An international clash, another derby and a duo of South African matches makes up a full card of Welsh rugby action this weekend. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Pressure Mounts on Cunningham Ahead of Japan Clash

Wales women face Japan in their final match of this year’s WXV2 campaign with relegation to WXV3 on the line. Having lost their previous two matches in the competition 37-5 and 8-5 to Australia and Italy respectively, Wales are staring down the barrel of relegation, caping off a dismal year.

A poor Six Nations, salvaged only by a final day victory over Italy, was coupled with the ignominy of having to beat Spain in a World Cup qualifying play-off in June.

With a “line in the sand” drawn ahead of the new 2024/25 season, according to Ioan Cunningham, Wales were going into the new campaign with renewed optimism and contracts, reportedly making them among the best paid women’s players in the world.

A poor start against Scotland (40-14) was followed by what looked like a turning point: a first ever win against Australia at Rodney Parade. Flying down to South Africa for WXV, Wales had three matches against teams of similar standard to build momentum ahead of a massive 2025.

Unfortunately the aforementioned defeats to Australia and Italy have put pressure on Cunningham to show the progress that he has promised for Wales in recent times.

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

“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.”

Wales are without first choice fly-half Lleucu George, who limped off with a knee injury last week, with Cunningham picking utility back Kayleigh Powell in the 10 jersey.

“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,” said Cunningham.

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

Teams:

Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Carys Cox, Hannah Jones (capt), 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.

Japan: Sora Nishimura; Misaki Matsumura, Mana Furuta, Haruka Hirotsu, Komachi Imakugi; Ayasa Otsuka, Moe Tsukui, Sachiko Kato, Kotomi Taniguchi, Wako Kitano, Yuna Sato, Otoka Yoshimura, Masami Kawamura, Iroha Nagata (capt), Seina Saito

Replacements: Asuka Kuge, Manami Mine, Nijiho Nagata, Kyoko Hosokawa, Jennifer Nduka, Megumi Abe, Minori Yamamoto, Kanako Kobayashi.

Scarlets Out For Revenge At The Arms Park

It is strange to have played a team twice in four games, but that’s the scenario facing Scarlets and Cardiff Rugby who face each other again in a repeat of the 15-24 Cardiff win at Parc Y Scarlets two weekends ago.

Macs Page’s 13 second try will be in the minds of Cardiff’s player as they kick-off at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday afternoon, but the nature of their four-try comeback proved that Matt Sherratt’s side have taken a step up in their development as a side, following last season’s mass of losing bonus points and young players.

Johnny Williams makes his 50th appearance for Scarlets, as Ioan Lloyd is preferred at fly-half. For Cardiff, new signing Dan Thomas continues his impressive start, while Efan Daniel comes in at hooker with Liam Belcher out with a broken thumb.

Teams:

Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Mason Grady, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas (capt), Harri Millard; Tinus de Beer, Ellis Bevan; Ed Byrne, Efan Daniel, Keiron Assiratti; Josh McNally, Teddy Williams; Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.

Replacements: Daf Hughes, Danny Southworth, Rhys Litterick, Mackenzie Martin, James Botham, Aled Davies, Callum Sheedy, Gabriel Hamer-Webb.

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Eddie James, Blair Murray; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas; Sam Lousi, Max Douglas; Josh Macleod (capt), Dan Davis, Taine Plumtree.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Alec Hepburn, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Efan Jones, Sam Costelow, Macs Page.

Ospreys Face High-Flying Bulls

After an agonizing start and excellent win over the Stormers at the Brewery Field, Ospreys had a reality check in Cork last weekend, downed 24-0 by an experienced and toughened Munster side.

Now with only 1 win from 3 games, the Bulls travel to Swansea ready to face an Ospreys side in need of a win. With the news that the departing Justin Tipuric is back in contention for selection, Toby Booth’s side will look to pull off yet another South African scalp on Saturday evening.

Another backrow stalwart, Morgan Morris, is set to play his 100th Ospreys appearance, with Tom Botha and Tipuric returning after missing the trip to Munster last weekend.

Teams:

Ospreys: Max Nagy; Iestyn Hopkins, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Dan Edwards, Reuven Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha; James Ratti, Adam Beard; Jac Morgan (capt), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Lewis Jones, Will Greatbanks, Kieran Hardy, Luke Scully, Jack Walsh.

Bulls: Willie Le Roux; Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Boeta Chamberlain, Embrose Papier; Gerhard Steenkamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw; Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje (capt); Marcell Coetzee, Elrigh Louw (capt), Reinhardt Ludwig.

Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Alulutho Tshakweni, Francois Klopper, Cobus Wiese, Cameron Hanekom, Keagan Johannes, Stedman Gans, Aphiwe Dyantyi.

Lions Arrive in Newport on a high

Dragons RFC’s opponent Lions visit Rodney Parade having taken a maximum 10 points from their first two games of the URC season.

Home wins over Ulster and Edinburgh are now followed by five URC game away from home in a row.

With Dragons’ most recent match an agonizing, last gasp defeat to the Sharks, Dai Flanagan’s side will be looking to build on the momentum his side have gained from some positive early performances this season.

Tighthead prop Leon Brown returns to the starting XV along with Harri Keddie. Joining Keddie in the back row are Wales hopefuls Taine Basham, who moves across to number eight, and Shane Lewis-Hughes.

Asenathi Ntlabakanye makes his 50th appearance for the Lions in the front row.

Teams:

Dragons: Angus O’Brien, Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser, Lloyd Evans, Rhodri Williams; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Leon Brown, Ben Carter (capt), Matthew Screech, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harri Keddie, Taine Basham.

Replacements: Oli Burrows, Cameron Jones, Chris Coleman, Ryan Woodman, Dan Lydiate, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Ewan Rosser.

Lions: Quan Horn; Rbz Maxwane, Erich Cronje, Rynhardt Jonker, Edwill van der Merwe; Nico Steyn, Morne van den Berg; Juan Schoeman, Franco Marais, Asenathi Ntlabakanye; Reinhard Nothnagel, Darrien Lansberg; JC Pretorious, Jarod Cairns, Francke Horn (capt).

Replacements: PJ Botha, Heiko Pohlmann, Conraad van Vuuren, Ruben Schoeman, Renzo du Plessis, Sanele Nohamba, Marius Louw, Henco van Wyk.

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