PROP Cerys Hale has been rewarded for making a big impact off the bench with a recall to Wales' starting line-up for Friday night's Women's Six Nations clash with France (kick-off 8pm).

The front rower from Newport is one of five changes in personnel after the 58-5 defeat to powerhouses England in Gloucester.

Up front, Hale and Natalia John come back in at tighthead and lock respectively and Beth Lewis is handed her first start of the campaign on the openside, Alisha Butchers moving back to the blindside.

Keira Bevan and Elinor Snowsill return as the half-back partnership with Robyn Wilkins moving to inside centre. Niamh Terry joins the matchday 23.

Head coach Ioan Cunningham said: "In the forwards, Cerys Hale did well when she came on against England and Beth deserves a chance to start having trained very well and made an impact when she's come on.

"Natalia has been a key player all season. Alex Callender and Sioned Harries will have different roles this week and Sisilia (Tuipulotu) misses out this time but we are very much excited by her progress, including her performance against England."

Wales made a superb start to the championship by beating Ireland and Scotland with bonus points but, as feared, the English were too powerful.

"We took a lot of learnings from the England Test. We've had a good two weeks' build-up to this game and we're excited to kick on," said Cunningham.

"One of the learnings was how we dealt with the occasion at Kingsholm and we are looking forward to returning home to Cardiff Arms Park.

"A big home crowd on Friday night will give the players a real boost, hopefully we can start well and put in a good performance."

The French head to the capital on the back of three bonus-point wins and looking to set up a humdinger against England on final weekend.

"France are one of the top three teams in the world, they have powerful runners and attacking options all over the pitch that will certainly test us," said Cunningham.

"We need to be ready to take all our own attacking opportunities and our selection behind the scrum reflects that.

"We have looked at combinations that will hopefully give us some additional attacking options and help get the ball to our outside backs."

Italy entertain Scotland on Saturday night (kick-off 7.20pm) before England host Ireland in front of a bumper crowd at Welford Road on Sunday (kick-off midday).

Wales currently sit third with a five-point lead over the Irish as they hunt their best finish since finishing second in 2009.

Wales: Kayleigh Powell; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones, Robyn Wilkins, Jasmine Joyce; Elinor Snowsill, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Cerys Hale, Natalia John, Gwen Crabb, Alisha Butchers, Bethan Lewis, Siwan Lillicrap (captain).

Replacements: Kelsey Jones, Cara Hope, Donna Rose, Alex Callender, Sioned Harries, Ffion Lewis, Kerin Lake, Niamh Terry