WALES Women head coach Rowland Phillips has tweaked his side for their Women’s Six Nations appointment with Scotland at Scotstoun on Friday (7.40) and believes his players can put together a performance to be proud of.
There are two changes from the side that lost to England. Lauren Smyth comes back in at full-back and Lleucu George starts at inside centre, her first start for Wales as a back – she started in the back row against Hong Kong at the last Rugby World Cup but has since been playing at 10 and 12 for Cardiff Met and Scarlets.
The pack is unchanged but Beth Lewis and Alex Callender switch flanks and Manon Johnes comes back into the 23.
Phillips said: “We’ve been able to take positives from all three games so far in the tournament, despite some disappointing results. Now we need to build on our strengths and make further progress in other areas to produce an improved performance all round against Scotland.
“Our defence has been good as has our set-piece, and we showed against England that we can produce good attacking play too when we get the ball.
“Historically, there’s not much between Wales and Scotland, it will be like a cup final for both of us. Scotland are a good side and had a positive autumn campaign so they will be disappointed by the start of their Six Nations.
“We have to concentrate on ourselves. We have confidence in our processes, we know we have the talent in our squad and if we show what we are capable of, the results will come”.
Wales Women v Scotland (Friday, March 8, 7.40pm, Scotstoun, Glasgow, BBC Two Wales / BBC Alba):
Lauren Smyth (Ospreys); Jasmine Joyce (Scarlets), Hannah Jones (Scarlets), Lleucu George (Scarlets), Jess Kavanagh (RGC); Robyn Wilkins (Blues), Keira Bevan (Ospreys); Caryl Thomas (Dragons), Carys Phillips (capt, Ospreys), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Gwen Crabb (Ospreys), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Alex Callender (Scarlets), Bethan Lewis (Dragons) Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys)
Replacements:
Kelsey Jones (Ospreys), Cara Hope (Ospreys), Cerys Hale (Dragons), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets), Manon Johnes (Cardiff Blues), Ffion Lewis (Scarlets), Lisa Neumann (RGC); Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears)
Wales Women’s final match of the Women’s Six Nations is against Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday, March 17, (1.30pm). Tickets are available from Cardiff Blues Box Office www.cardiffblues.com/tickets
