Head coach Simon Middleton has named his England Women’s team to play New Zealand in their opening autumn international on Sunday (31 October, KO 2.30pm and live on BBC Two).
Sarah Hunter captains the Red Roses at No.8 with Holly Aitchison set to make her senior XVs debut at outside centre.
Amber Reed has been named vice-captain for the autumn period and she starts at inside centre.
Zoe Harrison is at fly half and Claudia MacDonald at scrum half.
Saracens’ Hannah Botterman starts at loosehead prop with Lark Davies and Sarah Bern making up the front row.
Lydia Thompson, who scored a dramatic last-gasp winning try against France on England’s last visit to Sandy Park in November 2019 is at right wing while Abby Dow is on the left wing. Harlequins’ Ellie Kildunne features at full-back.
Fresh from Bristol Bears’ impressive start to the Allianz Premier 15s season, lock Abbie Ward is in the second row and Poppy Cleall plays at lock, a position she occupied for the majority of the Grand Slam-winning 2020 Six Nations campaign.
Gloucester-Hartpury’s Zoe Aldcroft is at blindside flanker while West Country-born Marlie Packer is at openside on her return to her home region.
Maud Muir could earn her first England cap after impressing during camps over the last year and domestically for Wasps as she is named among the finishers.
Head coach Middleton said: “We’re really looking forward to the autumn internationals and opening against New Zealand at Sandy Park.
“The number one ranked side in the world coming up against the reigning champions is an exciting prospect.
“We’re really starting to see some of our youngsters mature into fine players and this autumn series is a great opportunity for them to stake a claim for the World Cup.
“Holly Aitchison is one such player. She has been playing extremely well at Saracens and has trained outstandingly since coming into the programme. Similarly it’s great to see the quality we have developing in key positions like the half backs. We have a raft of young scrum halves starting to surface and they will unquestionably challenge our current crop. It’s not only great but essential to see the quality we have surfacing at fly half with Zoe Harrison and Helena Rowland continuing to develop as fine players, decision makers and tactical leaders of the team.
“It’s great to see the likes of Alex Matthews back with us. Alex is a naturally gifted player and a huge asset to the group, she makes the game look very easy, which it most certainly is not!
“We’re also really pleased to have Leanne Infante (nee Riley) back among the finishers which is testament to Leanne and our medical team for their collective hard work.
“Maud Muir is another youngster who has deservedly been named among the finishers. She’s trained really well with us for the last year, has been non-playing reserve and has very much earned her chance.
“New Zealand haven’t played a lot of international rugby over the last couple of years and it’s great to have the world champions back on the international stage and especially great for us to be first up for their return.
“Matches at Sandy Park are always memorable occasions with the support of the local Devon public invaluable and this one will be no different.”
England Women team to play New Zealand
15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 15 caps)
14 Lydia Thompson (Worcester Warriors, 47 caps)
13 Holly Aitchison (Saracens, uncapped)
12 Amber Reed (VC; Bristol Bears Women, 58 caps)
11 Abby Dow (Wasps, 18 caps)
10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 30 caps)
9 Claudia MacDonald (Wasps, 15 caps)
1 Hannah Botterman (Saracens, 22 caps)
2 Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 31 caps)
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 36 caps)
4 Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 47 caps)
5 Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
6 Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 24 caps)
7 Marlie Packer (Saracens, 76 caps)
8 Sarah Hunter (C; Loughborough Lightning, 126 caps)
Finishers
16 Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 57 caps)
17 Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 60 caps)
18 Maud Muir (Wasps, uncapped)
19 Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps, 62 caps)
20 Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors, 41 caps)
21 Leanne Infante (Bristol Bears, 44 caps)
22 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 6 caps)
23 Lagi Tuima (Harlequins, 8 caps)
NPR: Florence Long (Worcester Warriors, uncapped)
With thanks to England Rugby
