Wales make eight changes for final WXV warm-up game

Rosie Carr impressed with Wales Under-20s during their summer series in Parma

Women's international friendly: Wales v Australia

Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport Date: Friday, 20 September Kick-off: 19:00 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer, live text and match report on BBC Sport website & app

Wales have made eight changes for their final WXV warm-up match against Australia at Rodney Parade on Friday.

Keira Bevan once again captains the side, with Hannah Jones recovering from a calf strain.

Hooker Rosie Carr makes her first international start having made her debut against Scotland earlier this month.

Experienced duo Georgia Evans and Abbie Fleming return to the second row, with Bryonie King coming in as flanker.

Lleucu George is back at fly-half, with Carys Cox and Hannah Bluck forming a new centre partnership.

Nel Metcalfe is preferred on the wing.

Wales are looking to bounce back from a 40-14 defeat in Edinburgh, while the Wallaroos were beaten 36-10 by Ireland last weekend.

Wales begin their WXV2 campaign against Australia in Cape Town on 28 September.

Australia coach Jo Yapp has made four changes to her side.

Teenage full-back Caitlyn Halse is recalled, along with Trilleen Pomare at centre and Layne Morgan at scrum-half.

Hooker Tania Naden has recovered from injury to start at hooker, which sees Ashley Marsters shift to the back row.

Michaela Leonard takes over the captaincy from Siokapesi Palu.

“With the WXV squad selected, we have named a side full of experience," said Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham.

“The players have worked hard in training and this is a great opportunity to see where they are from a physical point of view.

“Bryonie King and Hannah Bluck have really impressed in camp, and we are expecting big performances from Abbie Fleming and Georgia Evans in the second row.

“We had a good training day with the Black Ferns in midweek before they played England and it gave us a good benchmark of where we are as a squad.

"Australia approach the game in a similar manner and we had a close game with them the last time the two sides met out in New Zealand.

“The Wallaroos will be hurting after the defeat to Ireland last weekend, but they are a top-six ranked team, and we know the challenge they will pose."

Line-ups

Wales: Jenny Hesketh; Jasmine Joyce, Carys Cox, Hannah Bluck, Nel Metcalfe; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan (capt); Gwenllian Pyrs, Rosie Carr, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Bryonie King, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis

Replacements: Molly Reardon, Abbey Constable, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Alisha Butchers, Sian Jones, Kayleigh Powell, Courtney Keight.

Australia: Caitlyn Halse; Maya Stewart, Georgina Friedrichs, Trilleen Pomare, Desiree Miller; Faitala Moleka, Layne Morgan; Bridie O'Gorman; Tania Naden, Eva Karpani, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard (capt), Siokapesi Palu, Ashley Marsters, Tabua Tuinakauvadra.

Replacements: Tiarna Molloy, Alapeta Ngauamo, Lydia Kavoa, Atasi Lafai, Lucy Dinnen, Natalie Wright, Arabella McKenzie, Lori Cramer.