Today. Kick-off 5.45 am
PREVIEW…
WALES head coach Ioan Cunningham has made a surprise in selection ahead of their World Cup opener as team captain Siwan Lillicrap has been named on the bench.
Sioned Harris has been given the No.8 shirt, meaning that Hannah Jones will captain the side.
Wales Women's 2022 Player of the Year Alisha Butchers takes her place in the back row, while Georgia Evans returns to the starting XV after breaking her arm back in February.
Cunningham has also given Meg Webb her first start in over two years, as she lines up at outside centre.
Wales claimed a narrow 24-19 victory against Scotland in the Six Nations earlier this year and Cunningham knows today's game could bring another tight encounter.
Cunningham said: “There have been a lot of selection headaches, not only to get the squad down to 32, but to also name that first 15 and matchday 23.
“Having said that, we are super excited about what lies ahead and we can't wait to get going.
“Scotland are a very decent side and it will be a different game now. You can look back at that game in the Six Nations but both sides have changed since that game. It is who adapts and reacts best on the day and who reacts to the occasion.”
Scotland will be marking a historic moment in Whangarei as they make their return to the World Cup stage for the first time in 12 years.
Head coach Bryan Easson has named a settled team for today's match up, with 13 of the starting line-up retaining their place from Scotland's last game against USA in August.
Easson's back three present plenty of running threats with Chloe Rollie, Rhona Lloyd and Megan Gaffney named.
Emma Wassell who played a remarkable 54 Tests in a row from her debut in 2014 up until April this year, links up with Sarah Bonar in the second row, with formidable ball carrier Jade Konkel-Roberts starting at No.8.
Scotland centre Lisa Thomson, former captain of the national side, recognises the size and significance of today's occasion.
“That first game against Wales is huge,” she said. “We know them inside out, and they know us the same.
“It's a big game, it sets off our World Cup journey. Everyone's buzzing to get out there and get started.”
TEAMS
WALES: Powell, Joyce, Webb, H Jones (c), Neumann, Snowsill, F Lewis; Hope, Phillips, Rose, John, Evans, Butchers, Callender, Harries
Replacements: K Jones, Thomas, Hale, Lillicrap, B Lewis, Bevan, Wilkins, Norkett
SCOTLAND: Rollie, Lloyd, H Smith, Thomson, Gaffney, Nelson, Mattinson; Wright, Skeldon, Belisle, Wassell, Bonar, Malcolm (c), McMillan, Konkel-Roberts
Replacements: Bettie, Bartlett, Clarke, O'Donnell, Sinclair, McDonald, M Smith, Campbell
Referee: Clara Munarini
