Wales out to prove they are no one-hit wonder

Resurgent, inspired, unrecognisable, brave - pick one. Each describes Wales' performance against South Africa in their WXV opener.

Sean Lynn's side scored eight tries against one of the rising forces in women's rugby in one of the best displays of their professional era.

But they know they cannot afford to bask in glory. Wales must now prove they are more than a one-hit wonder when they return to Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday.

The next - and even bigger - challenge is USA, who, like the Springboks, have rocketed up the world rankings and are now a top six team.

The Eagles looked down and out in Dublin, but scored 28 unanswered points to secure a remarkable comeback victory over Ireland.

So we have two teams with confidence and momentum and two teams who are backing themselves to back it up. It should make for an interesting contest.

One of the few disappointments against South Africa is that Wales did not see more of the promising Keira Bevan and Seren Lockwood half-back partnership.

Lockwood failed a first-half head injury assessment which paved the way for Lleucu George to reclaim the 10 shirt, with Bevan moving back to scrum-half.

And that is what Lynn has gone with this week.

He has also recalled Carys Cox, who replaces Seren Singleton on the wing after the former's recovery from knee surgery in the summer.

Georgia Evans will win her 50th cap, while there are three new faces on the bench in Molly Reardon, Sian Jones and Nikita Prothero.

USA have also had a bit of a reshuffle after their triumph in Dublin, with theirs being a six-day turnaround compared to Wales' eight.

Head coach Jack Hanratty has given Nina Mason a start at fly-half after impressing on her debut.

Mason's Life University team-mate Bella Vogel shifts to inside centre to accommodate Emily Henrich at 13, while Katana Howard joins the replacements.

Wales ended a run of nine consecutive Test defeats against South Africa and will be looking to make it back-to-back Test wins for the first time in the Sean Lynn era.

USA are on a decent run, having beaten Ireland and South Africa in their last two outings. They also enjoyed a convincing victory over Australia in the Pacific Four Series earlier this year.

Wales head coach Sean Lynn said: "We produced a performance against South Africa that demonstrated that we have moved the dial and all the hard work we put in during pre-season was there for all to see.

"We know we have to back that performance up against a fit, fast and athletic USA side which will turn up full of confidence after their win against Ireland.

"The Welsh public saw the style of play we are committed to building, and we play for them and want to make them proud.

"To have their noisy support and backing at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday can only inspire this Wales squad."

USA head coach Jack Hanratty said: "A win can be massive for the group and although we were in a battle, the energy since (last week) has been vibrant. Not just because of the win, but because of the potential.

"We have the opportunity to go three international wins in a row, which is no easy feat but this is a real challenge.

"Wales showed massive dominance and look like they have a new DNA when they played South Africa last weekend - which are a team that we had a real arm wrestle with this past summer.

"The quick six-day turnaround for us, versus an eight-day for Wales, is big in preparation, so this week we have to get right."

BBC One Wales commentator Gareth Rhys Owen said: "Wales produced their best performance in a long time against South Africa, and the result was arguably even more significant than it might have appeared.

"Much of our commentary focused on explaining the level of the opposition. South Africa's women are not the equivalent of their all-conquering men, but they are a rapidly developing side who arguably went into the match as favourites. The manner of Wales' victory, therefore, was hugely encouraging.

"The same context is important ahead of the USA game. The Americans are a very good side, as they demonstrated by roaring back against Ireland, and will provide another significant test of Wales' progress.

"The question for Wales is a simple one: was South Africa a one-off, a rare bright light in a difficult period, or a genuine sign of things to come?"

Wales: Neumann; Cox, Keight, Bell, A Williams; George, Bevan; Davies, K Jones, Tuipulotu, B Metcalfe, Evans, K Williams (co-capt), Callender (co-capt), King.

Replacements: Reardon, Pyrs, E Jones, Crabb, Aiono, S Jones, De Vera, Prothero.

USA: Canett; Uhatafe, Henrich, Vogel, Coulibaly; Mason, Paton; Rogers, Treder, Sagapolu-Senele, Taufoou, Ehrecke, Humphreys, Perris-Redding (co-capt), Tafuna.

Replacements: Hill-Huse, Leatherman, Woods, Jarrell-Searcy (co-capt), Bailey, Bargell, Howard, Hann.

Referee: Amber McLachlan

Assistants: Jess Ling, Mariam Goguadze

TMO: Finlay Brown

FPRO: Mike Adamson