managing a heel injury with Alex (Cuthbert) so Hallam comes onto the left wing.
“It’s good to see Rhys (Webb) back and starting, it’s a good opportunity for him. Saturday is a good chance for some of the players to redeem themselves and we are looking for a big performance.”
Wales team to play Italy: Liam Williams (Scarlets), George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys, Capt), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues).
