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England name Six Nations team with 7 changes from World Cup final
Simon Middleton has named an England team to face Scotland in Saturday’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations which shows seven changes from the side that started the Rugby World Cup last November. The English lost out 31-34 to New Zealand in that thrilling final in Auckland and they are now set to open their Six Nations title defence with a much changed XV.
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Gone from the starting pack are Vickii Cornborough, Abbie Ward and Alex Matthews, the uncapped Mackenzie, Poppy Cleall and Sadia Kabeya stepping up. Behind the scrum, Zoe Harrison, Emily Scarratt, Lydia Thompson and Ellie Kildunne with Jess Breach, Lagi Tuima, Amber Reed and Claudia MacDonald.
Holly Aitchison, who started the World Cup final in midfield, will slot into the injured Harrison’s position at out-half while her England partner at centre Abby Dow switches to full-back for the Six Nations opening round game.
A statement read: “Sarah Hunter will lead her side for one final time at No8 after announcing she is to retire following the match in her hometown of Newcastle. Saracens prop Mackenzie Carson has been called up to England’s Six Nations squad after her birthright transfer to represent the Red Roses was confirmed. The 24-year-old qualifies for England through her English mother.
“Having previously earned three caps for Canada, including one against England during the autumn internationals in 2018, Carson has made herself available to play for England under World Rugby’s birthright transfer rules which allow a capped player to switch allegiance to another country they are eligible to play for following a three-year stand-down period.
“Lock Rosie Galligan will miss the tournament after sustaining a hamstring injury in training last week. Meanwhile, scrum-half Natasha Hunt is unavailable for selection for this fixture due to a calf injury.”
England boss Middleton said: “We are all really looking forward to Saturday’s Six Nations match in Newcastle. There has been a brilliant atmosphere in camp and with a mix of new and experienced players, there is a real buzz. A number of players are in line to earn their first caps, and this is an excellent and deserved opportunity.
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“This is a very new squad and they have been asked to train hard and learn fast over the last three weeks. This week we have really been able to see the cohesion starting to develop and we can’t wait for the team to get out there on Saturday. We are all absolutely gutted for Rosie Galligan, she brings so much to the squad and losing her for the tournament is a significant blow.
“Rosie is not only an outstanding player but has really stepped up in terms of leadership qualities. She brings an incredible amount of positive energy to everything she does and that has a massive positive effect on those around her. She will be missed for sure but like everything with Rosie you know she will come back stronger.
“Natasha (Mo) Hunt has also picked up a knock and is ruled out of this game. Mo has brought her club form into England and has trained really well up until this point so it’s hugely disappointing to lose her for this game. We are confident we will see her back later on in the tournament.”
England (vs Scotland, Saturday – 4:45pm)
15. Abby Dow (Harlequins, 30 caps)
14. Jess Breach (Saracens, 24 caps)
13. Lagi Tuima (Harlequins, 12 caps)
12. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)
10. Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 15 caps)
9. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 9 caps)
1. Mackenzie Carson (Saracens, uncapped)
2. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 70 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 52 caps)
4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 38 caps)
5. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 63 caps)
6. Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 8 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (CC; Saracens, 89 caps)
8. Sarah Hunter (CC; Loughborough Lightning, 140 caps)
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Replacements:
16. Lark Davies (Bristol Bears, 44 caps)
17. Liz Crake (Wasps, uncapped)
18. Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, uncapped)
19. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 24 caps)
20. Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury, 25 caps)
21. Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, uncapped)
22. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 9 caps)
23. Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 2 caps)
Comments on RugbyPass
Sometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to comments