The last two weekends have seen the twinkle-toed Wales wing steer Team GB to back-to-back wins in the HSBC Canada Sevens series. She also won the player of the final award in both tournaments.
Her finishing, as well as her never-say-die defence, have rightly earned her global plaudits and Bears coach Dave Ward doesn’t disagree with comments that she is currently the best Welsh player – male or female!
“I don’t think anyone could disagree with that statement given the way she is playing. She is a credit to any team she appears with,” said Ward.
“The players around her at Bristol feed off her leadership, enthusiasm and desire to get better. The way we play at Bristol suits her and we just try to get the ball into her hands as quickly as possible.
“One she has got it, it is up to her what she does with it. We are fortunate to have a number of great back three options at the club and we also have some good distributers inside them.
“We’re only four games into the season, but we’re proud to be unbeaten and be on top of the table. We aren’t going to get carried away, but we do want to go to face the reigning champions and try to put on a show.”
As well as getting Joyce back in their ranks, the Bears will have another Team GB ace returning in Grace Crompton. She plays on the opposite wing to Welsh speedster Courtney Keight, with Joyce filling the No 15 jersey.
Keira Bevan and Elinor Snowsill team up and half-back and Natalia John, Alisha Butchers and Manon Johnes start in the pack. Welsh skipper Siwan Lillicrap drops to the bench where she is joined by Robyn Lock. Fellow Wales Women autumn squad members Bethan Dainton and Jade Mullen start on the bench for Harlequins.
“We’re very proud of our Welsh connection and it was great to see 10 of our girls making their autumn squad. They have all the ingredients to have a fantastic squad,” said Ward.
Joyce was equally full of praise for the way Ward has turned things around at Bristol Bears.
“The way Dave Ward has allowed us to play is really exciting,” she said. “It’s hard work but we’ve got brilliant facilities and the atmosphere and environment he’s built means we all want to work hard and we’ve been rewarded with good results.
“It shows what a difference a coach can make with pretty much the same group of quality players. You don’t just turn up for training and go home. Dave has instilled a high performance culture that we can hopefully keep learning from and sustain the success.”
The double Olympian is pleased to be back in Allianz action this weekend and wants her fellow Welsh squad members to take their good form into the international window.
“We’ve been excited for this game since the win over Sale. It’s going to be brilliant, a great advert for the League against current champions.
“I think a lot of us are playing well for our clubs and we want to take that into our international games for the autumn, I think the Wales coaches will have a real hard task to pick a 23 because there are people stepping up all over the place.”
The other big game over the weekend sees second place Saracens hosting Exeter Chiefs. Wales lock Abbie Fleming is on bench duty for the Chiefs, while the unbeaten Saracens will have prop Donna Rose and lock Georgia Evans in their pack and new Wales squad member Kat Evans on the bench
Allianz Premier15s – Round 5
Saturday, 09 October
DMP Durham Sharks v Sale Sharks
Harlequins v Bristol Bears
Loughborough Lightning v Worcester Warriors
Sunday, 10 October
Saracens v Exeter Chiefs
Wasps FC v Gloucester-Hartpury
