England Captain Aldcroft Returns To Face Scotland

England skipper Zoe Aldcroft has recovered from wounded to commencement nan Women's World Cup quarter-final against Scotland connected Sunday.

The 28-year-old, who is named astatine blind-slide flanker, has not played since nan opening crippled of nan tourney against nan United States connected 22 August because of a knee wounded sustained successful that match.

Fit-again fly-half Holly Aitchison has not yet featured astatine nan World Cup because of an ankle wounded and comes into nan starting XV successful spot of Zoe Harrison, who drops to nan bench.

World Player of nan Year Ellie Kildunne had already been ruled retired of nan quarter-final aft sustaining a caput wounded successful Saturday's triumph complete Australia.

The prima full-back is replaced by Helena Rowland, who impressed disconnected nan chair successful spot of Kildunne against nan Wallaroos.

Prop Hannah Botterman, who has been a standout performer truthful far, is not named successful nan matchday squad aft leaving nan section early against nan Wallaroos because of backmost spasms.

Kelsey Clifford, who came connected for Botterman and scored 2 second-half tries, is rewarded pinch a commencement successful nan beforehand statement alongside Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir, pinch Mackenzie Carson moving to nan bench.

Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final: England v Scotland

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England: Rowland; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Aitchison, Hunt; Clifford, Cokayne, Muir, Talling, Galligan, Aldcroft (capt), Kabeya, Matthews.

Replacements: Atkin-Davies, Carson, Bern, Ward, Feaunati, Packer, Harrison, Sing.

While Morwenna Talling performed good against Australia connected Saturday to thief seal top spot successful Pool A, erstwhile World Player of nan Year Aldcroft completes a balanced and knowledgeable first-choice backmost statement alongside Sadia Kabeya and Alex Matthews.

Talling, 22, moves backmost into nan 2nd statement to partner Rosie Galligan, pinch Abbie Ward named connected nan bench.

Mitchell's broadside person proven they tin header without Aldcroft, but getting nan Gloucester-Hartpury guardant backmost for harder tests successful nan knockout shape could beryllium vital.

England, who won this fixture 59-7 successful April, are beardown favourites to advancement to nan semi-finals, having past mislaid to Scotland successful 1999.

Scotland are playing successful their first Women's World Cup quarter-final since 2002 aft wins complete Wales and Fiji, but travel into nan crippled disconnected nan backmost of a 40-19 defeat by tourney contenders Canada.

"We are adapting good to different situations, and while we recognise Scotland person improved, we will still judge we tin build unit connected them," caput coach John Mitchell said. "This is an breathtaking situation that we're fresh for.

"We spot our girls to beryllium consistent, return ownership of their roles, clasp nan occasion, and gain nan correct to different week successful this competition.

"The enthusiasm surrounding nan tourney has been incredible, pinch support increasing crossed nan country. We cognize Bristol will beryllium nary different, and nan girls are relishing nan opportunity to emergence to nan occasion."

Victory for England will guarantee they break their ain grounds for a winning streak crossed some men's and women's world rugby national (30), which was ended by New Zealand astatine nan World Cup last successful 2022.

Covering aggregate backline positions connected nan chair has been Rowland's regular domiciled nether Mitchell.

The 25-year-old was nan Red Roses' starting full-back astatine nan World Cup successful 2022 earlier an wounded ruled her retired of nan final.

A bully tactical kicker from playing astatine fly-half, wherever she scored a grounds 27 points against Samoa, and her breathtaking moving crippled make Rowland a earthy fit.

Aitchison's return besides provides other fly-half screen down Harrison that Rowland had been covering, freeing up nan Loughborough Lightning subordinate to push for a back-three spot.

Gloucester-Hartpury full-back Emma Sing, who is named connected nan bench, filled successful for Kildunne during this year's Women's Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France, scoring doubly successful a thrilling 43-42 win.

However, Sing remains inexperienced astatine Test level pinch only 12 caps compared to Rowland's 43, arsenic Mitchell opts for proven experience.

Completing nan backmost 3 are lethal finishers Jess Breach, who is nan associated top try-scorer successful nan tournament pinch six, and Abby Dow.

Breach and centre Megan Jones are nan only England players to person started each crippled of nan World Cup.