Wales’s decision to give their top dozen women professional contracts at the turn of the year is already bearing fruit. After their rousing comeback victory in Dublin last weekend Siwan Lillicrap’s rejuvenated side moved to second in the Six Nations table with a breathless win at Cardiff Arms Park over a Scotland side that simply refused to buckle. Wales know that the real test lies ahead when they face England at Kingsholm next Saturday but a first home Six Nations win for three years proves the revolution is up and running.
The replacement scrum-half Ffion Lewis settled the game in the dying minutes and Lillicrap and Alisha Butchers were outstanding in the back row as Wales recovered from a nerve-shredding first half in which they were forced on the back foot against opponents humbled by England a week earlier.
