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Wales alter four – all backs – for history-making game in Cardiff

Keira Bevan is one of the four Wales changes versus Italy (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

Ioan Cunningham has made four changes to bottom side Wales for this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations finale at home to Italy at Principality Stadium.

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The Welsh have lost all four matches so far in this year’s championship and they are set to finish last as they trail fifth-place Ireland by five points on the table and have an inferior points difference of 45.

Beaten last time out 0-40 by France last Sunday in Cardiff, they will look to avoid suffering a whitewash versus the Italians with a team containing four backline changes.

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Nemani Nadolo on his peak and once being considered “too big”

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      Nemani Nadolo on his peak and once being considered “too big”

      Former Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo chats to Liam Heagney about when he reached his peak and how he was actually at one stage considered too big to play rugby.

      With full-back Kayleigh Powell having returned to Great Britain 7s duty with Jasmine Joyce, a sub against the French, Jenny Hesketh is back at No15.

      Lisa Neumann is another recall, lining up on the right wing in place of Catherine Richards, Hannah Bluck is named in midfield with Carys Cox switching to left wing at the expense of Courtney Keight, while Keira Bevan, a sub last Sunday, swaps places with Sian Jones.

      Fixture
      Womens Six Nations
      Wales Womens
      22 - 20
      Full-time
      Italy Womens
      All Stats and Data

      Ahead of the first-ever stand-alone women’s Test match, head coach Cunningham said in a WRU team media release: “Nobody needs to tell us how important this game is for us within the tournament, or for what follows, but our focus is totally on what we need to do as a team.

      “The Welsh supporters have been a big part of our successes, and we look forward to them getting behind us again. Against France, we created pressure and opportunities, and we just need to be more clinical and finish off those opportunities.

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      “Hannah Bluck has trained well all through this campaign and deserves the opportunity to start against Italy and the experienced Lisa Neumann comes in on the wing.

      “Our focus has been on what we need to do this week. We’re looking forward to the challenge and finishing the tournament on a high.”

      WALES (v Italy, Saturday): 15. Jenny Hesketh; 14. Lisa Neumann, 13. Hannah Jones (captain), 12. Hannah Bluck, 11. Carys Cox; 10. Lleucu George, 9. Keira Bevan; 1. Gwenllian Pyrs, 2. Carys Phillips, 3. Sisilia Tuipulotu, 4. Natalia John, 5. Abbie Fleming, 6. Alisha Butchers, 7. Alex Callender (vice-captain), 8. Georgia Evans. Reps: 16. Kelsey Jones, 17. Abbey Constable, 18. Donna Rose, 19. Kate Williams, 20. Gwennan Hopkins, 21. Sian Jones, 22. Niamh Terry, 23. Nel Metcalfe

      Rugby World Cup 2025 is coming to England. Register now here to be the first to hear about tickets.

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      RedWarrior 14 minutes ago
      Many England fans echoing the same gripe following Six Nations loss

      The English defense was excellent in the first half. This is considering Ireland's attack has improved significantly since the Autumn with former Leinster attack coach Goodman. Ireland were beaten by NZ in the Autumn, are behind SA and arguably behind France so de facto 4th in order (rankings take time to catch up) As Eddie Jones said Ireland are still in that elite group so England's domination in the first half is noteworthy.

      I believe they have spent the time since the Autumn largely on defence. On broken play they were relying on Smiths instint along with some jiggery pokery. For Smiths early line break a Twindaloo blocked Baird which left the gap for smith. It looked like he did Aki, but Baird was a little late arriving and clever play by Tom Curry allowed the gap for Smith. Earls line break was Smith spotting Baird coming out and beating him with a beautiful pass to Earl.

      We saw the rehearsed plays for a couple of Ireland's tries. The Aki try was just identifying that England tended to hide Smith on the wing creating a vulnerability which Ireland exploited with one of Akis great finishes.

      Although Ireland were relaxing at the end the two English tries were good enough quality and we may see more of it next week (Scotland will also have taken note).

      Although on the easier side of the draw Borthwick almost took England to a RWC final.

      But in common with the top4 you need to have firepower to get those tries in big games. Can Borthwick manage that? I don't think so.

      Next week even if England have a great first half again, you would be looking at France converting 3 of those Irish chances and pushing on after the break.

      Can Borthwick develop a plan to beat France in the next few years. If the answer is no England need to find someone who can.

      9 Go to comments
      LONG READ
      LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'It's about time England started shaping their own narrative and got the job done.' Mick Cleary: 'It's about time England started shaping their own narrative and got the job done.'
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