Bevan retains Wales captaincy for WXV2 opener against Australia

WXV2: Australia v Wales

Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town Date: Saturday, 28 September Kick-off: 11:30 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer, commentary on Radio Wales Extra & Radio Cymru, live text on BBC Sport website & app

Scrum-half Keira Bevan retains the captaincy as Wales prepare to face Australia for the second time in a week in their WXV2 opener.

Squad captain Hannah Jones is named on the bench after sitting out Friday's 31-24 victory over the Wallaroos at Rodney Parade.

It was the first time Wales had beaten their opponents in seven attempts.

Carys Phillips, Natalia John and Alisha Butchers-Joyce are back in the pack, but there is no Sisilia Tuipulotu due to what the Welsh Rugby Union called an "administrative oversight regarding her visa" to enter South Africa.

Donna Rose instead packs down at tighthead.

Fellow prop Jenni Scoble is set to make her Wales debut from the bench, where she is joined by Alex Callender who was this week named Welsh Rugby Writers' Association women's Player of the Year.

Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has made just one starting change, with fly-half Arabella McKenzie recalled to the side.

Faitala Moleka drops to the bench, where she is joined by Cecilia Smith as the only other change to the 23 from last week’s defeat.

Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham said: "This selection shows we are starting to build the competition for places and the strength in depth that we need as a squad.

“We welcome back Hannah Jones and Alex Callender into the matchday squad and the fact we can introduce them off the bench shows the depth we are building.

"Australia will be hurting after our first historic win at Rodney Parade, and we expect them to come out firing and with a point to prove in Cape Town.

“We can take confidence from the performance last time out and we will need to show the same calmness and composure against one of the top six teams in the world.

Australia head coach Jo Yapp said: "We’ve had a good week so far in Cape Town and have prepared well,

“We’re expecting another close match with Wales on Saturday to start our campaign and are confident if we can tidy up our discipline the results will follow.

“It’s a similar team to last week with Arabella coming into the starting side and Cecilia Smith back in the 23.

“They both bring key experience for the tournament.”

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

Replacements: Tiarna Molloy, Lydia Kavoa, Alapeta Ngauamo, Atasi Lafai, Lucy Dinnen, Natalie Wright, Cecilia Smith, Faitala Moleka.

Wales: Jenny Hesketh; Jasmine Joyce, Carys Cox, Kerin Lake, Nel Metcalfe; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan (capt); Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Georgia Evans, Alisha Butchers-Joyce, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis

Replacements: Molly Reardon, Abbey Constable, Jenni Scoble, Abbie Fleming, Alex Callender, Sian Jones, Kayleigh Powell, Hannah Jones.

Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR)

Assistants: Zoe Naude (SARU) & Host Union

TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZR)