Experienced duo Elinor Snowsill (fullback) and Sioned Harries (number eight), fresh from their outing in the Super 7s Rugby competition in Brisbane, come straight into the starting line-up. Harries will earn her 50th cap when she takes to the field at the home of the English Premiership’s Harlequins.
Harries’ return sees Siwan Lillicrap move up from the back row to lock, whilst Rhiannon Parker is named at scrum-half. Utility back Hannah Jones takes her place on the bench after also competing in Australia.
Wales started this year’s Women’s Six Nations campaign with a tense victory against Scotland which went right down the wire. It was a composed performance which earned the praise of head coach Rowland Phillips. “It was a strong team effort, full of heart,” Phillips says. “To play the way they did in the first match of the competition, absorbing a lot of pressure from the Scots, was very impressive for a young team.”
They will hope to put in a good show this Saturday against tournament favourites England, whom Phillips earlier in the week suggested were aiming for a repeat of last year’s Grand Slam.
“England are a strong and settled team, who have already made a statement with a powerful, impressive win in Italy, but we need to focus on our game and build on a promising performance in Colwyn Bay,” says Phillips. “It’s up to us to learn from past experiences and show that we can continue to grow as a team.
“It’ll be a step up again for us this weekend at the Stoop. We know that. We’re really excited for the challenge and that’s been reflected in the way we’ve trained this week.”
Wales Women team to face England
15 Elinor Snowsill (Dragons)
14 Hannah Bluck (Cardiff Blues)
13 Kerin Lake (Ospreys)
12 Rebecca De Filippo (Dragons)
11 Jess Kavanagh-Williams (RGC)
10 Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys)
9 Rhiannon Parker (Cardiff Blues)
1 Caryl Thomas (Scarlets)
2 Carys Phillips (Ospreys) (c)
3 Amy Evans (Ospreys)
4 Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys)
5 Mel Clay (Ospreys)
6 Alisha Butchers (Scarlets)
7 Beth Lewis (Scarlets)
8 Sioned Harries (Scarlets)
Replacements
16 Kelsey Jones (Ospreys)
17 Gwenllian Pyrs (RGC)
18 Cerys Hale (Dragons)
19 Natalia John (Ospreys)
20 Nia Elen Davies (Scarlets)
21 Jade Knight (Scarlets)
22 Lleucu George (Scarlets)
23 Hannah Jones (Scarlets)
Women name team to face England
Wales have named their team for this Saturday’s visit to the Twickenham Stoop to face England in the Women’s Six Nations (12:15).
