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New captain as Wales announce side for Canada
By Lucy Lomax
Wales has named their side to face Canada in their second game of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in pool B at Salford Community Stadium on Saturday.
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Head coach Sean Lynn has made seven changes to the starting line-up who lost to Scotland 38-8 last weekend.
Flanker Bethan Lewis will captain Wales for the first time on the occasion of her 60th cap, with co-captains Alex Callender and Kate Williams both unavailable due to injury.
Prop Maisie Davies and hooker Molly Reardon are joined by Sisilia Tuipulotu in a new-look front row.
Lock Abbie Fleming partners Gwen Crabb in the second row, while skipper Lewis is joined by Bryonie King and Georgia Evans in the back row.
The half back partnership of scrum half Keira Bevan and fly half Lleucu George remains with centre Courtney Keight joined by Carys Cox in the midfield as wings Jasmine Joyce-Butchers and Lisa Neumann complete an exciting back three alongside full back Nel Metcalfe.
Back row Branwen Metcalfe is named on the Wales bench and poised to make her senior Test debut.
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Lynn said: “We have taken a hard look at ourselves and there have been honest conversations about the performance we need against one of the best teams in the world.
“Canada are the number two team in the world and one of the favourites to win the World Cup and we know they will be a major challenge. We need to bring real energy and pride in the jersey and the focus all week has been on us and what we need to do to produce a performance on Saturday.
“There have been changes and they have been made because players have earned the opportunity in training to play in a World Cup. All 23 players selected have been told to be brave and to have no regrets when they walk off the field on Saturday.
“We are under no illusions of the challenge ahead, but this is all about us and showing what it means to play for Wales at a Rugby World Cup.”
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Wales team v Canada:
15 Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester/Hartpury)
14 Jasmine Joyce-Butchers (Bristol Bears)
13 Carys Cox (Ealing Trailfinders)
12 Courtney Keight (Sale Sharks)
11 Lisa Neumann (Harlequins)
10 Lleucu George (Gloucester/Hartpury)
9 Keira Bevan (Bristol Bears)
1 Maisie Davies (Bristol Bears)
2 Molly Reardon (Gwalia Lightning)
3 Sisilia Tuipulotu (Gloucester/Hartpury)
4 Abbie Fleming (Harlequins)
5 Gwen Crabb (Gloucester/Hartpury)
6 Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning)
7 Bethan Lewis (captain, Gloucester/Hartpury)
8 Georgia Evans (Saracens)
Replacements:
16 Kelsey Jones (Gloucester/Hartpury)
17 Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks)
18 Jenni Scoble (Gwalia Lightning)
19 Tilly Vucaj (Gwalia Lightning)
20 Branwen Metcalfe (Hartpury College)
21 Seren Lockwood (Gloucester/Hartpury)
22 Kayleigh Powell (Harlequins)
23 Kerin Lake (Gwalia Lightning)
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