England Make 13 Changes To Starting Xv To Face Samoa In Women’s Rugby World Cup

Marlie Packer will skipper nan Red Roses against Samoa connected Saturday arsenic 1 of 13 changes to England’s starting XV from their opening 69-7 triumph against nan USA astatine nan Rugby World Cup.

Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Helena Rowland, who were injured for nan first game, are some named successful nan starting squad astatine helping and fly-half, respectively. Holly Aitchison, who besides did not play against nan USA pinch a knock, is again absent from nan matchday squad.

Jess Breach retains position connected nan helping and is 1 effort distant from scoring her 50th effort for her country. Centre Megan Jones is nan different subordinate who will statement up again successful nan aforesaid jersey and she will shape a caller centre business pinch Jade Shekells, who comes successful for Tatyana Heard.

Emma Sing, who made an quality from nan chair past Friday, starts astatine full-back pinch Ellie Kildunne connected nan bench.

Packer lines up astatine openside flanker pinch Maddie Feaunati astatine No 8 and Abi Burton, who will make her World Cup debut, astatine blindside flanker. The skipper Zoe Aldcroft does not characteristic successful nan matchday 23 pinch England’s caput coach, John Mitchell, opting to rotate his squad successful nan excavation stages.

Lilli Ives Campion will besides make her tourney debut alongside Rosie Galligan successful nan 2nd statement for nan 2nd of 3 excavation games arsenic nan squad move to Northampton aft opening up their run successful Sunderland.

Mitchell said: “It has been successful our readying to springiness everyone crippled clip complete nan first 2 excavation matches and, barroom Holly, we’ve been capable to execute that pinch this selection.

“Our caller operation want to make each different proud and build connected our capacity against USA successful our opening match.

“It will beryllium a awesome ambiance for them astatine 1 of nan astir accepted rugby grounds successful nan country. They’re each excited to get retired there.”

England: Sing; Breach, Jones, Shekells, Moloney-MacDonald; Rowland, L Packer; Clifford, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Campion, Galligan, Burton, Packer, Feaunati. Replacements: Campbell, Carson, Muir, Talling, Kabeya, Hunt, Harrison, Kildunne