Nine changes in Wales Women team to face Italy in Six Nations
Wednesday 18 March 2015 09:58, UK
Wales Women have made nine changes, five positional, for Saturday's Six Nations clash against Italy at Stadio Plebiscito in Padua.
In the backs, scrum-half Keira Bevan and centre Kerin Lake will get their first starts of the campaign in the final round of the championship.
Bevan swaps places with Amy Day, who moves to the bench, but Lake's inclusion ensures a reshuffle in the outside backs.
Centre Adi Taviner moves to the left wing from outside centre with Laurie Harries replacing Dyddgu Hywel at full-back, with the latter missing out altogether from the match-day squad.
There are two changes to the pack with prop Caryl Thomas coming in for Jenny Davies, while Rebecca Rowe's recall to the second row triggers three positional changes to the side which lost to Ireland at St Helens on Sunday.
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Captain Rachel Taylor moves back to the flank from second row with Sioned Harries moving from the side of the scrum to No 8 which sees Shona Powell Hughes revert to her more accustomed role of lock.
Wales head coach Rhys Edwards said: "Italy are good up front and possess a set of forwards who can be destructive so we have to combat that with our own ball carriers.
"We've tinkered with the backline but when that combination has been on the field it's looked pretty dangerous.
“Kerin compliments Gemma [Rowland] well in midfield. We've eased Kerin into games and gradually given her more game time but she has earned her starting spot while the last game of the championship is an ideal time to give Keira an opportunity as well.”
The defeat to Ireland saw Wales drop from second to fourth in the points table and Italy will not be short of confidence after beating tournament contenders France in a huge upset last weekend.
"We started the Six Nations well with two good wins. We have to re-discover that focus and belief – if we do that we should be able to get the job done,” added Edwards.
Wales Women: 15 Laurie Harries,14 Elen Evans,13 Gemma Rowland, 12 Kerin Lake, 11 Adi Taviner, 10 Elinor Snowsill, 9 Keira Bevan; 1 Caryl Thomas, 2 Carys Phillips, 3 Catrin Edwards, 4 Rebecca Rowe, 5 Shona Powell, 6 Sian Williams, 7 Rachel Taylor (capt), 8 Sioned Harries.
Replacements: 16 Amy Lawrence, 17 Jenny Davies, 18 Amy Evans, 19 Jenny Hawkins, 20 Melissa Clay, 21 Amy Day, 22 Hannah Jones, 23 Ffion Bowen.
