By Hannah Blackwell
Wales can climb one place in the world rankings if they beat Italy on Friday night, but this will be a battle of two first round strugglers at the WXV2 tournament in South Africa.
Ioan Cunningham’s team can move from 10th to ninth – and swap places with their opponents – if they can win in Cape Town.
Neither side impressed in round one as Wales lost to Australia and Italy were well beaten by Scotland.
Wales scored just five points in a 37-5 hammering by the Aussies, whilst the Italians failed to score at all, going down 19-0 to the Scots.
“Italy will be hurting after their defeat to Scotland, like we are after the opening game against Australia, and both teams will feel they have a point to prove on Friday afternoon,” admitted Wales coach Ioan Cunningham.
“We have won our last two games against Italy in the Six Nations, but this is a different tournament and WXV2 is proving a real competitive benchmark for all the teams.”
Hannah Jones returns to captain Wales in their second round WXV2 game against Italy. ✅
Sisilia Tuipulotu is named among the replacements. ✅#BBCRugby
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) October 3, 2024
Wales centre Hannah Jones returns to captain the side after missing the last three games and partners Kerin Lake in midfield.
Jasmine Joyce, the three-time GB Olympian, moves to full back with Carys Cox switched to wing with Nel Metcalfe on the other wing.
Scrum half Keira Bevan and fly-half Lleucu George stay are selected at half-back.
The Welsh pack who came off second best against Australia is given a vote of confidence and will line up against Italy.
https://twitter.com/BBCScrumV/status/1841420403706622408
Prop Sisilia Tuipulotu, who arrived in Cape Town on Sunday, is selected on the bench.
Cunningham added: “We welcome Hannah Jones back as captain and she is desperate to play after having to watch from the stands.
“Sisilia is now with us and selected on the bench and we know she will want to make an impact after missing her first game for her country.”
“We have reviewed the performance against Australia and know the areas we need to tighten up on against Italy. We created opportunities against the Wallaroos and need to be more clinical and turn those chances into points.
“This is a short turnaround, and we have had to deal with disruptions and withdrawals, but we are focussed on producing a performance against Italy.
“We have emphasised the physical intensity we need to bring to every performance for the whole 80 minutes and how important that is when you wear the red jersey.”
Wales and Ireland’s women were not so long ago, on a par with each other. Now, Ireland are beating the Black Ferns and we’re being hammered in WXV2. What’s happened to make that gap grow so wide?
— Marc_P_ (@Marc_Ph74) October 2, 2024
Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Carys Cox, Hannah Jones (capt), Kerin Lake, Nel Metcalfe; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Georgia Evans, Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis.
Replacements: Molly Reardon, Maisie Davies, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Alaw Pyrs, Kate Williams, Sian Jones, Kayleigh Powell, Courtney Keight.
Italy: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi; Aura Muzzo, Michela Sillari, Beatrice Rigoni, Francesca Grantzotto; Emma Stevanin, Sofia Stefan, Silvia Turani, Vittoria Vecchini, Sara Seye, Valeria Fedrighi, Giordana Duca, Sara Tounesi, Francesca Sgorbini, Elisa Giodano (capt).
Replacements: Laura Gurioli, Emanuela Stecca, Vittoria Zanette, Alessandra Frangipani, Alissa Ranuccini, Beatrice Veronese, Sara Mannini, Beatrice Capomaggi.
Venue: Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town
Date: Friday, 4 October
Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham says he and his professional players are in a “privileged position” and accepts criticism is part and parcel of the job.#BBCRugby pic.twitter.com/UKyzd8kbFt
— BBC ScrumV (@BBCScrumV) October 2, 2024
