Wales face arguably biggest task in sport - stopping England

The 28-year-old flanker has only had half an hour of rugby in the Celtic Challenge this season, but has impressed in training.

The experience of Keira Bevan is preferred to Seren Lockwood at scrum-half.

Bevan and Joyce's Bristol Bears team mate Millie David will make her England debut on the wing as John Mitchell once again shakes up his selection.

Claudia Moloney-MacDonald starts on the other wing, with Ellie Kildunne, who scored a hat-trick against Wales last year, returning to full-back.

Abi Burton and Delaney Burns make up a fourth-choice second row combination, while props MacKenzie Carson and Sarah Bern are promoted off the bench along with flanker Marlie Packer. Holly Aitchison returns at fly-half.

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View from the camps

"England are the trailblazers in the women's game and have stolen a march on all of us in the Six Nations," said Wales head coach Sean Lynn.

"These are the games you want to play and get excited about and we will know where we stand after what we know will be a huge Test match.

"But this is all about us building our performances and style of play and developing our identity as a team.

"We need to show the same intensity and resilience that we have shown in the opening two games against Scotland and France and do it for longer."

England head coach John Mitchell said: "This week is about being clear on where our game is strong and where we need to improve. Wales are a side that over-commit at the contest, which will challenge us in a different way.

"Under Sean Lynn Wales are improving, playing with greater clarity and enthusiasm and we know we'll have to earn that right again.

"For us it's about elevating our game. That means being courageous in our skillsets, building better connections and owning our decisions. I love this side when it embraces those challenges, especially in front of a sold-out Ashton Gate."

Commentator’s note

BBC Radio Wales commentator Gareth Rhys Owen: "Damage limitation, foregone conclusion, against all the odds — take your pick. That's the backdrop for Wales against England.

"If Wales win this, it goes down as one of the biggest shocks the game has seen. But everything points the other way. England smashed Scotland despite an 'injury crisis', and now make seven changes from that game. That tells you everything about their depth.

"Wales are still searching for something to cling to. There's effort, there's intent, but against a side like this, that only takes you so far.

"A nice quirk — England have two Welsh speakers in Lucy Packer and captain Meg Jones — but there'll be no sentiment out there.

"Expect no sympathy. Expect England to be comfortable."

Match stats

• England have won 22 out of 24 meetings against Wales, their only defeats coming in 2015 and 2009

• England have won each of their last 50 international matches on home soil, their last defeat in England coming in November 2016. They have never lost at home to Wales in Test rugby, winning all 20 meetings

• Wales' Bethan Lewis has made the most tackles of any player in the Women's Six Nations this year (37) with team-mate Kate Williams making the most dominant tackles (4), while Gwen Crabb has won the most breakdown turnovers

• England's Sarah Bern is the top try scorer (4), crossing twice in each of the opening two rounds, while team-mate Zoe Harrison has scored the most points (24), not missing a single one of her 12 conversion attempts against Scotland

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Line-ups

England: Kildunne; David, Jones (capt), Rowland, Moloney-MacDonald; Aitchison, L Packer; Carson, Cokayne, Bern, Burton, Burns, Kabeya, M Packer, Feaunati.

Replacements: Powell, Clifford, Muir, Lutui, Short, Robinson, Harrison, Breach

Wales: Powell; Singleton, Keight, De Vera, J Joyce; George, Bevan; Pyrs, Jones, Tuipulotu, Aiono, Crabb, Metcalfe, Lewis (capt), King.

Replacements**:** Reardon, Davies, Rose, Evans, A Joyce, Lockwood, Bell, Richards.

Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)

Assistants: Jess Ling (RA), Beatrice Smussi (FIR)

TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

FPRO: Paul Haycock (IRFU)