WAYNE Pivac has encouraged Wales Women to follow the lead of the men by proving the doubters wrong in the Six Nations.

The tournament gets under way tomorrow with champions England entertaining Scotland (kick-off 3pm) before Wales take on France in Vannes (kick-off 8pm).

It is a daunting opener against a side that drubbed them 50-0 at Cardiff Arms Park last year in what was a miserable, winless campaign for the Welsh.

However, hopes are high of a big improvement in the delayed 2021 edition, which has a one-off format because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Warren Abrahams was appointed as new boss at the end of last year and Wales will try to put a few noses out of joint, as Pivac's men did when winning the title despite a horror 2020.

The New Zealander watched the squad train on Thursday and offered some post-session encouragement.

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac during the warm up before the Guinness Six Nations match at Stadio Olimpico, Rome. Picture date: Saturday March 13, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story RUGBYU Wales. Photo credit should read: Marco Iacobucci/PA Wire. ..RESTRICTIONS:

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac during the warm up before the Guinness Six Nations match at Stadio Olimpico, Rome. Picture date: Saturday March 13, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story RUGBYU Wales. Photo credit should read: Marco Iacobucci/PA Wire. ..RESTRICTIONS:

"Providing the team is focused, well-prepared and you have belief in yourselves, there's no reason you can't go out, perform well and get some good results, no doubt proving a few people wrong on the way," said Pivac.

"Most people would probably have placed our squad in about fifth place before the start of the tournament. That's actually a great place to be when people are writing you off.

"Our campaign just shows that if everyone knows their roles well and you have a 'play by play' mentality, there is no reason you can't rip up the form book.

"I enjoyed watching the training session and was particularly impressed with the communications skills of the squad, that's always a great sign."

Wales head to France and then host Ireland next Saturday.

They then have a week off before finals day, when they will take on the nation that finished in their position in the other pool.

Wales Women: Robyn Wilkins (Worcester Warriors); Lisa Neumann (Sale Sharks), Hannah Jones (vice-captain, Gloucester-Hartpury), Kerin Lake (Gloucester-Hartpury), Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears); Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears), Jess Roberts (Sale Sharks); Caryl Thomas (Worcester Warriors), Kelsey Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Donna Rose (Saracens), Gwen Crabb (Gloucester-Hartpury), Teleri Wyn Davies (Sale Sharks), Georgia Evans (Saracens), Manon Johnes (Bristol Bears), Siwan Lillicrap (captain, Bristol Bears)

Replacements: Robyn Lock (Gloucester-Hartpury), Cara Hope (Gloucester-Hartpury), Cerys Hale (Gloucester-Hartpury), Bethan Dainton (Harlequins), Natalia John (Bristol Bears), Megan Davies (Exeter Chiefs), Gemma Rowland (Bristol Bears), Courtney Keight (Bristol Bears)