Saturday 23 March, Cardiff Arms Park, KO 16.45
Ioan Cunningham and Bryan Easson have unveiled their first two teams of a new tournament:
Cymru
15 *Jenny Hesketh 14 Jasmine Joyce 13 Hannah Jones 12 Kerin Lake 11 *Nel Metcalfe 10 Lleucu George 9 Keira Bevan 1 Gwenllian Pyrs 2 Kelsey Jones 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu 4 Natalia John 5 Abbie Fleming 6 Alisha Butchers 7 Alex Callender 8 Bethan Lewis
16 Carys Phillips 17 Abbey Constable 18 Donna Rose 19 Georgia Evans 20 Kate Williams 21 Sian Jones 22 Niamh Terry 23 Carys Cox
*uncapped
Scotland
15 Meryl Smith 14 Rhona Lloyd 13 Emma Orr 12 Lisa Thomson 11 Coreen Grant 10 Helen Nelson 9 Caity Mattinson 1 Leah Bartlett 2 Lana Skeldon 3 Christine Belisle 4 Emma Wassell 5 Sarah Bonar 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain( 7 *Alex Stewart 8 Evie Gallagher
16 Elis Martin 17 Molly Wright 18 Elliann Clarke 19 Louise McMillan 20 Rachel McLachlan 21 Mairi McDonald 22 Shona Campbell 23 Chloe Rollie
*uncapped
For both sides this is almost a die-or-die game, right at the start of the programme. So much depends on gaining that third place in the table (or better). A crucial question will be whether any of the four nations in question (Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales) can gain an all-important away win, to bolster their chances.
With home crowds growing every year, the visitors face an increaing psychological challenge to overcome.
Any surprises?
You might have predicted the wrong names for the two full-backs. I did. Jenny Hesketh is vaulted straight into the starting line-up for the hosts; even more surprising is Easson’s preference for Smith over long-serving Rollie. But time moves on. Smith has played stand-off and centre for Bristol, but Easson sees her value at the back. She can add a kicking game that Rollie only rarely opts for.
The other debutants: 19-year-old Nel Metcalfe has impressed for league leaders Gloucester-Hartpury – which may be all the commendation she needs. Alex Stewart comes in on the Scottish flank after catching the eye in the Celtic Challenge; yet another reason for applauding the development of that tournament.
Both sides are able to introduce GB 7s players, which is a blessing.
This is our first chance to see how the Celtic triangle will sort itself out. Wales start slightly ahead of Scotland, since they exprienced the big time in WXV1 last autumn. But, as had to be feared, they couldn’t muster a win.
Will the Scots’ performance in WXV2, a complete reverse, three wins out of three, help them overcome Welsh home advantage? I think not.
Coverage: BBC Two, iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app
