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England make three changes, including a debut for Delaney Burns
England have named a team to face Italy this Sunday in the TikTok women’s Six Nations which shows three changes from last weekend’s round one win over Scotland. The beaten Rugby World Cup finalists were 58-7 winners in that opener in Newcastle, but their rejigged side now includes a debut for Delaney Burns.
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Tatyana Heard for the injured Amber Reed is the sole change in the backs and in the forwards, Burns is set to earn her first cap at lock with Cath O’Donnell lining up alongside her.
The retirement of the legendary Sarah Hunter resulted in Zoe Aldcroft, who started at lock last weekend, switching to No8 to allow for the inclusion of O’Donnell at No4 while Burns has made the cut at No5 following the injury sustained by Poppy Cleall.
Another uncapped player, Emily Robinson, has made the England bench on this occasion but Detysha Harper sustained an achilles tendon injury in training on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the tournament. Simi Pam has joined the squad and will travel to Northampton as a non-playing reserve for a match that has 12,000 tickets already sold.
England head coach Simon Middleton said: “We are really looking forward to Sunday’s game against Italy in Northampton. We were pleased to get our campaign up and running with a good win against Scotland last weekend which was a fitting send-off for long-time captain Sarah Hunter.
“Marlie Packer will now take over the role for the rest of the tournament and will want to stamp her own brand of leadership on the team starting against Italy. Delaney Burns has impressed us immensely. Her lineout and set-piece understanding is strong and she deserves her start.
“Emily Robinson has been a prominent part of our programme for a good period. Injury meant she has had to bide her time, but she has been excellent since she has come in during the Six Nations and we look forward to seeing how she fares.
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“We are naturally gutted to lose Poppy Cleall and Amber Reed to injury but are confident they will return before the end of this tournament. Everyone is devastated for Detysha Harper following her injury. She is a top player, has an infectious personality and is a big loss for us. We all wish her a speedy recovery.”
England (vs Italy, Sunday – 3.0pm)
15. Abby Dow (Harlequins, 31 caps)
14. Jess Breach (Saracens, 25 caps)
13. Lagi Tuima (Harlequins, 13 caps)
12. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 10 caps)
11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 25 caps)
10. Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 16 caps)
9. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 10 caps)
1. Mackenzie Carson (Saracens, 1 cap)
2. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 71 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 53 caps)
4. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 25 caps)
5. Delaney Burns (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
6. Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 9 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (C; Saracens, 90 caps)
8. Zoe Aldcroft (VC; Gloucester-Hartpury, 39 caps)
Replacements:
16. Lark Davies (Bristol Bears, 45 caps)
17. Liz Crake (Wasps, 1 cap)
18. Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 1 cap)
19. Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury, 26 caps)
20. Emily Robinson (Harlequins, uncapped)
21. Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 1 cap)
22. Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 43 caps)
23. Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 3 caps)
Comments on RugbyPass
that backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
24 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
24 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
24 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
24 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
24 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
24 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
17 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
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