Wales Women head coach Rowland Phillips has made five changes for England’s visit to Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday (12.30pm).
Carys Phillips returns to captain the side and packs down in the front row alongside fellow Osprey Amy Evans.
Mel Clay returns to the second row alongside regional teammate Gwen Crabb, after recovering from a leg injury. Siwan Lillicrap takes the number 8 jersey after picking up player of the match during the side’s last game against Italy.
Keira Bevan starts at scrum-half with Kelsey Jones, Cara Hope, Natalia John and Lauren Smyth all named on the bench.
Up front, 18 year old flanker Alex Callender has been handed her first start after making her debut against France in the opening game of the tournament
Rowland Phillips said, “Alex has impressed coming off the bench in both our Women’s Six Nations games so far and deserves a chance to start.
“We are developing a nice pool of players to select from in the back three and Elinor and Jess will no doubt put their own stamp on the game on Sunday and Hannah Bluck’s physicality will give us some extra options in the centre. Manon Johnes and Lauren Smyth have been excellent since making their international debuts in the autumn but they are 18 and 17 and it’s a case of managing their progress. Alex Callender is also 18 so it’s fantastic to be blooding so much exciting young talent at the moment.
“England are such a powerful team and that gives them attacking opportunities. It will be up to us to meet that physical challenge but it’s tests like these that can make players and teams.
“We showed the strength of our team spirit and commitment in the final ten minutes against Italy and we will need to bring the same approach and work ethic to Sunday’s match.
“We are determined to continue to develop as a team and compete against the best sides in the world. We know we still have a lot of work to do but there is a lot of momentum in our young group and in the talent coming through in Wales at the moment.
“Cardiff Arms Park is a great home for us, we are looking forward to benefiting from some vocal support from across the rugby community after two away fixtures. The players really appreciate the support, not only for them as players but for all those they represent.”
WALES WOMEN v ENGLAND Sunday 24 Feb 12.30 Cardiff Arms Park:
Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears); Jasmine Joyce (Scarlets), Hannah Jones (Scarlets), Hannah Bluck (Cardiff Blues), Jess Kavanagh (RGC); Robyn Wilkins (Blues), Keira Bevan (Ospreys); Caryl Thomas (Dragons), Carys Phillips (capt, Ospreys), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Gwen Crabb (Ospreys), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Bethan Lewis (Dragons), Alex Callender (Scarlets), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys)
Replacements:
Kelsey Jones (Ospreys), Cara Hope (Ospreys), Cerys Hale (Dragons), Natalia John (Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets), Ffion Lewis (Scarlets), Lisa Neumann (RGC); Lauren Smyth (Ospreys)