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Wales and Scotland name sides for Six Nations opening round clash in Cardiff
Ioan Cunningham and Bryan Easson have named their sides for their Six Nations clash on 23rd March at Cardiff Arms Park.
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Two debuts are on the cards for the home side as former England under-20s captain Jenny Hesketh makes her first appearance in a Welsh shirt, while Sian Jones will make her debut if used from the bench.
Jasmine Joyce returns from GB Sevens to start on the wing, and Natalia John returns from injury to start at lock. Hannah Jones remains as captain, starting at outside centre, while Alex Callender is named as vice-captain in the back row.
“There was much debate around this selection and that demonstrates the strength in depth we are now building in the squad,” Cunningham said.
“The players have been working really hard and pushing each other since we have been in camp, and we are looking forward to the challenge of Scotland in Cardiff.
“Test matches against Scotland have traditionally been close and tight affairs and we are expecting the same on Saturday.
“Jenny Hesketh has impressed on and off the field, since she joined up with us and fully deserves to make her Wales debut. Sian Jones was one of the standout players in the Celtic Challenge and we know how much she is looking forward to pulling on the red jersey and representing her country.
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“It’s great to see Natalia John back and all of us know how hard she has worked to get back in the side after being sidelined since the last Six Nations campaign. Her resilience has been an inspiration to all of the squad, coaches and staff.
“The support of the Welsh public proved key when we are at the Arms Park during last season’s campaign and all the players are excited to be back in the Welsh capital.”
Scotland also have a debutant in their ranks for the opening round as Alex Stewart, who impressed for Edinburgh during the Celtic Challenge, earns her first cap at openside flanker.
Stewart is the only change to the otherwise identical pack who were victorious over Japan in Scotland’s WXV 2 finale with Rachel McLachlan moving to the bench to accommodate the new addition to the forwards.
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Rachel Malcolm continues as captain while retaining her starting position in the back row, and is supported by fellow Loughborough Lightning player Helen Nelson, who is given the vice-captaincy role and starts at fly-half.
Lisa Thompson, who along with Donna Kennedy and Francesca McGhie had sustainable statues of themselves unveiled by Scottish Rugby in Edinburgh as part of a celebration of trailblazers in women’s rugby ahead of the tournament, returns from GB Sevens to start at centre.
Thompson said: “It’s pretty surreal to have a statue of yourself, but it’s an honour to have been recognised alongside Donna and Fran. Unveiling these just before the start of the Guinness Six Nations is amazing and I can’t wait to see our fans’ reactions when they see them at Hive Stadium, and hopefully, we can inspire the next generation of trailblazers.”
Fellow GB Sevens stars Rhona Lloyd and Shona Campbell re-enter the fold to represent Scotland at 15s and will face familiar face Joyce as opposition rather than a teammate in Cardiff.
Wales team:
15. Jenny Hesketh
14. Jasmine Joyce
13. Hannah Jones
12. Kerin Lake
11. Nel Metcalfe
10. Lleucu George
9. Keira Bevan;
1. Gwenllian Pyrs
2. Kelsey Jones
3. Sisilia Tuipulotu
4. Natalia John
5. Abbie Fleming
6. Alisha Butchers
7. Alex Callender
8. Bethan Lewis.
Replacements:
16. Carys Phillips
17. Abbey Constable
18. Donna Rose
19. Georgia Evans
20. Kate Williams
21. Sian Jones
22. Niamh Terry
23. Carys Cox
Scotland team:
15. Meryl Smith
14. Rhona Lloyd
13. Emma Orr
12. Lisa Thomson
11. Coreen Grant
10. Helen Nelson
9. Caity Mattinson
1. Leah Bartlett
2. Lana Skeldon
3. Christine Belisle
4. Emma Wassell
5. Sarah Bonar
6. Rachel Malcolm
7. Alex Stewart
8. Evie Gallagher
Replacements:
16. Elis Martin
17. Molly Wright
18. Elliann Clarke
19. Louise McMillan
20. Rachel McLachlan
21. Mairi McDonald
22. Shona Campbell
23. Chloe Rollie
Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments