England Women head coach Simon Middleton has named his matchday squad for the opening game of the 2017 International Women’s Rugby Series against Australia.
Katy Mclean will lead the side for the first time since the 2015 Six Nations with regular captain Sarah Hunter on the bench.
The Red Roses take on the Wallaroos for the first time in seven years in Porirua Park, Wellington, New Zealand, on Friday 9 June, KO 12.30pm NZMT (1.30am BST). The match will be livestreamed on World Rugby’s Facebook page.
Saracens hooker Vicky Fleetwood will make her 60th international appearance, with Sarah Bern (Bristol) earning her first start having come off the bench in four of England’s five Six Nations wins earlier this season.
Abbie Scott (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) returns from injury to join the second row in her first international start since the 2016 Six Nations while Leanne Riley (Aylesford Bulls) comes in at scrum-half, for her first appearance since the 2016 Women’s Rugby Super Series in Salt Lake City.
“We have brought an exciting squad to New Zealand and cannot wait to get going,” said Middleton.
“This gives us options in terms of team selection enabling us to look at different combinations and take advantage of the depth and experience in the squad across the series.”
Emily Scott (Saracens) starts at full back, with Kay Wilson (pictured above) (Richmond) – who scored a memorable seven tries in England’s win over Scotland during the Six Nations – on the right wing. Megan Jones (Bristol), who has not played 15s since the 2016 Old Mutual Wealth Series, is named at outside centre for her third international cap with Alex Matthews (Richmond) at No.8.
Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) and Emily Braund (Lichfield) have been selected among the substitutes, with Braund returning for the first time since the 2016 Six Nations having also previously been ruled out through injury.
Three of England’s more experienced names, Rochelle Clark (Worcester Valkyries), Danielle Waterman (Bristol) and Marlie Packer (Bristol), are rested for the game while Six Nations leading points scorer Emily Scarratt (Lichfield) will be on the bench alongside Natasha Hunt (Lichfield).
Middleton added: “We want to use the full depth of the squad available over the three-Test series, covering all bases, and come out of this tour knowing exactly where we are as a squad.”
“We are excited to take on Australia, a team we have not played for seven years. To be playing them in the southern hemisphere, makes the occasion even more special. We are here to test ourselves and expect this team to play to the max both as individuals and as a squad. The squad has worked hard and now it’s about delivering on the things we have worked on and continuing to improve performance over this three-Test series.”
The Red Roses have played Australia just four times, winning all four games. The last occasion the two sides met was the semi-final of the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, with England winning 15-0.
England match- day 23 against Australia, International Women’s Rugby Series
15 Emily Scott (Saracens, 21)
14 Kay Wilson (Richmond, 42)
13 Megan Jones (Bristol, 2)
12 Rachael Burford (Aylesford Bulls, 65)
11 Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 12)
10 Katy Mclean (C) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 83)
9 Leanne Riley (Aylesford Bulls, 9)
1 Vickii Cornborough (Aylesford Bulls, 23)
2 Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens, 59)
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol, 8)
4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 103)
5 Abbie Scott (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 14)
6 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield, 43)
7 Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol, 29)
8 Alex Matthews (Richmond, 29)
16 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield, 25)
17 Justine Lucas (Lichfield, 19)
18 Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 7)
19 Emily Braund (Lichfield, 24)
20 Sarah Hunter (Bristol, 90)
21 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield, 35)
22 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield, 66)
23 Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries, 31)
England Women fixtures, International Women’s Rugby Series
Friday 9 June – Porirua Park, Wellington (KO 1.30am BST)
Australia v England Women
Tuesday 13 June – Rugby Park, Christchurch (KO 1.30am BST)
Canada v England Women
Saturday 17 June – Rotorua International Stadium (KO 5.15am BST)
New Zealand v England Women
