Wales are right up against as they come to face France at the Arms Park on Friday evening. They haven’t won in the last five contests, the French topping 50 points over the last three.
Ioan Cunningham has adjusted his starting 15 again, restoring his captain to No 8 and bringing Beth Lewis in on the open-side.
Out behind Elinor Snowsill returns to the No 10 shirt, but needs to re- establish her former standards with the boot. Robyn Wilkins shifts out one place.
Unlike Ireland Wales have their star 7s player, Jasmine Joyce, still available. She might like to be performing in the Langford 7s too, but Great Britain’s convoluted relationship with the short-format game means she can’t. Welsh fans breathe a sigh of relief.
Which nation has completed the fewest passes thus far in the 6N? That’s right, it’s France! It only goes to show how efficiency is worth far more than effort.
Of the recent absentees Caroline Boujard is restored to the right wing, and Maelle Filopon and Gabrielle Vernier form the first-choice centre partnership again. To accommodate them Chloé Jacquet moves back to No 15 and Marine Ménager to the left wing. Twin sister Romane gets the nod at No 8.
This isn’t quite a final choice for the French management, but like everyone else they have to put up with unwelcome injuries. They will certainly expect this side to produce a performance on a par with England’s against the same opposition at Gloucester.
The teams
Wales:
15 Kayleigh Powell, 14 Lisa Neumann, 13 Hannah Jones 12 Robyn Wilkins, 11 Jasmine Joyce, 10 Elinor Snowsill, 9 Keira Bevan, 1 Gwenllian Pyrs, 2 Carys Phillips, 3 Cerys Hale, 4 Natalia John, 5 Gwen Crabb, 6 Alisha Butchers, 7 Bethan Lewis, 8 Siwan Lillicrap (captain)
Bench:
16 Kelsey Jones, 17 Cara Hope, 18 Donna Rose, 19 Alex Callender, 20 Sioned Harries, 21 Ffion Lewis, 22 Kerin Lake, 23 Niamh Terry
France:
15 Chloé Jacquet, 14 Caroline Boujard, 13 Maelle Filopon, 12 Gabrielle Vernier, 11 Marine Ménager, 10 Jessy Trémoulière, 9 Laure Sansus, 1 Annaelle Deshayes, 2 Agathe Sochat, 3 Clara Joyeux, 4 Céline Ferer, 5 Madoussou Fall, 6 Julie Annery, 7 Gaelle Hermet (captain), 8 Romane Ménager
Bench:
16 Laure Touyé, 17 Coco Lindelauf, 18 Assia Khalfaoui, 19 Audrey Forlani, 20 Emeline Gros, 21 Alexandre Chambon, 22 Morgane Peyronnet, 23 Emilie Boulard
Fixture details:
Date: Friday 22 April
Time: 20.00 (BST)
Venue: Cardiff Arms Park
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
