England Squad v Wales, 14 September
Simon Middleton has published his squad to face Wales in the last Red Roses warm-up test before they depart for New Zealand.
There are very few surprises, but one or two talking-points.
He will know why he has selected Lucy Packer (pictured) to start versus the nation of her birth. She becomes the only starter to register single figures in caps. With Claudia Macdonald offered the No 21 shirt, it means that both Leanne Infante and Mo Hunt take a watching brief. They would be many people’s first and second choices for that vital position.
Amber Reed makes a welcome return to arms in her native city. Who can tell how events might have unfolded if she hadn’t had to cry off at the eleventh hour before the Black Ferns match at Exeter?
As it is, Helena Rowland gets the nod over her and Holly Aitchison to partner Emily Scarratt in the centre, and that is totally justified.
While we continue waiting for Abby Dow to be declared fully fit, the ever reliable Sarah McKenna resumes her place on the left-wing where she has produced the goods many times before.
Once again we have to accept the ridiculous pattern of Poppy Cleall waiting on the bench, so little space is there in a formidable pack. I still assert that, should England make it to the RWC final, she will be reinstalled between Matthews and Packer in an iron-strong back-row.
To qualify to play in this pack, it looks as though you have to have a minimum of forty caps in your clothes cupboard. We are allowed one exception, Zoe Aldcroft; the current World Player of the Year can muster ‘only’ 31!
All we must hope for is a form of total rugby. It was glaringly missing in Bayonne, where the backs were unable to throw off the shackles of an uncompromising French defence.
The 23:
15. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 24 caps)
14. Lydia Thompson (University of Worcester Warriors, 53 caps)
13. Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 102 caps)
12. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 15 caps)
11. Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 41 caps)
10. Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 39 caps)
9. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 4 caps)
1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 69 caps)
2. Lark Davies (Bristol Bears, 40 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 45 caps)
4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 31 caps)
5. Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 55 caps)
6. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 50 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 83 caps)
8. Sarah Hunter (captain, Loughborough Lightning, 134 caps)
Bench:
16. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 63 caps)
17. Hannah Botterman (Saracens, 29 caps)
18. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 10 caps)
19. Morwenna Talling (Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps)
20. Poppy Cleall (Sarcens, 56 caps)
21. Claudia Macdonald (Exeter Chiefs, 19 caps)
22. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
23. Holly Aitchison, Saracens 9 caps)
Fixture Details:
14 September
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Kick-off 19.30
Coverage on ITV4 and ITV Hub
