Women's

Phillips looking to build on Wales’ strengths as he makes two changes for Scotland

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Wales Women head coach Rowland Phillips has made two changes to his side to face Scotland on Friday.

Wales Women head coach Rowland Phillips has made two changes to his side to face Scotland on Friday.

Lleucu George gets the call at inside centre for the trip to Scotstoun as she makes her first start as a back for Wales.

She has previously featured for her country in the back row against Hong Kong at the last World Cup, but has since been playing in the back division for Cardiff Met University and Scarlets.

Joining her in the backline is Lauren Smyth, who comes in at full-back, completing the back-three alongside Jasmine Joyce and Jess Kavanagh – the latter looking to add more tries to her Women’s Six Nations haul after getting one in the 51-12 defeat in Round Three to England.

Hannah Jones partners George in the centres while Robyn Wilkins and Keira Bevan are the half-back pair.

Personnel in the pack are unchanged but Beth Lewis and Alex Callendar have switched flanks, either side of Siwan Lillicrap.

Carys Phillips takes the armband and is in the front row with Caryl Thomas and Amy Evans, while Gwen Crabb and Mel Clay are the locks.

Phillips said: “We’ve been able to take positives from all three games so far in the Championship, despite the disappointing results.

“Now we need to build on our strengths and make further progress in other areas to produce an improved performance all round against Scotland.

“Our defence has been good, as has our set-piece, and we showed against England that we can produce good attacking play too when we get the ball.

“Historically, there’s not much between Wales and Scotland, it will be like a cup final for both of us. Scotland are a good side and had a positive autumn campaign so they will be disappointed by the start of their Women’s Six Nations.

“We have to concentrate on ourselves. We have confidence in our processes, we know we have the talent in our squad and if we show what we are capable of, the results will come”.

Wales Women v Scotland Women (Friday 8 March, 7.40pm, Scotstoun):

15 Lauren Smyth (Ospreys)  14 Jasmine Joyce (Scarlets) 13 Hannah Jones (Scarlets) 12 Lleucu George (Scarlets) 11 Jess Kavanagh (RGC) 10 Robyn Wilkins (Blues) 9 Keira Bevan (Ospreys)

1 Caryl Thomas (Dragons)  2 Carys Phillips (c) (Ospreys) 3 Amy Evans (Ospreys) 4 Gwen Crabb (Ospreys) 5 Mel Clay (Ospreys) 6 Alex Callender (Scarlets) 7 Bethan Lewis (Dragons) 8 Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys)

Replacements

16 Kelsey Jones (Ospreys) 17 Cara Hope (Ospreys) 18 Cerys Hale (Dragons) 19 Alisha Butchers (Scarlets) 20 Manon Johnes (Cardiff Blues) 21 Ffion Lewis (Scarlets) 22 Lisa Neumann (RGC) 23 Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears)