WALES Women head coach Rowland Phillips has made just one change to his team for their Six Nations clash with England at Cardiff Arms Park this Saturday (11.30am).
Scarlets flanker Alisha Butchers comes in on the blindside for the injured Shona Powell-Hughes, with Sioned Harries moving across to number-eight and Nia Elen Davies taking Butchers' bench place.
After a confident start to the tournament – Wales beat Italy 20-8 in Ancona – Phillips saw little need to tinker with his matchday squad.
“I was delighted with the way the players were able to carry out our game plan under intense pressure from Italy,” he said.
“They need to take that confidence and momentum into this Saturday's game in Cardiff, because England on their day will be an altogether different proposition.”
It will only be Wales’ third fixture at the Cardiff venue since it was announced as their official home back in the autumn – and Phillips says the Welsh support could make all the difference on the day.
“We witnessed how great the crowd can be here a few months ago, so I'm in no doubt they'll be out in force come Saturday morning,” he added.
“Women's rugby is going from strength to strength in this country. That's reflected in the growing fan base.
“As a national side we're still improving, but playing the world champions in the capital city this weekend will be another great step in our development.”
Wales Women team to face England (Saturday, kick-off 11.30am):
Dyddgu Hywel (Scarlets); Elen Evans (Scarlets), Kerin Lake (Ospreys), Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys), Adi Taviner (Ospreys); Elinor Snowsill (Newport Gwent Dragons), Keira Bevan (Ospreys); Caryl Thomas (Scarlets), Carys Phillips (c) (Ospreys), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Rebecca Rowe (Newport Gwent Dragons), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets), Rachel Taylor (Scarlets), Sioned Harries (Scarlets).
Replacements: Lowri Harries (Scarlets), Cerys Hale (Newport Gwent Dragons), Gwenllian Pyrs (Scarlets), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys), Nia Elen Davies (Blues), Sian Moore (Newport Gwent Dragons), Gemma Rowland (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jessica Kavanagh-Williams (Scarlets).
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