Wales make five changes as Lynn rewards bench
Wales have made five changes to their starting line-up for Saturday’s second WXV Test against Japan, after winning the first meeting 17-0 in Tokyo. Head coach Sean Lynn says the selections reward players who helped finish that match, as Wales aim to end their campaign strongly.
Bethan Lewis makes her first start of the campaign at flanker, with co-captain Alex Callender moving to number eight; Gwen Crabb and Gwenllian Pyrs also move up from the bench. Lleucu George replaces Keira Bevan at fly-half, and Courtney Keight comes in for Freya Bell, who is expected to miss an extended period with a serious knee injury. Wales, ranked 11th after moving above Japan, have also named six forwards and two backs among their replacements.
In short
- Wales have made five changes for the second Japan Test.
- Bethan Lewis earns her first start of the campaign.
- Freya Bell faces a lengthy lay-off with a knee injury.
Explained simply
Wales and Japan are playing in WXV, an international competition for women’s rugby teams. The matches give countries a chance to compete against teams from other regions and build towards future international tournaments.
Sean Lynn is Wales’ head coach, while Alex Callender is one of the team’s co-captains. Flankers and number eights are forwards who help win possession and carry the ball; the fly-half helps direct attacks. Changes to these positions can affect how a team balances its defence and attack.
The two sides are close in the world rankings, so their meetings offer a comparison of their progress. For Wales, the campaign is also a chance to strengthen the team and give players experience in international rugby.