Wales and England ready to do battle in Welsh capital

Women’s Six Nations: Wales v England

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 29 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMT

A record crowd awaits as Wales take on the might of England at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

The Red Roses arrive in Cardiff as the number-one ranked team in the world, with last weekend’s victory over Italy their 21st successive Test win.

Under John Mitchell and new captain Zoe Aldcroft, they are going for their seventh consecutive Six Nations title and a fourth consecutive Grand Slam.

Very few teams have dominated their sport in such a way.

In contrast, Wales are looking to return to form which saw them rise to sixth in the world just a couple of years ago.

They have a new coach in Sean Lynn, and while he was a proven winner at Gloucester-Hartpury, patience is needed as this is only his second week in the job.

Still there were enough green shoots of promise in the opening-round loss to Scotland to suggest Wales are a team on the up.

But they will need every ounce of home support if they are going to challenge England and repeat the heroics of the class of 2015.

More than 20,000 tickets have already been sold for the game, a record for a Welsh women’s team event in Wales.

The previous best attendance was 10,592, when Wales hosted Italy in the 2024 Six Nations at the Principality Stadium.

But there is still a way to go to beat the record for a women’s sporting event in Wales.

Wales know they are in for a tough afternoon and have opted for experience in their pack.

Nineteen-year-olds Maisie Davies and Alaw Pyrs, who made their first starts against Scotland, make way for Gwenllian Pyrs and Gwen Crabb.

For Sale Sharks loose-head Pyrs, Scotland was a first outing since surgery in November, which included a disc replacement and disc fusion.

Other than that it is as you were for Lynn’s side.

There were some question-marks earlier in the week over the availability of Georgia Evans after the number eight was sent off in Edinburgh for two yellow card offences.

It might be quicker to just name the England players that have retained their place rather than the new faces coming in.

Mitchell has made no less than 13 changes to the starting XV.

Among them is the return of world player of the year Ellie Kildunne, who will run out in Cardiff for her 50th cap.

She is joined in the backline by Abby Dow and Jess Breach – a back three that scored a combined 18 tries in last year’s championship.

Cardiff-born Welsh speaker Meg Jones starts in the centre while Olympian Abi Burton is set to make her debut from the bench.

Aldcroft and number eight Maddie Feaunati are the two players who keep their shirts.

Wales head coach Sean Lynn: Defensively we have to be on point, mistakes are going to happen but it’s that fight I want to see from the girls.

When you’re growing up it’s all about Wales v England, and playing in the Principality with a record crowd it’s something we are really proud of.

We’re so excited and it’s what these girls deserve, playing at the Principality and having 18,000. I’m hoping we’re going to get to the 20,000 mark.

We’ve set out some small challenges for us, what we want to be getting out of it, I just want to make sure that we can put England in a tough place and see how they react. Sport is about pressure.

England flanker Sadia Kabeya: While it is an away game, there’s no added pressure for us. We know it’s going to be loud which just means we need to be even louder, it’s more of a reason for us to go out there and perform.

Going into any game we always try and focus on ourselves and see what we can do to improve our game.

BBC Radio Wales commentator Gareth Rhys Owen: Sport’s ultimate beauty is its ability to surprise us. And it’s in this context that any prediction ahead of this encounter must be framed. Theresa May was the Prime Minister when England last lost a Six Nations match and all indicators suggest they should win comfortably on Saturday.

Such is the depth of John Mitchell’s squad that he has the luxury of making 13 changes to a side who put 40 points on Italy, although most would suggest that this starting XV is an upgrade.

Head-to-head

Wales

England