WALES hope to reap the rewards of a training session with the world champions when they host Australia in Newport on Friday.
Ioan Cunningham’s side take on the Aussies at Rodney Parade (kick-off 7pm) in a warm-up for WXV2 in South Africa.
The head coach has made six changes to the XV that lost 40-14 to Scotland in Edinburgh, with scrum-half Keira Bevan continuing as captain.
Hooker Rosie Carr makes her first start and packs down with Gwenllian Pyrs and Sisilia Tuipulotu in the front row with Abbie Fleming and Georgia Evans picked as locks.
Flanker Bryonie King, who captained Gwalia Lightning last season, is in a new-look back row with Kate Williams and Bethan Lewis.
Bevan’s half-back partner is Lleucu George while Carys Cox and Hannah Bluck get the nod as centres.
Wings Jasmine Joyce and Nel Metcalfe join full-back Jenny Hesketh in an exciting back three to face the Wallaroos.
Cunningham said: “With the WXV squad selected, we have named a side full of experience for the Australia game at Rodney Parade on Friday evening.
“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.
"Both teams will be looking to produce a performance to build some momentum before we meet in WXV2 in South Africa.”
Squad captain and centre Hannah Jones and hooker Carys Phillips have been rested but will be fit for round one of WXV in South Africa.
Wales: Jenny Hesketh, Jasmine Joyce, Carys Cox, Hannah Bluck, Nel Metcalfe, Lleucu George, Keira Bevan (captain); 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.
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