By Hannah Blackwell
Ioan Cunningham is hoping training with the world champions will help inspire his Wales team to victory over Australia on Friday night.
Wales Women host the Aussies at Rodney Parde in a warm-up clash for the WXV2 tournament in South Africa later this month.
The same two teams clash in Cape Town on September 28.
Cunningham’s team have slipped to 10th in the latest world rankings – behind Italy and the USA – but the head coach is optimistic a training session last week with World Cup holders New Zealand has shown his players the standards they must strive for.
“We had a good training day with the Black Ferns in midweek before they played England, and it gave us a good benchmark of where we are as a squad,” he said.
“Australia approach the game in a similar manner and we had a close game with them the last time the two sides met out in New Zealand.
“The Wallaroos will be hurting after the defeat to Ireland last weekend, but they are a top six ranked team, and we know the challenge they will pose.
“Both teams will be looking to produce a performance to build some momentum before we meet in WXV2 in South Africa.”
I don't think Cunningham is the issue. It's the lack of support staff and resources around him. Wales went from him and separate attack, forwards, defence, scrum, skills, kicking and breakdown coaches + 3 S&C at RWC22 to him, one backs, one forwards coach + 2 S&C now.
— Squidge Rugby (@SquidgeRugby) September 8, 2024
Scrum half Keira Bevan will captain the side with six changes to the starting line-up that lost recently to Scotland in Edinburgh.
Hooker Rosie Carr makes her first start and packs down with Gwenllian Pyrs and Sisilia Tuipulotu in the front row. Locks Abbie Fleming and Georgia Evans are selected in the Wales engine room.
Flanker Bryonie King, who captained Gwalia Lightning last season, is in a new-look backrow with Kate Williams and Bethan Lewis.
Bevan and fly half Lleucu George are at half-back, while Carys Cox partners Hannah Bluck in midfield.
Wings Jasmine Joyce and Nel Metcalfe join full-back Jenny Hesketh in the back three.
Wales name squad for WXV2 in South Africa as captain and Olympians return
Ioan Cunningham has named a 30-player squad to take on Australia, Italy and Japan in South Africa
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Rugby Live Streamhttps://t.co/fffwxdnKiv— Rugby Streams (@rugbystreamsss) September 16, 2024
Cunningham added: “With the WXV squad selected, we have named a side full of experience for the Australia game at Rodney Parade on Friday evening.
“The players have worked hard in training, and this is a great opportunity to see where they are from a physical point of view.
“Bryonie King and Hannah Bluck have really impressed in camp, and we are expecting big performances from Abbie Fleming and Georgia Evans in the second row.
Squad captain and centre Hannah Jones and hooker Carys Phillips have been rested but will be fit for Round 1 of WXV in South Africa.
https://twitter.com/StanSportRugby/status/1836276619163431213
Wales: Jenny Hesketh, Jasmine Joyce, Carys Cox, Hannah Bluck, Nel Metcalfe, Lleucu George, Keira Bevan (captain); Gwenllian Pyrs, Rosie Carr, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Bryonie King, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis
Replacements
Molly Reardon, Abbey Constable, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Alisha Butchers, Sian Jones, Kayleigh Powell, Courtney Keight