Jo Yapp names match day 23 to face France Women U20

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England Women U20 head coach Jo Yapp has named her match day 23 for the England Women U20 team’s fixture against France Women U20 in Basingstoke RFC on 17th March, K.O. 19:30.
 
Yapp makes one change to the starting 15 that secured a historic first ever away win in France, defeating France Women U20’s 20-27 in February.

Lizzie Adam (Loughborough Lightning) –who earns her first start for England U20 – is named alongside Lilian Stoeger-Goddard (Bristol Ladies) on the wing, with Captain Emma Uren (Saracens Women) starting again at full-back.

Bristol Ladies duo Lucy Attwood and Phoebe Murray – who scored a try against France – form the centre partnership with half backs Tazmin Bricknell (Gloucester Hartpury) and Helena Rowland (Saracens Women) starting again at nine and ten.

The scrum remains unchanged with Ellena Perry (Saracens Women), Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning) – who also scored a try against France- and Ellie Mulhearn (Bristol Ladies) in the front row with Hollie Cunningham (Bristol Ladies) and Rosie Galligan (Saracens Women) in the second row.

In the back row, Sarah Beckett starts at No.8 with Charlie Wilcock (Worcester Valkyries) at open side flanker and Tabitha Copson (Gloucester – Hartpury) included at blindside flanker.

Three new additions, Cara Wardle (Saracens Women) – who has been called up from Talent Development Group to the England U20’s side – joins Amelia Harper (Loughborough Lightning) and Emma Hardy (Loughborough Lightning) on the bench.

Ellie Gilbert (Gloucester-Hartpury), Michaella Roberts (Bristol Ladies), Rianna Manson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Hannah Botterman (Saracens Women) and Ella Wyrwas (Saracens Women) are also named as finishers.

England Women U20 head coach Jo Yapp today said: “We know France are going to come back at us and we are expecting a very physical yet exciting encounter on Saturday night.

“The squad took away a lot of learnings from the game in Lille and there are areas of our game we will be looking to improve on. We have made some changes with Lizzie Adam coming in for her first start and Cara Wardle, Amelia Harper and Emma Hardy included as finishers. They have all delivered strong performances in Tyrrells Premier 15s and have fully earned this opportunity.

Yapp added: “Over the past number of weeks we have seen the players grow both on and off the pitch. We are really looking to getting back out as a squad and delivering a strong performance.”

England Women U20 match day 23 to play France Women U20

15. Emma Uren © (Saracens Women)
14. Lilian Stoeger-Goddard (Bristol Ladies)
13. Phoebe Murray (Bristol Ladies)
12. Lucy Attwood (Bristol Ladies)
11. Lizzie Adam (Loughborough Lightning)
10. Helena Rowland (Saracens Women)
9. Tazmin Bricknell (Gloucester-Hartpury Women RFC)

1. Ellena Perry (Saracens Women)
2. Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning)
3. Ellie Mulhearn (Bristol Ladies)
4. Hollie Cunningham (Bristol Ladies)
5. Rosie Galligan (Saracens Women)
6. Tabitha Copson (Gloucester- Hartpury Women)
7. Charlie Wilcock (Worcester Valkyries)
8. Sarah Beckett (Firwood Waterloo Ladies)

16. Ellie Gilbert (Gloucester-Hartpury)
17. Michaella Roberts (Bristol Ladies)
18. Hannah Botterman (Saracens Women)
19. Rianna Manson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
20. Amelia Harper (Loughborough Lightning)
21. Ella Wyrwas (Saracens Women)
22. Cara Wardle (Saracens Women)
23. Emma Hardy (Loughborough Lightning)

England Women U20 games 2017-2018

England Women U20 44 – 0 Army
Tries: Clarke (3), Murray (2), Perry, Stoeger-Goddard, Roberts
Cons: Attwood (2)

France Women U20 20– 27 England Women U20
Tries: Bartlett, Murray, Harrison
Cons: Rowland (3)
Pens: Rowland (2)

England Women U20 v France Women U20
Basingstoke RFC, 17th March 2018, KO 7:30pm
Report courtesy of the RFU