1
Recall for skipper Marlie Packer as England change two for Ireland
England boss John Mitchell has confirmed two changes to his team for this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations round four clash with Ireland at Twickenham, including the restoration of Marlie Packer as a back row starter.
ADVERTISEMENT
Looking to win their sixth successive championship title, the English came away from Edinburgh last weekend with a 46-0 round three victory over Scotland.
Mitchell lost hooker Amy Cokayne to a red card (two yellows) during that eight-try success and her one-match suspension has resulted in Lark Atkin-Davies retaking the starting spot she had for the round two win over Wales on March 30.
The hooker, who was a first-half try-scorer in that 46-10 Ashton Gate triumph, needed a half-time HIA and didn’t return to play in the second half, a development that led to Mitchell recalling Cokayne last weekend for her first Test in 12 months.
England’s other change in personnel versus the Irish sees the recall of skipper Packer at openside after she was only chosen as a replacement last weekend in Scotland.
Packer came off the bench to score the last of her team’s tries, and her inclusion this weekend to start at the expense of excluded second row Abbie Ward has caused two positional switches.
Sadia Kabeya, who was at No7 at the Hive, swaps to blindside and Zoe Aldcroft, who skippered the team from back row, reverts to the second row to take the spot filled by Ward.
ADVERTISEMENT
Seventeen of the selected 23 were involved in last year’s Grand Slam-deciding Twickenham clash with France and with over 46,500 supporters expected to be in attendance for this weekend’s clash with the Irish, Mitchell can’t wait to see his team play.
“We are excited for the opportunity of another crack at Twickenham in front of our awesome fans,” he enthused. “We want to continue to get better in our game and make the most of the experience to benefit us in the future.”
England (vs Ireland, Saturday)
15. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 41 caps)
14. Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 43 caps)
13. Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
12. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 20 caps)
11. Jess Breach (Saracens, 36 caps)
10. Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 28 caps)
9. Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 70 caps)
1. Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 45 caps)
2. Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)
3. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 28 caps)
4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 51 caps)
5. Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 16 caps)
6. Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 16 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 102 caps) – captain
8. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 65 caps)
Replacements:
16. Connie Powell (Harlequins, 17 caps)
17. Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 13 caps)
18. Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 6 caps)
19. Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 11 caps)
20. Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 3 caps)
21. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 19 caps)
22. Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 109 caps)
23. Sydney Gregson (Saracens, 5 caps)
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments on RugbyPass
Dan has always been as controversial as tea with milk so we were never going to get any definitive answer. So DMac for the win.
8 Go to commentsGoodness. When are the All Blacks and New Zealand commentators going to stop complaining about how they could have won and just try to win next time 😂. In South Africa if you lose you get up and try again. Get over it.
76 Go to commentsHonestly, it doesn’t matter a whole lot. RSA has a ton of experienced talent in its leadership group. I am more interested in who is the new 8 man/8 men and the younger props. The captain may change but the system does not
1 Go to comments“See you in the final” can mean whatever you want it to mean. To me it means that 12 Irish rugby players are a bunch of poeses. See y’all in Pretoria.
126 Go to commentsBen, you are one of the most arrogant and self opionated rugby critics I have ever come across (next to Keohane). I hoped that after SA beating the best ranked teams in the world on their way to the WC (something not done before) that you might have the grace to admit that this is a special team that deserved the accolades coming their way. You have no humility and as has been been already pointed out, merely a troll to attract audience numbers. Count me out in the future.
76 Go to comments‘War of independence’. Such a grand name for a few skirmishes. Where were all the great battles of this ‘war’ ? Smith got goosebumps as he was being emotionally manipulated, another mushroom.
1 Go to commentsFor all those disputing the veracity of Etzebeth’s very public recollections of the Irish players’ comments, I have one question: should we be holding our collective breath in anticipation of a barrage of strenuous denials from the Irish squad? Then again, perhaps not…
126 Go to comments> If the game of rugby is to grow globally, then the rugby Sth Africa play needs to be exterminated. Their performances at World Cup ‘19 & ‘23 were the antithesis to what the game should be. If the World Cup final is the grand spectacle of the game, please no more having to endure the drudgery and insipid ‘style ‘ of play harking back to pre WWII days, where the soulless rugby of the Bok reflected the mindset of a nation. > Gotta agree with Ben Smith, “ the Springboks took the trophy by default, with what might be the most unimpressive escape of all time “.
76 Go to commentsI think Rassie should bring in some new guys and give them a go in these irrelevant games. It’s a chance to blood some guys that might otherwise not get a chance and see if they’re up to it. As for the who’s number 1 dispute? Don’t care. As long as the trophies are brought home, that argument isn’t important. Champions don’t fuss about the could’ve, would’ve, should’ve. They just do, and that for me makes SA and NZ the top dogs. Followed by Ireland and occasionally England.
225 Go to commentsThis is like the “catches win matches" saying in cricket. If ABs were pragmatic and kicked for goal instead of hunting tries, I reckon they win that game with ease. Instead, nearly 6 months later; we have World Rugby's official mouthpiece celebrating their Almost Won the Rugby World Cup trophy. Fine Victory Gentleman! Well-earned!!
76 Go to comments“…the All Blacks nearly won…” is the only phrase you need to concern yourself with relative to this “journalistic” piece. Enjoy your Almost Won the World Cup victory…
76 Go to commentsAw common. Stop winging. There were no errors by officials. It is all recorded. Whose fault was the Cane red card? Or the Savea knock? Maybe the selectors who insisted on making a very average player their captain should be blamed. Something had to give way.
76 Go to commentsThe latest ‘Ireland are arrogant’ attack from one of the two most arrogant rugby nations on earth.
126 Go to commentsWaawaawaaaaaaaa
24 Go to commentsHow does this guy still have a job?
76 Go to commentsSorry bok you can't beat facts, we heard you all crowing how great you thought you were..lol ! We all watched the game, cheatsabeth cheating cost abs a try, only a penalty considering it was cynical and a professional foul, doesn't matter who wrote this because thats how it happened, but you go enjoy your gifting of the cup,
76 Go to commentsCan we talk about the context of how this particular journalist continues to make a living and gets published? Controversy for clicks. Shame on all of us for engaging with these irrelevant opinions.
76 Go to commentsAn astounding article !
76 Go to commentsFrance didn’t lose against New Zeland in 2011, but against Joubert…
76 Go to commentsHahahaha knew the “journalist” just by seeing the headline. Not wasting my time reading it as I know it's just another toxic manifestation of the boks living rent free in this babies head.
76 Go to comments