By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2024-09-27 11:23:50 | Updated at 2024-09-30 07:19:27
2 days ago
WXV2: Australia v Wales
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town Date: Saturday, 28 September Kick-off: 11:30 BST
Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website & app, commentary on Radio Wales Extra & Radio Cymru plus live text on BBC Sport website & app.
Wales and the Wallaroos will go head to head for the second time in just eight days as WXV2 kicks-off in South Africa this weekend.
Both sides have slipped down to the second tier of the competition after poor runs of form in the Women’s Six Nations and Pacific Four Series respectively.
And both will be looking to use this competition as a kick-start for next year’s Rugby World Cup in England.
Australia are currently ranked sixth in the world, while Wales have moved up to ninth.
Wales came out on top in last Friday’s friendly at Rodney Parade, scoring in the last play of the game to earn a first ever win over the Wallaroos at the seventh time of asking.
But they know all too well that their historic 31-24 victory will count for little if they cannot back it up in a Test match, and where better than the DHL Stadium, home of the Stormers.
Wales' team news has been dominated by the absence of one of their star players.
Prop Sisilia Tuipulotu is yet to fly out to Cape Town due to delays in her visa.
Her physical presence will no doubt be missed as Donna Rose instead starts at tight-head.
Carys Phillips, Alisha Butchers-Joyce and Natalia John bring a wealth of experience to the pack, while Keira Bevan retains the captaincy after her player-of-the-match display last week.
Hannah Jones is still nursing a calf strain and is named among the replacements along with Alex Callender, who has recovered from concussion.
Australia have made only one change to their starting 15 and that comes at fly-half with Arabella McKenzie preferred to Faitala Moleka.
Cecilia Smith’s inclusion on the bench is the only other change.
Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham: “It was a great feeling to get a win [at Rodney Parade], but also provide a little bit of confidence in the group and belief to repeat that this weekend.
“It will be a different challenge, we have all had to adjust to travelling and arriving in the country pretty quickly.
“We’re excited by it and obviously it was the first time we’ve beaten Australia as a team and hopefully we can do it again this Saturday.
“It’s huge to start well to set us up for the rest of the tournament.
“Every point will count, especially towards the latter stages.”
Australia head coach Jo Yapp: “We’re expecting another close match with Wales on Saturday to start our campaign and are confident if we can tidy up our discipline the results will follow.
“Teams like Wales, Scotland and Ireland have been full-time for two or three seasons and our girls are not full-time.
“We’re in that transition of going towards that, but we have to recognise that we’ve got a little bit of a gap there which we’re trying to bridge.
"I think this is an opportunity to get depth, for us to build and to emulate what it’s like for the World Cup.
“But we’ve definitely shown loads of improvement, we just need to get across the line with some of the results.”
Since last year’s WXV1 meeting, Wales have won four out of 12 matches, while Australia have won one from seven
Australia have won six out of seven meetings against Wales, losing for the first time last week at Rodney Parade
The last three meetings have been decided by less than a score
The highest winning margin was in 2002 when the Wallaroos won 30-0
Wales have 37 professional players while Australia are part-time
Australia: Caitlyn Halse; Maya Stewart, Georgina Friedrichs, Trilleen Pomare, Desiree Miller; Arabella McKenzie, Layne Morgan; Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Ashley Marsters, Siokapesi Palu, Michaela Leonard (capt), Kaitlan Leaney, Eva Karpani, Tania Naden, Bridie O'Gorman.
Replacements: Tiarna Molloy, Lydia Kavoa, Alapeta Ngauamo, Atasi Lafai, Lucy Dinnen, Natalie Wright, Cecilia Smith, Faitala Moleka.
Wales: Jenny Hesketh; Jasmine Joyce, Carys Cox, Kerin Lake, Nel Metcalfe; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan (capt); Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Georgia Evans, Alisha Butchers-Joyce, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis.
Replacements: Molly Reardon, Abbey Constable, Jenni Scoble, Abbie Fleming, Alex Callender, Sian Jones, Kayleigh Powell, Hannah Jones.
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR)
Assistant referees: Zoe Naude (SARU) & Host Union
TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZR)
