Source: ©INPHO/Matteo Ciambelli

Katy Daley-Mclean leads England against Scotland

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England Women head coach Simon Middleton has named his starting 15 ahead of the Red Roses’ Six Nations Test against Scotland on Friday 23rd February (KO 07:30pm, live Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Arena via red button).

Middleton makes eight changes, three positional, to the side that defeated Wales 52 -0 in front of a record-breaking England Women Six Nations home fixture crowd of just over 4,000 at Twickenham Stoop.

Katy Daley-Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) captains the side at fly-half with Leanne Riley (Harlequins Ladies) at scrum-half.  A new centre partnership features Lagi Tuima (Bristol Ladies)  named at outside centre with Lauren Cattell (Saracens Women) playing inside.

Ellie Kildunne (Gloucester-Hartpury) returns to full back with Danielle Waterman (Wasps FC Ladies) – who is set to earn her 80th cap for England- and Charlotte Pearce (Loughborough Lightning) on the wings.

In the scrum Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Ladies) makes her first start of this season’s Six Nations at loose head, alongside Amy Cokayne (Wasps FC) and Sarah Bern (Gloucester-Hartpury). Abbie Scott (Harlequins Ladies) and Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) again make up the second row.

In the back row Rowena Burnfield (Richmond FC) and Izzy Noel-Smith(Bristol Ladies) earn their first starts of the tournament at blindside and openside flanker respectively, with Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women) -who has twice claimed player of the match in England’s opening games- named at No.8.

England’s most capped player of all time, Rochelle Clark (Wasps FC) joins Marlie Packer (Saracens Women), Justine Lucas (Wasps FC) and Amber Reed (Bristol Ladies) – who returns to the side from injury – on the bench.

Caity Mattinson (Bristol Ladies), Catherine O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning) and Kelly Smith (Gloucester-Hartpury) -who is set to earn her first international cap – are also named as finishers.

Simon Middleton said “Scotland are an extremely competitive side, they play with a lot of energy and passion and we expect a really tough contest for a full 80 minutes on Friday night at the Scotstoun.

“We are using the full breadth of the playing squad available to us for this Test, allowing us look at different combinations across the starting 15. We are really confident in the depth and quality of this side and know that new players selected to start and those coming in on the bench will take full advantage of this opportunity.”

England Captain Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning) and Rachael Burford (Harlequins Ladies) were unavailable for selection. Burford will miss the game against Scotland due to injury (knee) with captain Sarah Hunter also unavailable due to a minor injury (calf) picked up on club duty last weekend. Both players are expected to be available for selection ahead of England’s next Six Nations fixture against France.

England secured a 64-0 win over Scotland the last time they met in the 2017 Six Nations at Twickenham Stoop.

England Women match-day 23 v Scotland, Six Nations 2018
*Denotes uncapped player

15. Ellie Kildunne (Gloucester-Hartpury, 5 caps)
14. Danielle Waterman (Wasps FC Ladies, 79 caps)
13. Lagi Tuima (Bristol Ladies, 3 caps)
12. Lauren Cattell (Saracens Women, 22 caps)
11. Charlotte Pearce (Loughborough Lightning, 2 caps)
10. Katy Daley-Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 96 caps)
9. Leanne Riley (Harlequins Ladies, 18 caps)

1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Ladies, 36 caps)
2. Amy Cokayne (Wasps FC Ladies, 38 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Gloucester Hartpury, 17 caps)
4. Abbie Scott (Harlequins Ladies, 26 caps)
5. Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 113 caps)
6. Rowena Burnfield (Richmond F.C, 44 caps)
7. Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol Ladies, 40 caps)
8. Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women, 19 caps)

16. Lark Davies (Worcester Valkyries, 8 caps)
17. Rochelle Clark (Wasps FC Ladies, 134 caps)
18. Justine Lucas (Wasps FC Ladies, 30 caps)
19. Catherine O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 2 caps)
20. Marlie Packer (Saracens Women, 56 caps)
21. Caity Mattinson (Bristol Ladies, 5 caps)
22. Amber Reed (Bristol Ladies, 46 caps)
23. Kelly Smith (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)*

England Women Six Nations 2018 playing schedule and results:
Italy 7 – 42  England

Tries: Bern, Cleall, Hunter (3), Kildunne, Dow
Cons: Daley- Mclean (2)
Pens: Daley-Mclean

England 52 – 0  Wales
Tries: Cleall (2), Dow, Riley, Kildunne (2), Burford, Packer
Cons: Daley-Mclean (5)

Scotland v England
Friday 23 February, KO 19:30, Live Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Arena via red button
Scotstoun, Glasgow

France v England
Saturday 10 March, KO 20:00 GMT, Live Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Mix
Stade des Alpes, Grenoble

England v Ireland
Friday 16 March, KO 17:30, Live Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Mix
Ricoh Arena, Coventry

Report courtesy of the RFU

 

One Comments

  1. Post By Bruce Perkins

    England’s record attendance still leaves them in 5th place of the 6 Nations. Only Scotland lie below them. Perhaps the RFU needs to up its publicity – or offer alternative venues.

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