Wales make three starting changes to face Ireland

3 min read
Wales make three starting changes to face Ireland

Wales make three starting changes to face Ireland

Carys Cox and Hannah Dallavalle return to Wales' backline for the Six Nations trip to Ireland, while Georgia Evans makes her first start of the campaign.

Wales make three starting changes to face Ireland

Carys Cox and Hannah Dallavalle return to Wales' backline for the Six Nations trip to Ireland, while Georgia Evans makes her first start of the campaign.

Wales are shaking things up for their crucial Six Nations clash with Ireland, making three key changes to the starting lineup as they look to turn their campaign around.

After missing the tough defeats against France and England due to a training knock, Carys Cox is back in the midfield alongside Courtney Keight. Hannah Dallavalle also returns to the fold after being a late scratch against the Red Roses, shifting from her usual centre position to the wing in place of Seren Singleton.

Georgia Evans gets her first start of the tournament, stepping into the second row for the injured Gwen Crabb. She'll be partnered by Branwen Metcalfe, who swaps roles with Jorja Aiono in the back row—a tactical move that could add some fresh energy to the pack.

There's plenty of excitement brewing on the bench too. Nikita Prothero is poised for her international debut, while veteran Natalia John could reach a major milestone with her 50th cap. Captain Bethan Lewis will lead the side out at Affidea Stadium, stepping up in the absence of Kate Williams, who's been ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a leg injury.

It's been a tough road for Wales so far—they're still searching for their first win of the tournament, with their last Six Nations victory coming against Italy back in 2024. But there's reason for optimism. Despite the threat of a third straight wooden spoon, the team drew plenty of positives from their four-try performance against world champions England last time out.

Head coach Sean Lynn is keeping the faith. "We're excited to get back out there and build on the grit and resilience we showed against England," he said. "We took another real step forward in developing our playing style and team identity. Now we need to do the same against Ireland on their home turf."

He added: "This is a new-look Wales squad, and it's all about sticking to our principles and focusing on what we want to achieve. Ireland are ambitious and will be hurting after their own results, so we know they'll come out firing in Belfast."

With a blend of returning talent and fresh faces, Wales are gearing up for what promises to be a fierce battle. For fans looking to show their support, now's the time to gear up in your favourite Welsh rugby kit—every bit of backing counts as this squad fights to find their winning form.

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