Simon Middleton has announced his squad for the England v Scotland game on Saturday
The England 23:
15. Abby Dow (Harlequins, 30 caps)
14. Jess Breach (Saracens, 24 caps)
13. Lagi Tuima (Harlequins, 12 caps)
12. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)
10. Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 15 caps)
9. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 9 caps)
1. Mackenzie Carson (Saracens, uncapped)
2. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 70 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 52 caps)
4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 38 caps)
5. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 63 caps)
6. Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 8 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (co-captain, Saracens, 89 caps)
8. Sarah Hunter (co-captain, Loughborough Lightning, 140 caps)
Bench:
16. Lark Davies (Bristol Bears, 44 caps)
17. Liz Crake (Wasps, uncapped)
18. Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, uncapped)
19. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 24 caps)
20. Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury, 25 caps)
21. Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, uncapped)
22. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 9 caps)
23. Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 2 caps)
This was surely one of the most unpredictable England selections Middleton has made for a long while; so many familiar faces missing.
Heading the cast of surprise packages is Mackenzie Carson. She becomes the first overseas player to switch allegiance to England. Her mother is English. She last played for Canada over three years ago, so is eligible under the new regulations.
But her choice reflects the critical shortage of loose-heads the squad is suffering at the moment. It’s a concern that no English alternative was thought good enough to step in.
Two missing figures through injury are Rosie Galligan, who sadly misses the entire tournament just when Abbie Ward’s absence seemed to guarantee her more caps (hamstring), and Mo Hunt, who has a calf injury. There is no sign of Leanne Infante or Ellie Kildunne either.
Amber Reed gets the nod over Tatyana Heard at No 12, which is a tribute to her persistence.
Among the starting XV only Carson is uncapped, but on the bench there are three hopefuls. We wish them all the best.
The make-up of that XV reflects the way the international scene trending: all but two (Hunter and Kabeya) represent the leading clubs in the league. We can expect other nations to display the same features.
Middleton has had to keep his eyes on different targets, a successful outcome to this match; a strategy for the rest of the tournament and the 2025 World Cup.
He has the self-imposed task of checking over the vast number of 42 players. It leaves little time for the newer figures to make their mark before the RWC, should a future Head Coach wish to promote them.
Match Details:
Saturday: 25 March
Kick-off: 16.45 GMT
Venue: Kingston Park, Newcastle Coverage: BBC2 and iPlayer; also 5 Live
Memo: ground sold out!
