Head coach Sean Lynn has named the Wales side to face France in Round 2 of the Women’s Guinness Six Nations at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, April 18th (KO: 3.35pm). Flanker Kate Williams will captain a side which sees two changes to the starting line up for the visit of Les Bleues. Scrum half […]
Head coach Sean Lynn has named the Wales side to face France in Round 2 of the Women’s Guinness Six Nations at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, April 18th (KO: 3.35pm).
Flanker Kate Williams will captain a side which sees two changes to the starting line up for the visit of Les Bleues.
Scrum half Seren Lockwood will start her first Six Nations game and experienced three-time GB Olympian Jasmine Joyce is named on the wing.
Wales return to the squad’s spiritual home of Cardiff Arms Park for the clash with a France side fresh from their win over Italy in the opening round of the tournament.
Wales will field the same forward pack that started against Scotland, with prop Gwenllian Pyrs, hooker Kelsey Jones and prop Sisilia Tuipulotu in the front row.
Jorja Aiono, who made her Wales debut against Scotland on Saturday, partners Gwen Crabb in the engine room while the Wales back row is skipper Williams, flanker Bethan Lewis and Number 8 Bryonie King.
The Wales half-backs are Lockwood at scrum half and Lleucu George at fly half, with Courtney Keight and Carys Cox selected as centres.
Wales’ back three sees Kayleigh Powell at full back and the experienced Joyce and Seren Singleton, who made her Wales debut at Principality Stadium last weekend, on the wings.
Lynn, said: “We took a real step forward as a group of players, coaches and staff against Scotland and there was real evidence of what we have started to build.
“We still have work to do as a squad and coaches, but this is another game to hone the style of rugby we want to play.
“France are one of the best teams in the world and we know they will pose a real challenge, but this is about us delivering a performance and taking another step forward.
“We will need the same grit, determination and fight we showed against Scotland in the dying moments against France.
“The Welsh supporters had a real impact on the players and the noise they generated really pushed the team forward in the closing minutes of the Scotland game.
“The supporters need to know how important they are and how much they inspire the players, and we look forward to them doing the same against France.”
Wales Women v France
15 Kayleigh Powell (Harlequins) 29caps, 10pts
14 Seren Singleton (Brython Thunder) one cap
13 Carys Cox (Ealing Trailfinders) 24 caps, 25pts
12 Courtney Keight (Sale Sharks/Brython Thunder) 29caps,
11 Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears/Brython Thunder) 53 caps, 50pts
10 Lleucu George (Gloucester/Hartpury) 36caps, 15pts
9 Seren Lockwood (Brython Thunder/Gloucester/Hartpury) five caps
1 Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks) 52caps 20pts
2 Kelsey Jones (Gloucester/Hartpury) 53caps, 25pts
3 Sisilia Tuipulotu (Gloucester/Hartpury/Brython Thunder) 31 caps, 40pts
4 Jorja Aiono (Brython Thunder) One cap
5 Gwen Crabb (Brython Thunder) 40 caps, 15 pts
6 Bethan Lewis (Gloucester/Hartpury/ Gwalia Lightning) 62 caps,
7 Kate Williams (captain, Gloucester/Hartpury/ Brython Thunder) 25caps, 25pts
8 Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning) 13 caps
REPLACEMENTS
16 Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning) 13caps, 10pts
17 Maisie Davies (Gwalia Lightning/Bristol Bears) 13 caps
18 Donna Rose (Saracens) 38 caps, 10pts
19 Natalia John (Brython Thunder) 48caps
20 Branwen Metcalfe (Brython Thunder) 2caps
21 Georgia Evans (Saracens) 44 caps, 10pts
22 Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears) 79 caps, 147 pts
23 Hannah Dallavalle (Gloucester/Hartpury) 70 caps, 25pts