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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Matthew Southcombe

Wales Women make seven changes for final World Cup warm-up match against England

Centre Hannah Jones captains a Wales side that includes seven changes from the defeat to Canada last month as they take on England in their final Women's World Cup warm-up match on Wednesday, September 14.

Ioan Cunningham's side travel to Ashton Gate to face the world's top-ranked side as he prepares to name his final squad for the global gathering in New Zealand.

An entirely new front row of Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips and Cerys Hale is drafted in following the 31-3 defeat in Canada. The experienced Alisha Butchers returns to the back row along with Alex Callender, while Gwen Crabb joins Natalia John in the second row. Meanwhile, Niamh Terry gets the nod at full-back.

"Following a big two months of preparation and a tough training and match week in Canada, this is exactly the kind of challenge we need ahead of our Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland in October," said Cunningham.

"We will be playing in front of a big crowd and giving some players opportunities to transfer their excellent work in training to a playing environment. It will be the last chance for some players to put their hands up for inclusion in the squad. We are discussing the squad daily and we are not far off, but there are probably still four or five places up for grabs."

Carys Williams-Morris and Lowri Norkett, who both made their capped debuts against Canada, keep their place in the backline, while Elinor Snowsill and Ffion Lewis continue their partnership at half-back. Regular captain Siwan Lilicrap is named among the replacements.

England: Kildunne; Thompson, Scarratt, Rowland, McKenna; Harrison, L Packer; Cornborough, Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Matthews, M Packer, Hunter (C).

Replacements: Cokayne, Botterman, Muir, Talling, P Cleall, MacDonald, Reed, Aitchison.

Wales: Terry; Norkett, Williams-Morris, H Jones (C), Joyce; Snowsill, F Lewis; Pyrs, Phillips, Hale, John, Crabb, Butchers, Callender, Harries.

Replacements: K Jones, Thomas, Tuipulotu, Lillicrap, B Lewis, Bevan, George, Webb.

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