Wales Women’s Head Coach Makes Bold Lineup Changes Ahead of Crucial France Clash
As the Six Nations Championship enters a crucial juncture, Wales Women’s head coach Ioan Cunningham has shaken up his starting lineup for the highly anticipated clash against France this Sunday at Cardiff Arms Park.
Faced with the daunting task of securing a maiden victory in this year’s campaign, Cunningham has opted to drop several established names, including Jasmine Joyce, Keira Bevan, and Bethan Lewis, in favor of fresh faces like debutant Catherine Richards and Courtney Keight on the wings.
“Catherine Richards has had to wait for her Wales cap and will be the fifth new cap during this campaign,” Cunningham explained. “She deserves her opportunity, having shown what a threat she can be during the Celtic Challenge and in the PWR [Premiership Women’s Rugby].”
Kayleigh Powell and Carys Cox have also been handed starting roles, with the former taking the fullback position and the latter shifting to the centers. In the pack, Natalia John returns to the second row, while Georgia Evans moves to number eight.
Despite the stiff challenge posed by the undefeated French side, who are widely considered among the world’s best, Cunningham remains optimistic about his team’s chances. “We have all taken a long, hard look at ourselves this week and have drawn a line in the sand and we need a performance at Cardiff Arms Park.”
Wales currently sit bottom of the Six Nations table, with the potential to secure third place and qualification for the 2025 Rugby World Cup if they can pull off a surprise victory against their French counterparts. The match will be broadcast live on BBC One Wales, BBC iPlayer, and BBC Radio Wales & Radio Cymru, with highlights also available on Scrum V Six Nations later that evening.
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