By Hannah Blackwell
Ioan Cunningham has made six changes to the Wales team hammered by New Zealand for their final match of their inaugural WXV1 campaign against Australia.
The head coach has opted to ring the changes for the game against the Aussies at the Go Media Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland on Friday, November 3rd (KO: 7pm local time).
Centre Hannah Jones will captain a Wales side with six changes to the starting line-up and one positional switch from the team that faced New Zealand in Dunedin.
This is how Wales will line up for their final WXV match against Australia on Friday 🏉#BBCRugby pic.twitter.com/RYC3rX1h7o
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) November 1, 2023
Double Olympian, Jasmine Joyce, moves to full back with Lisa Neuman and Carys Cox both returning to the wings. Hooker Carys Phillips and Sisilia Tuipolotu are named in the front row, with Gwenllian Pyrs starting her third game in WXV1.
Georgia Evans returns to the Wales second row alongside Abbie Fleming, with Alex Callander, Kate Williams and Bethan Lewis in a new-look backrow to face the Wallaroos.
Prop Donna Rose was not considered for selection after been ruled out of the WXV1 with a HIA during last weekend’s game against New Zealand.
Llongyfarchiadau 👏
This week’s @VodafoneUK MVP is Jasmine Joyce 🏆#HerStory | #EiHanesHi pic.twitter.com/kzN8CgbanX
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) October 30, 2023
Experienced prop Cerys Hale is selected on the bench and is set to win her 48th cap for her country on Friday evening.
Cunningham said: “This is our final game of this WXV1 campaign, and we are determined to produce a performance and sign off on a high against Australia in Auckland on Friday evening.
“Australia beat a France side that beat the Black Ferns and we know this is another major challenge for us, but these are the Test matches we want to play ahead of the 2025 World Cup.
“We have made changes and rotated the squad for our third Test match in three weeks and the aim is to build our strength in depth at international level. This the first fully professional squad to leave Wales and it has proved a real learning curve for the players, coaches and staff.
“The focus has been very much on what we do, and we have selected to meet the challenge of Australia, with an experienced bench designed to make a real impact.
“We know where we must improve and what our strengths are and to play this level of opposition will only be good for us in the long term. It has been a demanding tour, but the squad are now fully focused on Australia.”
Jasmine Joyce is a BEAST 😳
One word to describe this hit by the @WelshRugbyUnion winger, go ⬇️#WXV | #NZLvWAL | #WomensRugby pic.twitter.com/R8DnwFvOc0
— WXV (@WXVRugby) October 28, 2023
Wales team to face Australia:
15. Jasmine Joyce
14. Lisa Neumann
13. Hannah Jones (C)
12. Hannah Bluck
11. Carys Cox
10. Lleucu George
9. Keira Bevan;
1. Gwenllian Pyrs
2. Carys Phillips
3. Sisilia Tuipulotu
4. Abbie Fleming
5. Georgia Evans
6. Kate Williams
7. Alex Callender
8. Bethan Lewis (VC)
Replacements:
16. Kelsey Jones
17. Abbey Constable
18. Cerys Hale
19. Alisha Butchers
20. Sioned Harries
21. Meg Davies
2. Robyn Wilkins
23. Kerin Lake