By David Williams
Wales will face a Red Roses team boosted by input from England men’s captain Jamie George in Bristol on Saturday.
George has been helping prepare Wales’ opponents for their Women’s Six Nations meeting after volunteering his services to Red Roses head coach John Mitchell.
The hooker, fresh from leading the men’s side in an encouraging Six Nations of their own, worked with England women’s hookers Lark Atkin-Davies, Connie Powell, Amy Cokayne and May Campbell at their Surrey training base on Wednesday.
Mitchell got to know Saracens hooker George when working as an assistant when Australian Eddie Jones was England men’s head coach.
New Zealander Mitchell hopes this week’s training session won’t be the last time the senior national sides work together.
“I worked with Jamie before and this wasn’t forced or coerced by me. I’ve kept in touch since my departure as a coach and wished him well for the Six Nations,” said Mitchell.
“When I got this role he said ‘if you ever any help just sing out’. He was the one who actually encouraged it for this situation. We’ve made it work and I think the girls have enjoyed it.”
England's Red Roses hope 'genuine friendship' with men's team can bring future success as Jamie George works with women stars ahead of acid test Six Nations clash against Wales https://t.co/PWf4QTZju3
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) March 28, 2024
England captain Marlie Packer, who knows George from her time with Saracens, said: “The girls really enjoyed it. We don’t want to force it because the men have their own programmes, the same as us, so the timing needs to be right for both.
“We also have that club connection as well, Jamie has been doing some work with me at Saracens.”
England launched the defence of their Women’s Six Nations title with a 48-0 thrashing of Italy last weekend and will be overwhelming favourites to beat Wales at Ashton Gate.
The Red Roses have won the Women’s Six Nations for five successive years, while Wales lost 20-18 at home to Scotland in their opener.
Centre Hannah Jones will captain a side with six changes made by head coach Ioan Cunningham.
Sian Jones, 20, has been handed a full debut and replaces Keira Bevan at scrum-half while Carys Cox is picked ahead of Nel Metcalfe on the wing.
England’s Red Roses hope ‘genuine friendship’ with men’s team can bring future success as Jamie George works with women stars ahead of acid test Six Nations clash against Wales: Jamie George spent time working with the women’s team… https://t.co/ZaHv4r4sjS #Sports #acid #ahead
— WhatsNew2Day (@whatsn2day) March 28, 2024
Carys Phillips and Donna Rose come into the front row as Kelsey Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu drop to the bench.
Georgia Evans and Kate Williams also start in the pack
Gwenllian Pyrs is joined in the front row by hooker Phillips and Rose at tighthead prop.
Evans partners Abbie Fleming in the engine room, while Williams is selected alongside vice-captain Alex Callender and Bethan Lewis in the back row.
Jones, who made her debut off the bench against the Scots, starts her first Test match for her country and partners fly half Lleucu George at half back.
Cox is selected on the wing with the experienced Jasmine Joyce on the other wing and Jenny Hesketh at full back, while the experienced centre Kerin Lake partners skippers Jones in the midfield.
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Cunningham said: “We have made six changes to face England in Bristol and are under no illusions of the challenge facing us. We have strength in depth in the squad and this is an opportunity for the players selected to show what they can do.
“We need to focus on what we do and we had a robust review of the Scotland game and the players identified the areas that we have to improve on for this weekend’s Test match.
“Carys Phillips and Donna Rose know the challenge we face up front, and Georgia Evans’ made an impact when she came on against Scotland. Flanker Kate Williams has trained well and been pushing for a place and deserves an opportunity to start.
“Sian Jones is very much part of this squad and a player we believe has a big future on the international stage. Carys Cox has been selected on the wing and has impressed since we came together as a squad.
“We have some real experience on the bench, and we expect them to make an impact but we are relishing the challenge we face on Saturday. England are the benchmark side for every nation in the women’s game and we have nothing to lose against a team that won the Grand Slam last season.
“All of this Wales squad play their club rugby in England, which is recognised as the best league in the world and we know they can compete at this level and are facing players they play against and train with, week-in and week-out.”
✍️| Team news from Wales women's ahead of their Guinness Six Nations clash against England in Bristol, head coach Ioan Cunningham making six changes. @WalesRugby https://t.co/3LRdBwufxk
— Iestyn Rhys Thomas (@Iestyn_thomas21) March 28, 2024
Wales:
Jenny Hesketh; Jasmine Joyce, Hannah Jones (captain), Kerin Lake, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Sian Jones; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Donna Rose, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Kate Williams, Alex Callender (vice-captain), Bethan Lewis
Replacements: Kelsey Jones, Abby Constable, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Natalia John, Alisha Butchers, Keira Bevan, Kayleigh Powell, Nel Metcalfe
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