Red Roses name matchday squad to play France in Pool C Rugby World Cup match

Head coach Simon Middleton has named his England Women matchday squad to play France in Saturday’s (15 October) Pool C Rugby World Cup match at Northland Events Centre, Whangarei  – kick-off 8pm local time/8am UK time and live on ITV.

Sarah Hunter captains the side at number 8 and is set to earn her 137th cap and become the joint most-capped England international drawing level with Red Roses prop Rocky Clark.

Flanker Marlie Packer returns to the squad at openside flanker in the only change to the matchday 23 who secured an 84-19 victory over Fiji in their tournament opener at Eden Park last weekend.

Gloucester-Hartpury’s Alex Matthews is blindside flanker, vice-captain Emily Scarratt is at outside centre while Leanne Infante continues at scrum half.

Abbie Ward and Zoe Aldcroft are the lock pairing.

Fresh from her four-try display against Fiji, Claudia MacDonald continues on the left wing, with Lydia Thompson and Ellie Kildunne making up the back three at right wing and full back respectively.

Vickii Cornborough (loose-head prop), Amy Cokayne (hooker) and Sarah Bern (tight-head prop) are an unchanged front row.

Zoe Harrison and Helena Rowland form the 10-12 axis.

Gloucester-Hartpury duo Connie Powell and Maud Muir are finishers alongside Hannah Botterman, Cath O’Donnell, Poppy Cleall, Lucy Packer, Holly Aitchison and Abby Dow. 

Middleton said: “The opening weekend at Eden Park was a special event to be a part of. World Cups are huge occasions and it doesn’t matter how many caps you have or how many games you’ve played nerves can come into play and we saw that a little bit with us last week. I was delighted with the way the team problem-solved and performed after half-time. It showed great character.

“Our aim was always to field a consistent side for our opening two matches. The wider squad are all aware of the situation and what they need to do to earn their place. As a coaching group, we know it’s far easier to play than not play in competitions but that doesn’t diminish anyone’s role, the part they play or the responsibility they hold. Whatever we achieve will be down to the squad not the team. We arrived as a 32 and we stand or fall as a 32.

“France always present a huge challenge and this time it will be no different. They have a new-look coaching set-up since we last played and we look forward to another big test and what I expect to be a close contest.”

England matchday squad to play France
15. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 26 caps)
14. Lydia Thompson (University of Worcester Warriors, 55 caps)
13. Emily Scarratt (VC; Loughborough Lightning, 104 caps)
12. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 18 caps)
11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 21 caps)
10. Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 41 caps)
9. Leanne Infante (Saracens, 53 caps)
 
1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 71 caps)
2. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 65 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 33 caps)
5. Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 57 caps)
6. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 52 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 84 caps)
8. Sarah Hunter (C; Loughborough Lightning, 136 caps)
 
Finishers
16. Connie Powell (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)
17. Hannah Botterman (Saracens, 31 caps)
18. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 12 caps)
19. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 21 caps)
20. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 58 caps)
21. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 6 caps)
22. Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 11 caps)
23. Abby Dow (Wasps, 25 caps)