Wales welcome Scotland to their new home

Apart from a double-header at the Millennium Stadium in 2012, the game sees Wales’ women’s team return to the capital for the first time since 2005, when their last residency at the Arms Park came to an end after three years.

The fixture is also Wales’ first home Autumn international since 2009, when they trounced Sweden 56-7 in Swansea, and will be followed by a second game against a UK Forces XV on 11thNovember as the they prepare for the Six Nations and the summer’s World Cup, where they will be hoping to improve on eighth place in 2014.

For Scotland, it’s even more vital. November will see them play Spain, home and away, for Europe’s final World Cup spot – and, whereas Spain will come into the tournament on the back of three competitive fixtures in the European Championship, this weekend will be Scotland’s only on-field preparation. Spain are also ranked ninth in the world, four places above Scotland, so a fixture against ten-ranked Wales is exactly the sort of tough game that Shade Munro’s team need.

The teams have played at the Arms Park once before, in 2004 when Scotland won 30-10. That was not an unexpected win for the Scots at the time as they had won previous eight games as well. However, it was also Scotland’s last win in Wales. Two years later Wales sneaked a 5-0 win in Pontypridd, and they have not looked back since, winning all of the last 12 games between the sides. Their 23-10 Six Nations win in Neath in February was one of the closest games in recent years.

The game will be also the first test for Wales under the new coach Rowland Phillips, who welcomed the return to Cardiff: "Being able to call BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park the home of Wales Women this season is fantastic news for us," he said. "It's a sign of the progress the women's game is making in this country that we're able to host our upcoming matches here in the capital city, and I fully expect us to get some big crowds there. This is an opportunity for players to get themselves noticed - especially with the 2017 Six Nations on the horizon in a few months' time."

Rowland Phillips has named an experienced front row made up of loosehead Caryl Thomas, captain Carys Phillips (hooker) and tighthead Meg York. Siwan Lillicrap and Rebecca Rowe are named in the second row, with Alisha Butchers, Sioned Harries and Shona Powell-Hughes at six, seven and eight respectively.

Scrum-half Sian Moore and fly-half Elinor Snowsill start in the half-backs, with Rebecca De Filippo and Kerin Lake in the midfield. On the wings are Ffion Bowen and Charlie Murray, and Dyddgu Hywel completes the back three at fullback.

Phillps said: "We've had a very good couple of weeks in camp, so there have been some tough selection calls to make, but the aim is for everyone to get some game time with this fixture and the game against the UK Armed Forces on Remembrance Day."

"The Scotland squad has been in camp together a lot longer than us as they're seeking World Cup qualification, so we know they'll be coming to Cardiff well prepared for a tough encounter, so we should be in for a good match."

Wales:1. Caryl Thomas;  2. Carys Phillips (c);  3. Meg York;  4. Siwan Lillicrap;  5. Rebecca Rowe;  6. Alisha Butchers;  7. Sioned Harries;  8. Shona Powell-Hughes;  9. Sian Moore;  10. Elinor Snowsill;  11. Ffion Bowen;  12. Rebecca De Filippo;  13. Kerin Lake;  14. Charlie Murray;  15. Dyddgu Hywel. Replacements: 16. Morfudd Ifans;  17. Cerys Hale;  18. Amy Evans;  19. Mel Clay;  20. Sian Williams;  21. Adi Taviner;  22. Jodie Evans;  23. Keira Bevan;  24. Gemma Rowland;  25. Hannah Jones;  26. Jess Kavanagh-Williams;  27. Rosie Fletcher

Scotland Coach Shade Munro named a squad which he hopes will be a benchmark for their progress as they prepare to play Spain. As well as more game time for the squad, the Wales match will give new players valuable experience at international level. Sisters Louise and Siobhan McMillan and Murrayfield Wanderers’ Lucy Park enter the fray having been involved in Scotland Women U20 last season.

Two talented athletes Sarah Bonar and Rachel Malcolm are called up to the squad and join their Lichfield club mate Jenny Maxwell, who has eight international caps to her name.

Nine BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy players also earn selection including the experienced back-row Karen Dunbar, lock Emma Wassell and captain Lisa Martin. Lisa Thomson and Helen Nelson, also in the BT Sport Academy, retain a place in the squad after making their debuts in the 2016 Women’s Six Nations.

Murrayfield Wanderers centre Laura Steven, who has 36 Scotland Women caps, returns following a lengthy break due to injury. Bletchley Ladies centre Caroline Collie is also in the squad following caps in 2011 and 2012.

“While this is a friendly, I’m expecting it to be a hard-fought encounter as the players stake a claim for a place in the squad for our Women’s Rugby World Cup qualifiers against Spain next month” Munro said. “Wales will be our second competitive warm-up game, following our 24-5 win over Lichfield last month. It will provide a good benchmark on progress made and gives us an opportunity to look at new players and different combinations.

"I know the players are looking forward to the challenge in Cardiff and putting in a strong performance for the jersey, and each other, as we focus on securing a place at the World Cup.”

Scotland squad:Tracey Balmer (Worcester) – 35 caps; Sarah Bonar (Lichfield) - uncapped; Karen Dunbar* (RHC Cougars) – 14 caps; Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead/Jordanhill) – 15 caps; Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill) – 82 caps; Rachel Malcolm (Lichfield) - unacpped; Louise McMillan* (Hillhead/Jordanhill) - uncapped; Siobhan McMillan (Cartha Queens Park) - uncapped; Lucy Park* (Murrayfield Wanderers) - uncapped; Lana Skeldon (Hillhead/Jordanhill) – 15 caps; Fiona Sim (Aylesford Bulls) – 7 caps; Katie Dougan (Royal High Cougars) – 2 caps; Emma Wassell* (Murrayfield Wanderers) – 16 caps; Lyndsay O’Donnell (Worcester) – 10 caps; Caroline Collie (Bletchley Ladies) – 7 caps; Megan Gaffney (Edinburgh University) – 18 caps; Mairi MacDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill) - uncapped; Rhona Lloyd (Edinburgh University) – 5 caps; Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers) – 36 caps; Lisa Martin* (Murrayfield Wanderers) – 30 caps; Jenny Maxwell (Lichfield) – 8 caps; Helen Nelson* (Murrayfield Wanderers) – 2 caps; Chloe Rollie* (Murrayfield Wanderers) – 10 caps; Eilidh Sinclair* (Murrayfield Wanderers) – 11 caps; Lisa Thomson* (Edinburgh University) – 5 caps*BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy Player

With home advantage, greater experience overall and an unbeaten run of 12 games in the fixture it is hard to see beyond a Welsh win - but rather closer than in some recent meetings. Shade Munro has been in charge in Scotland now for over a year, and it can be expected that the reforms that he and Sheila Begbie had instituted should be starting to have some impact on the field. The win against Lichfield will have been invaluable in rasing the team's self-belief which the period they have had in camp should also have improved the team's fitness. They also have a lot more, in the short-term, to play for.

The match will not be televised or streamed, but supporters unable to attend can follow live updates on Twitter (@WelshRugbyUnion).

Previous games:

All matches: Played 28, Wales 15, Scotland 13 (Last Scottish win, 22-5, Murrayfield, 2005)In Wales: Played 12, Wales 7, Scotland 5 (Last Scottish win, 30-10, Cardiff, 2004)

Wales Women v Scotland WomenSaturday 29th October, KO: 12:00Gates Open: 11:00(Tickets can be purchased onlinehere.)Tickets: Adults £5 / U16s £1