Wales open their Six Nations Campaign
They face France on Saturday evening in Vannes; kick-off 20.00
Squad:
15 Robyn Wilkins (Worcester Warriors)
14 Lisa Neumann (Sale Sharks)
13 Hannah Jones (vice-captain, Gloucester-Hartpury)
12 Kerin Lake (Gloucester-Hartpury)
11 Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears)
10 Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears)
9 Jess Roberts (Sale Sharks)
1 Caryl Thomas (Worcester Warriors)
2 Kelsey Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury
3 Donna Rose (Saracens)
4 Gwen Crabb (Gloucester-Hartpury)
5 Teleri Wyn Davies (Sale Sharks)
6 Georgia Evans (Saracens)
7 Manon Johnes (Bristol Bears)
8 Siwan Lillicrap (captain, Bristol Bears)
Bench: Robyn Lock (Gloucester-Hartpury), Cara Hope (Gloucester-Hartpury), Cerys Hale (Gloucester-Hartpury), Bethan Dainton (Harlequins), Natalia John (Bristol Bears), Megan Davies (Exeter Chiefs), Gemma Rowland (Bristol Bears), Courtney Keight (Bristol Bears)
Misfortune has dogged Abrahams and Keira Bevan in particular. She suffered a late injury after being only recently restored to fitness. He has had to ask Robyn Wilkins to make her first appearance at full-back as a replacement for the injured Kayleigh Powell, but the reappearance of two of GB Sevens stars, Jasmine Joyce and Hannah Jones, has has a galvanising effect on the squad.
It is no surprise to find all the starting fifteen operating in England. The concern must be that all but two of them represent clubs in the bottom half of the league. But they have the huge advantage over their Irish and Scottish rivals that they have been in tough competition ever since last October.
Their first aim must be to improve on last season’s efforts which saw them pick up a single point in four completed matches. They were enjoying the security of a new settled leadership team when news came last week of the shock resignation of Rachel Taylor as assistant coach. An opening fixture away to France isn’t the easiest challenge.
