Wales drop captain Lillicrap for Scotland World Cup opener

Wales play Scotland this Sunday in their opening World Cup match at the Northlands Events Centre, Whangarei. The two northern hemisphere teams know each other well having contested many times against each other in the Six Nations, Wales pipping Scotland to glory in a comeback win in this year’s tussle.

The teams however, are not friendly foes and despite the players regularly playing with and against each other in the Premier 15s league back in England, both sides will look to get a head start in one of the toughest pools at the World Cup.

The teams have been announced with Wales Head Coach Ioan Cunningham providing a surprise in selection with Sioned Harries given the starting number eight shirt and team captain Siwan Lillicrap on the bench, meaning that Hannah Jones will captain the side. Wales Women’s 2022 Player of the Year Alisha Butchers takes her place in the back row with Georgia Evans forcing her way into the starting line up after breaking her arm in February. Cunningham also gives Meg Webb her first start in more than two years, as she starts at outside centre.

Scotland Head Coach Bryan Easson has named a settled team for this weekend’s match, with 13 of the starting line-up retaining their place from Scotland’s last game against USA in August. Scotland’s back three present plenty of running threats with Chloe Rollie, Rhona Lloyd and Megan Gaffney named. Emma Wassell who played a remarkable 54 Tests in a row from her debut in 2014 up until April this year, links up with Sarah Bonar in the second-row, with formidable ball carrier Jade Konkel-Roberts starting at eight at the back of the scrum.

Predictions: Wales finished third in this year’s Six Nations, their best position in 13 years whereas Scotland finished bottom with no wins after really struggling to find their mojo after their World Cup qualifying win over Colombia back in February. Scotland have had time to regroup and recuperate since then but Wales have had the luxury of many of their players being professional or semi-professional for the majority of this year, so this could make all the difference.

Kick off: Sunday 9th October, 05:45 am BST/ 17:45 NZ time.