Wing Bowen flies in for Wales
Maesteg Celtic wing Ffion Bowen is the only personnel change in the Wales Women’s side to tackle England at the Stoop on Friday, although there are three positional changes for the Six Nations encounter. (KO 7.30pm)
To accommodate Bowen on the wing, Elen Evans switches to full back with Dyddgu Hywel dropping out of the match day squad. It will be Evans’ third different position in three games having previously played in the centre and out wide on the wing against Ireland and France respectively.
Captain Rachel Taylor moves from No 8 to the second row while Nia Davies moves the other way, switching to the open side from lock. With Davies moving to the side of the scrum, Sioned Harries swaps back row positions to wear the No 8 jersey vacated by Taylor.
Wales Women’s head coach Rhys Edwards believes the change he has engineered with the individuals concerned will make his side stronger collectively.
“The reasons we’ve made the changes is because the players bring certain strengths to certain areas of the game which we need to be at our best against England on Friday,” explained Edwards.
“On their day England are one of the best teams in the world so we have to match them head on if we are to register our first win of the campaign. The players are fully aware they have now run of chances and excuses. There are no more ‘what ifs’ and ‘buts’ – this is a results business at the end of the day and we have to be more clinical when chances arise.”
Wales Women v England Women, Friday 7th March, Twickenham Stoop, KO 7.30pm
15 Elen Evans (Waterloo)
14 Ffion Bowen (Maesteg Celtic)
13 Robyn Wilkins (Llandaff North)
12 Rebecca de Filippo (Bristol Ladies)
11 Philippa Tuttiett (Bristol Ladies)
10 Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Ladies)
9 Amy Day (Llandaff North)
1 Jenny Davies (Waterloo)
2 Lowri Harries (Neath Athletic)
3 Catrin Edwards (Bristol Ladies)
4 Rachel Taylor – Captain (Bristol Ladies)
5 Shona Powell Hughes Harries (Neath Athletic)
6 Catrina Nicholas (Llandaff North)
7 Nia Davies (Cardiff Met)
8 Sioned Harries (Llandaff North)
Substitutes
16 Carys Phillips (Bristol Ladies)
17 Megan York (Blaenau Gwent)
18 Caryl Thomas (Bath Ladies)
19 Jenny Hawkins (Llandaff North)
20 Sian Williams (Worcester Ladies)
21 Sian Moore (Bristol Ladies)
22 Laurie Harries (Llandaff North)
23 Elli Norkett (Neath Athletic)
