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Marlie Packer recovers from injury to lead England in Grand Slam decider
Marlie Packer captains the Red Roses as England name their squad to take on France in Saturday’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider at Twickenham Stadium.
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The flanker hobbled off the pitch last weekend in Cork with a suspected ankle injury but has made a full recovery to lead out the defending Six Nations champions.
Joining her in the back row is Sadia Kabeya at blind-side flanker and Alex Matthews at number eight.
Helena Rowland makes her first start of the 2023 tournament at outside centre with Holly Aitchison and Tatyana Heard the 10-12 axis.
Hannah Botterman, who was also an injury doubt for the game is named to start at loosehead with Lark Davies and Sarah Bern completing the front row.
Zoe Aldcroft and Sarah Beckett are the lock pairing.
Lucy Packer pushes out Natasha Hunt to start at scrum half with her Harlequins team mates Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow and Exeter Chiefs’ Claudia MacDonald in the back three.
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There’s a return for Saracens’ Poppy Cleall following injury, she is named among the finishers.
An RFU statement read:
Head coach Simon Middleton said: “We’re really excited and looking forward to Saturday’s match against France in what will be another landmark moment in the women’s game.
“We’ve had some entertaining and tight battles with France over a long period of time and this one will be no different. Both teams have had strong Six Nations campaigns off the back of presenting different game plans from what we have seen before.
“France will also be relishing the challenge and David Ortiz, Gaëlle Mignot and their team will have prepared their players well.
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“I think it’s only fitting at this point to also recognise and pay tribute to Jessy Trémoulière, one of the greats of the game, as she calls time on her international playing career. She will be missed, for sure.
“Notwithstanding, the players we knew at the start to be unavailable for the tournament, this is the first week in the competition we can say we have a near-full squad to select from. Credit must go to our medical and strength and conditioning teams who have worked tirelessly with our players to ensure their availability. At the same time, the return of some of our more established players means that others will inevitably miss out.
“Whilst I know they will be bitterly disappointed in missing the game, they should take immense pride in their performances throughout the Six Nations in terms of both playing and helping to prepare the side. Once again, this has been a tremendous squad effort and typifies everything good about the Red Roses.
“Playing in front of a record crowd is a huge marker of where the game is at. It’s huge testament to the hard work of many people at the RFU and it bodes extremely well building up to the 2025 World Cup.”
England team to play France
15. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 33 caps)
14. Abby Dow (Harlequins, 34 caps)
13. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 23 caps)
12. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 13 caps)
11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 27 caps)
10. Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 19 caps)
9. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 13 caps)
1. Hannah Botterman (Saracens, 36 caps)
2. Lark Davies (Bristol Bears, 48 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)
4. Zoe Aldcroft (VC; Gloucester Hartpury, 42 caps)
5. Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury, 29 caps)
6. Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 12 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (C; Saracens, 93 caps)
8. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 58 caps)
Finishers
16. Connie Powell (Gloucester-Hartpury, 8 caps)
17. Mackenzie Carson (Saracens, 4 caps)
18. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 19 caps)
19. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 64 caps)
20. Morwenna Talling (Loughborough Lightning, 6 caps)
21. Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 61 caps)
22. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 64 caps)
23. Jess Breach (Saracens, 27 caps)
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat 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
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 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
37 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.
37 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. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. 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.
37 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.
37 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.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments