Brindle reshuffles after opening defeat
Tom Brindle, the Wales head coach, has adjusted four positions in his squad for Friday's second World Cup group match against Samoa, which takes place at CommBank Stadium in Sydney with a 07:45 BST start. Wales are appearing at their first World Cup and began Group A with a 70-6 loss to England in Perth. Samoa, for their part, opened their campaign with a 40-0 defeat by Australia.[S1][S2][S3]
On the wing, Sian Williams is set to make her debut against the Samoans. Zoe Heeley shifts from centre to the opposite wing, and Jade Mullen, who captains the Army rugby union team, fills the centre berth for her first outing of the tournament. Amberley Ruck takes over at stand-off in place of Ffion Lewis, while Huddersfield Giants prop Gracie Hobbs is added to the matchday seventeen.[S1]
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The fixture Wales have targeted
Judged on paper, the Samoa match offers Wales their strongest prospect of a result before they meet the reigning world champions, Australia, also in Sydney, on Sunday. That scheduling places extra weight on Brindle's changes, since the group's final fixture pits Wales against the side that has held the global title.[S1]
The Wales seventeen in full
Wales line up with Leanne Burnell, Zoe Heeley, Jade Mullen, Hannah Bluck and Sian Williams across the back line, Amberley Ruck and Tayla Preston at half-back, and a pack of Agnes Wood, Jasmine Gibbons, Emily Hughes, Georgia Cussons, Paige Travis and captain Bethan Dainton. The interchange bench comprises Carys Marsh, Kathryn Salter, Erin Williams and Gracie Hobbs, with Katie Carr named as eighteenth player and Ffion Lewis, Lucia Davies and Frances Layton listed as reserves.[S1]
