As both the Wales-Scotland and the France-Ireland fixtures have fallen foul of the virus, we can only hope against hope that England’s flight to Italy won’t be in vain.
Already the careful rescheduling of the 2020 Six Nations has come undone; only that one Round 5 contest survives.
Let’s hope the Azzurre can repeat their performance of the first quarter of their game in Dublin, when they produced some quite dazzling rugby. But they couldn’t maintain those high standards.
The Italian Department for Sport has kept the FIR right up-to-date with information about the latest adjustments to sporting protocols, in line with the government’s rulings.
Needless to say, everything is still on a metaphorical knife-edge, but there is no indication – as of 11.00 Friday 30 – of either the men’s or the women’s 6N game being called off.
Some of the savour has been lost since the Red Roses were handed the championship on a plate after France’s failure to defeat Scotland last week. But there is still the prize of a Grand Slam to encourage the team to a supreme effort.
Middleton shows his Hand
Simon Middleton has once again added new blood to his line-up: the teenage Morwenna Talling will make her debut alongside Abbie Ward in the most striking personal advance the Red Roses have shown for many a year.
Helena Rowland, one of England’s Sevens stars, will have a chance of winning a debut cap.
Sarah Beckett is once more given the opportunity to cement her place at No 8 with Poppy Cleall on the side at No 6.
It will be important for Detysha Harper to make the most of her chance to prove her worth in the crucial tight-head position. The stronger England can be up at the front, the better their chances of going the whole way at the World Cup.
Ward and Marlie Packer make welcome returns after long lay-offs.
Here’s a reminder of the 2019-20 contracted players who are missing from roll-call: Aldcroft, Botterman, Bryony Cleall, Fleetwood, Hunt, Hunter, McKenna, O’Donnell, Scott and Thompson. That’s quite a cast-list.
This is the team Middleton has put together from the tattered remains of his training squad. It is formidable line-up:
15. Ellie Kildunne (Wasps, 8 caps)
14. Jess Breach (Harlequins, 13 caps)
13. Emily Scarratt (captain, Loughborough Lightning, 89 caps)
12. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 57 caps)
11. Abby Dow (Wasps, 12 caps)
10. Katy Daley-Mclean (Sale Sharks, 114 caps)
9. Claudia MacDonald (Wasps, 9 caps)
1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 53 caps)
2. Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 25 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 35 caps)
4. Abbie Ward (Harlequins, 42 caps)
5. Morwenna Talling (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
6. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 40 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 71 caps)
8. Sarah Beckett (Harlequins, 17 caps)
Bench:
16. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 50 caps)
17. Detysha Harper (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)
18. Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins, 17 caps)
19. Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps, 55 caps)
20. Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors, 37 caps)
21. Leanne Riley (Harlequins, 37 caps)
22. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
23. Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 24 caps)
