Wales target first Canada win in 17 years

Wales lost 31-3 in their last outing against Canada

Wales will be looking to beat Canada for the first time in 17 years when they kick-off their WXV campaign on Saturday.

Wales last tasted victory over them in 2006, when they won 16-11 at Ely's Memorial Park, Cardiff.

Their most recent meeting was a World Cup warm-up Test in Halifax, Nova Scotia in August 2022.

Canada ran out 31-3 winners that day, but Wales will be looking to close the gap now they have 30 professional players in their ranks.

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Wales have developed a largely settled side since finishing third in this year's Women's Six Nations with three wins.

The same XV which beat USA for the first time in their history in Colwyn Bay last month are entrusted this weekend.

Canada warmed up for the competition with two Test defeats against England.

Team news

Hannah Jones will lead Wales out for her 50th cap, while Carys Cox is given the nod on the wing after impressing on her debut.

Carys Williams-Morris takes the place of another recent debutant Nel Metcalfe on the bench.

Double Olympian Jasmine Joyce starts at full-back having signed a hybrid contract which allows her to play 15s while preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics with GB sevens.

Vice-captain Bethan Lewis starts at number eight, with Sioned Harries ready to make an impact from the bench along with a fit again Donna Rose.

Robyn Wilkins is preferred at 10 to Lleucu George and scrum-half Keira Bevan, whose boot propelled Wales into the World Cup quarter-finals last year, is expected to continue with kicking duties.

Canada have made changes across the board after their last outing against England, although the back row of Gabrielle Senft, Sara Svoboda and Sophie de Goede remains.

DaLeaka Menin is set to win her 50th cap from the bench, while Dino Ashlynn Smith is in line to make her senior international debut.

Views from the camp

Canada head coach Kevin Rouet: "A lot of hard work has gone into preparing for WXV and all of us, players and staff, are looking forward to getting the tournament started with a good game against Wales.

"Having competed in England just over two weeks ago, we have been able to have good continuity and momentum, and have continued working on refining our offence and defence.

"This roster is eager to get back on the pitch this week and implement the elements we've continued to work on as a group since arriving in Wellington."

Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham: "It's definitely a big challenge for us, we have done a lot of work looking at Canada.

"We know their strengths from their power game, [they've got] some great athletes, they play at an intensity which the top three have been playing over the last three years.

"We are confident in the work that we have done, our development over the last 12 months and we are really excited by the challenge and to see where we are at.

"It is going to be a great occasion, it's a great stadium and what a place to go out and express ourselves."

Line-ups

Canada: Madison Grant; Florence Symonds, Shoshanah Seumanutafa, Alexandra Tessier, Sarah-Maude Lachance; Claire Gallagher, Olivia Apps; McKinley Hunt, Emily Tuttosi, Alexandria Ellis, Tyson Beukeboom, Laetitia Royer, Gabrielle Senft, Sara Svoboda, Sophie de Goede

Replacements: Gillian Boag, Brittany Kassil, DaLeaka Menin, Ashlynn Smith, Courtney Holtkamp, Justine Pelletier, Julia Schell, Krissy Scurfield

Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (Capt), Kerin Lake, Carys Cox; Robyn Wilkins, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis.

Replacements: Kelsey Jones, Abbey Constable, Donna Rose, Kate Williams, Sioned Harries, Meg Davies, Lleucu George, Carys Williams-Morris.

Officials

Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)

Assistants: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR), Taneika Uerata (NZR)

TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)

Match facts

Head to head

• Wales and Canada have drawn twice in 13 previous meetings; no other fixture involving either team has had more than one.
• This will be the first time the sides will meet in the southern hemisphere with 11 encounters having been played in Europe and two in Canada.
• Canada have won the last six matches against Wales by an average winning margin of 25 points.

Canada

• Canada's 52-0 win over Wales at the 2017 Rugby World Cup was their biggest in the fixture and their sixth biggest win of all time.
• Canada go into WXV on the back of consecutive defeats by England in September. They have not lost three on the bounce since November 2017 (all against England).

Wales

• Three Wales players made their test debuts last summer against Canada, including Carys Williams-Morris, Lowri Norkett and Eloise Hayward.
• Wales go into WXV on the back of two straight wins and are bidding to win three tests in a row for the first time since 2009.