Wales coach Jason Lewis says the players owe themselves a big performance after the 27-5 defeat in Montauban where the visiting side were made to play second fiddle to a strong French outfit.
“We were always going to make changes for the Italy game but the changes are not related to the loss to France,” explained Lewis. “The players have to show strength of character to bounce back. Our goals are still the same as we want to qualify for the World Cup,” he added.
The changes include Naomi Thomas moving to full-back from fly-half, allowing the talented Awen Thomas to slot into the No 10 shirt while Pontyclun scrum half Laura Prosser gets her first Six Nations start of the season.
Gemma Hallett goes into the engine room in the second row while Claire Horgan gets the nod on the tighthead side of the scrum while Catrin Edwards has recovered from a broken bone in her foot to start from the bench.
Wales
15 Naomi Thomas (Bristol)
14 Non Evans (Cardiff Quins)
13 Clare Flowers (Bristol – Vice-captain)
12 Rachel Poolman (UWIC)
11 Lou Rickard (Woodbridge)
10 Awen Thomas (Cardiff Quins)
9 Laura Prosser (Pontyclun)
1 Hannah Roberts (UWIC)
2 Rhian Bowden (UWIC)
3 Claire Horgan (Saracens)
4 Gemma Hallett (Pontyclun)
5 Rachel Taylor (Cardiff Quins)
6 Catrina Nicholas (Cardiff Quins)
7 Jamie Kift (Bristol)
8 Mellissa Berry (Bristol – Captain)
Substitutes
16 Jenny Davies (Waterloo)
17 Catrin Edwards (Cardiff Quins)
18 Claire Donovan (Saracens)
19 Lou Horgan (Saracens)
20 Kerry Jenkins (Cardiff Quins)
21 Aimee Young (UWIC)
22 Ali Wright (Loughborough)
