Joyce-Butchers to win 50th cap as Wales eye double
Jasmine Joyce-Butchers will win her 50th cap on Friday as Wales aim to do the double over Australia in Sydney.Head coach Sean Lynn has made seven changes to the side that won the first Test 21-12 in Brisbane as he gives players game time in Wales' final encounter before the Rugby World Cup later in August.Kate Williams comes into the back row with fellow co-captain Alex Callender, while there is an all new front row of Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips and a fit again Sisilia Tuipulotu, who makes her first start since September.Abbie Fleming replaces Georgia Evans at lock to complete the pack with Bethan Lewis and Gwen Crabb.Kayleigh Powell is given a run out at fly-half in place of Lleucu George with Keira Bevan at scrum-half, while Carys Cox forms a new centre partnership with Courtney Keight.
The backline remains the same with Joyce-Butchers, Lisa Neumann and full-back Nel Metcalfe, who gave a two-try player of the match performance last weekend, forming the back three.Jenni Scoble, Meg Davies and Catherine Richards will make their first appearance of the tour from the bench.
"The squad were told before we came out that every player will get game time here in Australia and that is why we have made seven changes to the starting line-up," said Lynn."The seven players selected have been told to be brave and to build on what we achieved in Brisbane and stake a claim for World Cup places."We know we will face a wounded Wallaroos side determined to make a statement in front of their home crowd in Sydney."Lynn is set to name his World Cup squad when they arrive home, with their Pool B tournament opener against Six Nations rivals Scotland on 23 August in Manchester.Games against Canada and Fiji follow, with the top two teams progressing to the knockout stage.
Three-time GB Sevens Olympian Joyce-Butchers reaches a half century of appearances eight years after making her union debut against Scotland in the 2017 Six Nations.The 29-year-old said Wales' first win under Lynn was "one of the best feelings she has had in a Welsh shirt for a long time.""For us to beat a team sixth in the world is fantastic for us," she said."I do thank Lynny a lot for that, the environment that he creates, whether we win or lose, nothing changes, we still go through the same processes."He really builds the passion and the energy in and around the squad. We're relaxed, we're enjoying each other's company, we're enjoying the sun, it's just fun to be here, fun to play."Joyce-Butchers says the squad know the importance of backing up their win against the Wallaroos after what happened last year."The win against Australia at Rodney Parade [last September] is in the back of our minds. We won that one, unfortunately we couldn't repeat that in South Africa [at WXV2] a week later."I do think we are a different team now, a different animal, we've only got positive vibes and positive energy going to Sydney."
Wallaroos make six changes
Australia have recalled star wing Maya Stewart following her recovery from a knee injury as coach Jo Yapp also announced a new half-back pairing of Samantha Wood and Faitala Moleka among six starting changes.Yapp has also recalled flanker Piper Duck, lock Michaela Leonard and prop Faliki Pohiva to the Wallaroos' starting pack as they seek to level the series.
Australia: Caitlyn Halse; Maya Stewart, Georgina Friedrichs, Trilleen Pomare, Desiree Miller; Faitala Moleka, Samantha Wood; Faliki Pohiva, Katalina Amosa, Bridie O'Gorman, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Piper Duck, Emily Chancellor (capt), Tabua Tuinakauvadra.Replacements: Tania Naden, Lydia Kavoa, Alapeta Ngauamo, Ashley Fernandez, Ashley Marsters, Layne Morgan, Tia Hinds, Waiaria Ellis.Wales: Nel Metcalfe; Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, Carys Cox, Courtney Keight, Lisa Neumann; Kayleigh Powell, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Gwen Crabb, Abbie Fleming, Kate Williams (co-capt), Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender (co-capt).Replacements: Molly Reardon, Maisie Davies, Jenni Scoble, Alaw Pyrs, Georgia Evans, Meg Davies, Lleucu George, Catherine Richards.
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