In-form George aims to spark Wales attack

ByCeri Coleman-Phillips

BBC Sport Wales

Fly-half Lleucu George is looking to add some much-needed spark into Wales' attack in this year's Women's Six Nations.

The 26-year-old playmaker has been in fine form for unbeaten reigning Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) champions Gloucester-Hartpury.

While plenty of the Wales squad have struggled for minutes or plied their trade in the Celtic Challenge, George has profited from regular game time.

"I'm lucky enough that the coaches at Gloucester have backed me to play the majority of the games," she said.

"It always helps getting put in different scenarios, having different pictures in front of you every weekend before coming into [Wales] camp."

Sean Lynn's side open their campaign against Scotland at Principality Stadium on Saturday (16:40 BST) as they attempt to avoid a third consecutive wooden spoon.

George has been working closely with Ashley Beck in the build-up, with the former Ospreys centre brought in as Wales' interim attack coach.

Beck, who led Brython Thunder to last month's Celtic Challenge play-offs, is one of a number of new faces in the coaching and playing group.

"Coming into camp is completely fresh, it's almost stripping it back and starting from the beginning," said George.

"Hopefully we can get more hands on ball because in the last few campaigns we've struggled to have that go forward and express ourselves as a backline.

"We've got powerful, pacey players that we can move the ball to and, with the shape we're going in with, that's the aim."

Wales open their campaign against Scotland, who crushed their World Cup hopes last summer in a sobering opening match.

In fact, Wales have not tasted victory over their Celtic rivals in more than three years, but George says Saturday will be far from a grudge match.

"It doesn't matter who we're coming up against in the first week, it's the first game, so we really want to try and put a stamp down," she said.

"It's a fresh start, we've got new coaches coming in and a different style of playing.

"It's the same for them, they've got new coaches. We don't really know what they're going to bring, but we're concentrating on ourselves as much as we can. Obviously we'll look a little bit at them, but the onus is on us."

Lynn has been been in charge of Wales for 12 months after being catapulted into the job just a week ahead of last year's Six Nations.

He has led Wales to just one win in 10 Test matches - in Australia last summer - but George is confident they will make improvements.

"Obviously you want to win every game but if we put the performance down then we put ourselves in with a shot with winning," she said.

Asked where Wales need to improve, George added: "Playing in the right areas. We create opportunities but probably just need to stay switched on in every little moment so we can take them.

"We've got a strong pack and exciting players in the back line. The biggest thing is to work hard for each other and opportunities will arise off the back of that.

"Always play with like smiles on faces, Sean has always been big on that."