Wales Women head coach Rowland Phillips has demanded physicality from his side in their Six Nations opener against France in Montpellier on Saturday (kick-off 8pm. live on S4C).

Phillips has made two changes to his XV, and made a pair of positional alterations, from the side that pushed Canada hard in the autumn.

Scarlets duo Hannah Jones and Alisha Butchers return at centre and blindside flanker respectively, while Beth Lewis shifts to number eight in place of the injured Sioned Harries and Manon Johnes moves to openside.

After finishing bottom last year, Phillips wants a bright start against the Grand Slam winners.

"We made such huge progress during the autumn - especially against Canada in our final game - that it was important to continue to build on the momentum we created," said Phillips, whose side beat South Africa and Hong Kong

"Physicality will be key against France. That is their strength and they will come out flying. That is an area we have been working on.

"We've prepared for it and now we need to keep our focus from minutes one to 80. Not only do we need to stand up to the physical challenge France will bring but we need to impose our own tempo on the game too.

"Playing France away from home is the only place you'll experience such a cauldron in terms of the huge crowd and welcome and that's something the players must embrace and feed off.

"France are the envy of the women's rugby world at the moment and our players will certainly gain from the experience."

Wales Women: Lauren Smyth (Ospreys); Jasmine Joyce (Scarlets), Hannah Jones (Scarlets), Alicia McComish (Dragons), Lisa Neumann (RGC); Robyn Wilkins (Blues), Keira Bevan (Ospreys); Caryl Thomas (Dragons), Carys Phillips (capt, Ospreys), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets) Manon Johnes (Blues), Bethan Lewis (Dragons)

Replacements: Kelsey Jones (Ospreys), Cara Hope (Ospreys), Cerys Hale (Dragons), Natalia John (Ospreys), Alex Callender (Scarlets), Ffion Lewis (Scarlets); Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears) Jess Kavanagh (RGC).