RELEGATION-THREATENED Wales have made three changes to the side to face Japan in round three of WXV2 in Cape Town on Friday.

The Welsh women have suffered a pair of disappointing defeats in the tournament after being hammered 37-5 by Australia and then beaten 8-5 by Italy last weekend.

That leaves them at risk of dropping down to WXV3 when the competition returns in 2026 after next year’s World Cup in England.

Wales could avoid relegation with a draw and four-try bonus but realistically they need to win in style against Japan after a series of poor results and performances.

Head coach Ioan Cunningham brings lock Abbie Fleming, tighthead prop Sisilia Tuipulotu and fly-half Kayleigh Powell into the XV at Athlone Stadium (kick-off 3pm).

Fly half Lleucu George has been ruled out of the tournament and replaced by Robyn Wilkins in the squad.

Centre Hannah Jones will captain the side for Wales’ final game of the campaign and partners Hannah Bluck in midfield.

Tuipulotu joins Carys Phillips and Gwenllian Pyrs in the front row and Fleming is selected alongside Natalia John in the second row.

The Wales backrow is Alex Callender, Alisha Butchers and Bethan Lewis, while Powell is named at fly half with Keira Bevan at scrum half.

Full back Jasmine Joyce and wings Carys Cox and Nel Metcalfe form Wales’ back three.

Cunningham said: “We have focused on ourselves this week and what we do well and what we have to put right after the Italy game.

“We had an honest review and the message to the players has centred around composure and calmness and finishing the opportunities we are creating.

“Test match rugby is about turning pressure into points, and we have created enough chances in both our previous Test matches, but we need to be more clinical when we get in the red zone against Japan.

“We are disappointed to lose a player of Lleucu’s calibre, but this is an exciting opportunity for Kayleigh Powell, and she will pose a different threat at outside half.

"Abbie Fleming deserves this opportunity to start at second row and will bring a real physicality to the contest.

“Japan will pose a very different challenge but it’s one the players are aware of, and we have been impressed how they have performance so far in WXV2.

“The team know that we need finish WXV2 with a big performance for the supporters back home in Wales.

“It’s a game both sides know they need to win to finish on a high and promises to be an exciting Test match.”

Japan are also hunting a first win and sit above Wales in the table after bagging three bonus points from their losses to South Africa and Scotland.

Australia and the Scots play a winner-takes-all clash for the WXV2 title in Cape Town on Saturday while defending champions England face a WXV1 title decider against host Canada.

Wales: Jasmine Joyce, Carys Cox, Hannah Jones (captain), Hannah Bluck, Nel Metcalfe, Kayleigh Powell, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Natalia John, Abbie Fleming, Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis.

Replacements: Molly Reardon, Maisie Davies, Donna Rose, Georgia Evans, Kate Williams, Sian Jones, Robyn Wilkins, Courtney Keight.