Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham has made four changes to his side's starting line-up to face reigning Women's World Cup champions New Zealand this Sunday (3.15am UK kick-off, live on ITV and S4C online).
The backline is unchanged in the wake of the last-minute win over Scotland in the opening round last weekend, where a successful penalty kick by replacement scrum-half Keira Bevan ensured a narrow 18-15 win. But the Black Ferns, ranked second in the world to Wales' eighth after round one, will pose a completely different challenge at a sold-out Waitakere Stadium in west Auckland, with their strike power a major asset and threat to any opposition.
Wales were dealt a significant blow this week when flanker Alisha Butchers was ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a "significant" knee injury, in part prompting a reshuffle in the pack. Lock Gwen Crabb moves to No. 6, Siwan Lillicrap resumes the captaincy and starts in the second-row alongside Natalia John, with Bethan Lewis claiming the starting No. 7 jersey over Alex Callender and Kelsey Jones coming into the front-row in place of Carys Phillips, who is carrying an ankle knock. Sioned Harries retains her place at the back of the scrum, while Cara Hope and Donna Rose complete the front-row.
