We have to take chances at The Stoop, says Evans
LOCK Georgia Evans says Wales Women must take their chances if they are to shock England in today’s Six Nations clash at the Twickenham Stoop (12.05pm).
Siwan Lillicrap’s side will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to France last time out and second-row Evans is confident Wales can make their mark on Saturday. “If we do want to be the best we have to be able to compete against the best,” said Evans.
“We all look forward to the England game, it’s the one we all want to play in.
“We hope to build on our performance in France. If we can build on that and take the game to England while maintaining our solid defence then we have a chance.
“We need to finish off the opportunities we create and then we can shock people. This is what we train for.
“England are the favourites but we enjoy being the underdogs. I know the scoreline wasn’t great against France but it didn’t reflect how well we played and I genuinely don’t think we are that far away.”
There are two changes to the side who lost against France eight days ago, with Natalia John returning to the starting XV to partner Evans at lock. Hannah Jones returns to the centre where she will line up alongside Kerin Lake.
Despite a frustrating Six Nations results-wise, Evans believes Wales Women are heading in the right direction and have a bright future ahead of them.
She said: “There’s something special about us and we are building towards a bright future. There’s a great bunch of girls here and we are all like a family.
“When you turn up for training it’s like going home. We all push ourselves and we know there’s competition in the squad.
“You don’t know who is playing week-in, week-out, so we are all pushing ourselves to be better. Siwan Lillicrap is a fantastic leader and she always says look yourself in the eye after the game and if you know you’ve put your body on the line then you can’t ask anymore.”
Evans is delighted with the way her rugby career is progressing, having won her first Wales cap last autumn. Rugby is in her blood with her cousin Ceri Sweeney having enjoyed a successful professional career in the men’s game winning 35 Wales caps.
She said: “I grew up knowing everything I needed to know about rugby because I used to follow my cousin Ceri Sweeney while my brother also plays for Pontypridd. We travel around a lot and it was great to see Ceri play for Wales, even though I didn’t inherit his boot!
“My auntie and uncle are now following me after missing watching him play since his retirement. He’s a great role model.
“It was great winning my first cap last autumn and hopefully I can win many more.”
England have made five changes to their starting XV with hooker Amy Cokayne set to win her 50th cap. Harriet Millar-Mills makes her first England start since the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup while 17-yearold Mia Venner will make her Test debut if she comes on off the bench. England Women: Emily Scott; Lydia Thompson, Emily Scarratt (c), Amber Reed, Sarah McKenna; Katy Daley-Mclean,
Leanne Riley; Vickii Cornborough, Amy Cokayne, Shaunagh Brown, Poppy Cleall, Zoe Aldcroft, Harriet Millar-Mills, Vicky Fleetwood, Sarah Beckett. Reps: Heather Kerr, Hannah Botterman, Sarah Bern, Sarah Hunter, Amelia Harper, Natasha Hunt, Zoe Harrison, Mia Venner.
Wales Women: Kayleigh Powell; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones, Kerin Lake, Caitlin Lewis; Robyn Wilkins, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones. Cerys Hale, Georgia Evans. Natalia John, Alisha Butchers, Bethan Lewis, Siwan Lillicrap (c). Reps: Molly Kelly, Cara Hope, Ruth Lewis, Gwen Crabb, Robyn Lock, Ffion Lewis, Hannah Bluck, Lauren Smyth.