Wales W v Australia W - teams and prediction
PREVIEW: Wales Women will host Australia Women for the first time at Newport Parade on Friday.
The Wallaroos have played Wales on six occasions since 2002 for six victories.
However, it is the first time the two teams will meet at Newport Parade.
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has made four changes for the upcoming Test match against Wales at Newport Parade on Saturday.
Teenage prodigy Caitlyn Halse, who celebrates her 18th birthday on Wednesday, has been named to start at fullback for the third time in her career.
Halse became the youngest Test debutant in Wallaroos or Wallabies history in May when she took the field during the Pacific Four series aged just 17.
Halse’s selection shifts Lori Cramer, who will notch her 25th cap for the Wallaroos, to the bench following the side’s 10-36 loss to Ireland in Belfast.
In other team news, the Wallaroos are boosted by the returns of Tania Naden from a hand injury while Trilleen Pomare and Atasi Lafai are also back in the 23.
Naden underwent surgery on her finger in August and will start at hooker with Ash Marsters returning to flank.
Lock Michaela Leonard is back as captain of the side after Siokapesi Palu’s maiden game in charge against Ireland last week.
Palu became the 17th captain of the Wallaroos as part of a wider strategy to build further experience in the leadership group.
Layne Morgan has been promoted to the starting side with Natalie Wright moving back to the bench in the only other change to the line-up.
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said: “We were really disappointed with last week’s performance against Ireland and have an opportunity against Wales to improve in key areas of our game.
“We will play Wales again in Round 1 of WXV 2 so the opportunity to play them a week earlier can give us a good gauge in where both teams are at leading into the tournament.
“Tania, Caitlyn, Trilleen and Atasi have all been training well and come back into the side.
“As a team we know what we’re capable of we just need to transfer that into Friday night in Newport.”
Grinding it out right until the end 💪#Wallaroos #WXV pic.twitter.com/TFKyjPvDOU
— Wallaroos (@WallaroosRugby) September 17, 2024
Scrumhalf Keira Bevan will captain the Wales W side with six changes to the starting line-up that played Scotland in Edinburgh.
Hooker Rosie Carr makes her first start and packs down with Gwenllian Pyrs and Sisilia Tuipulotu in the front row. Locks Abbie Fleming and Georgia Evans are selected in the Wales engine room.
Flank Bryonie King, who captained Gwalia Lightning last season, is in a new-look backrow with Kate Williams and Bethan Lewis.
Bevan and flyhalf Lleucu George are at halfback, while Carys Cox partners Hannah Bluck in midfield.
Wings Jasmine Joyce and Nel Metcalfe join fullback Jenny Hesketh in an exciting back three to face the Wallaroos.
Ioan Cunningham, Wales Head coach, said: “With the WXV squad selected, we have named a side full of experience for the Australia game at Rodney Parade on Friday.
“The players have worked hard in training, and this is a great opportunity to see where they are from a physical point of view.
“Bryonie King and Hannah Bluck have really impressed in camp, and we are expecting big performances from Abbie Fleming and Georgia Evans in the second row.
“We had a good training day with the Black Ferns in midweek before they played England, and it gave us a good benchmark of where we are as a squad. Australia approach the game in a similar manner and we had a close game with them the last time the two sides met out in New Zealand.
“The Wallaroos will be hurting after the defeat to Ireland last weekend, but they are a top six ranked team, and we know the challenge they will pose. Both teams will be looking to produce a performance to build some momentum before we meet in WXV2 in South Africa.”
Squad captain and centre Hannah Jones and hooker Carys Phillips have been rested but will be fit for Round 1 of WXV in South Africa.
Prediction:
@rugby365com: Australia by five points
Wales Women: 15 Jenny Hesketh, 14 Jasmine Joyce, 13 Carys Cox, 12 Hannah Bluck, 11 Nel Metcalfe, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Keira Bevan (captain); 8 Bethan Lewis, 7 Kate Williams, 6 Bryonie King, 5 Georgia Evans, 4 Abbie Fleming, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 2 Rosie Carr, 1 Gwenllian Pyrs.
Replacements: 16 Molly Reardon, 17 Abbey Constable, 18 Donna Rose, 19 Natalia John, 20 Alisha Butchers, 21 Sian Jones, 22 Kayleigh Powell, 23 Courtney Keight
Australia Women: 15 Caitlyn Halse, 14 Maya Stewart, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 12 Trilleen Pomare, 11 Desiree Miller, 10 Faitala Moleka, 9 Layne Morgan, 8 Tabua Tunakauvadra, 7 Ashley Marsters, 6 Siokapesi Palu, 5 Michaela Leonard, 4 Kaitlan Leaney, 3 Eva Karpani, 2 Tania Naden, 1 Bridie O’Gorman.
Replacements: 16 Tiarna Molloy, 17 Alapeta Ngauamo, 18 Lydia Kavoa, 19 Atasi Lafai, 20 Lucy Dinnen, 21 Natalie Wright, 22 Arabella McKenzie, 23 Lori Cramer .
Date: Friday, September 20
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
Kick-off: 19.00 (19.00 GMT; Saturday, September 21, 4.00 AEST).
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant Referees: Holly Wood (England) & Chelsea Gillespie (Scotland)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
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