Red Roses team to play France at Allianz Stadium

Emma Sing will earn her 3rd Red Roses start on Saturday when John Mitchell’s side host France in the final round of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations at Allianz Stadium.
 
The back-to-back Premiership Women’s Rugby top points scorer comes in at full-back for her eighth cap with Ellie Kildunne ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
 
Half-backs Natasha Hunt and Zoe Harrison link up for the third time this tournament and Tatyana Heard returns at inside centre. Wings Abby Dow and Claudia MacDonald retain their spots after scoring two tries each last time out against Scotland, and Megan Jones remains in the 13 jersey.
 
Hannah Botterman and Maud Muir start at loosehead prop and tighthead prop respectively while Maddie Feaunati switches to openside flanker to accommodate Alex Matthews at Number 8.
 
Hooker Lark Atkin-Davies, second rows Morwenna Talling and Abbie Ward continue in their respective positions, and Zoe Aldcroft captains the team from blindside flanker for the fifth match in a row.
 
Red Roses team to play France
 
15 Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 7 caps)
14 Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 51 caps) 
13 Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 24 caps) 
12 Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 28 caps)
11 Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)
10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 56 caps)
9 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 79 caps) 
1 Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 55 caps) 
2 Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 65 caps) 
3 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 39 caps) 
4 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 21 caps) 
5 Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 73 caps) 
6 Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 62 caps) - captain 
7 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 14 caps) 
8 Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 74 caps) 
 
Replacements 
 
16 Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 82 caps)
17 Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 13 caps) 
18 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 70 caps) 
19 Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 23 caps) 
20 Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 1 cap)
21 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 30 caps) 
22 Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 39 caps) 
23 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 38 caps) 
 
Background notes for editors: 
 
-              14 of the 23 featured in that Grand Slam-winning match two years ago at Allianz Stadium with Dow, Atkin-Davies, Matthews and Aldcroft all on the scoresheet
-              Aldcroft and Bern both made their debuts against France in 2016 while Matthews debut against the French came in 2011
-              Over the past two seasons, Sing has scored 288 points in the PWR for Gloucester-Hartpury
-              Sing’s previous two starts for the Red Roses came in the 2023 Six Nations away win against Wales and the first round this year against Italy 
-              After the Scotland match last weekend, Dow now has 45 tries in 51 caps
-              MacDonald reached 19 tries in 34 caps with her brace at Mattioli Woods Welford Road
-              Burton is in line for her second Red Roses cap having made a two-try scoring debut against Wales at the Principality Stadium earlier in the tournament 
-              Cokayne returns after her pectoral injury which kept her out of the match v Scotland