Here are the 30 players to represent England in the inaugural WXV:
Forwards: Zoe Aldcroft (co-vice-captain, Gloucester-Hartpury), Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears), Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury), Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears), Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers), Rosie Galligan (Saracens), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), Maud Muir (Gloucester- Hartpury), Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning), Marlie Packer (captain, Saracens), Connie Powell (Harlequins), Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks)
Backs: Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears), Sophie Bridger (Saracens), Jess Breach (Saracens), Abby Dow (Trailfinders), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers), Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 36 caps), Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Lucy Packer (Harlequins), Amber Reed (Bristol Bears), Helena Rowland (co-vice-captain, Loughborough Lightning), Ella Wyrwas (Saracens)
There are very few surprises here. Maisy Allen and Sophie Bridger have done well to convince the selection committee of their value, after receiving their first caps in the recent games against Canada.
There are sad absences through injury, Emily Scarratt, Poppy Cleall and Zoe Harrison; but they have been known about for quite a while, and talented replacements have not been hard to find. Two other familiar faces, Abbie Ward and Vickii Cornborough, have other duties that take precedence. So possibly those night-time kick-offs won’t prove such a hardship for them.
One or two players included have had injury worries. It’s good to see the names of Sadia Kabeya and Alex Matthews restored to the strength. Another concern is Lucy Packer, who limped off at the StoneX on Saturday.
Louis Deacon has split his forces 17-13 in favour of the forwards. That is a sensible balance, given the need for front-rowers to be constantly available. But it means that he doesn’t have two alternatives for every position in the backs. It’s the same for every nation, so we don’t need to worry our heads about the matter. Quite apart from the degree of skill available out behind, there is great versatility too; players are able to switch positions with a minimum of fuss.
One novelty is the pattern of captaincy. Moving away from the trend for co-captains, the management stick with Marlie Packer as the overall boss, but with co-vice-captains. Helena Rowland is raised to the nobility for the first time; Zoe Aldcroft has captained the side before, and taken over when the skipper has been substituted.
The Outlook
‘There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip’.
It’s doubtful any member of the management will mention those words to the squad, but some mad optimists may need reminding.
The selectors’ dilemmas lie in deciding how to apportion the troops to the three games, all of which matter intensely. It’s perfectly possible that some squad members won’t see much action. The obvious game for risk-taking is the first one, but it is also the chance for a first-choice squad to find their feet. After all, there is a week for recovery between games, and all the squad are used to the weekly grind of league matches, and most of them to the slightly different demands of a six-week sequence of 6 Nations matches.
The Wallaroos should be there for the taking, but the Maple Leafs keep coming so close to thwarting English hopes. As for the Black Ferns, they have the weight of history on their shoulders. That history tells us they always beat the English when it really counts, that is, in a World Cup. But the WXV is a different beast, and the game won’t take place at Eden Park where Kiwis never lose. The one thing we can all hope for is that the game won’t be marred by a brandishing of cards. If that wish comes true, it will stand out by its rarity.
The schedule has been carefully organised to build to the clash of the titans. On the last day teams ranked 5 and 6 meet first, then 3 and 4, leaving the two old foes to slug it out in the early evening (19.00 local time, 06.00 GMT)
You could idle away the days between now and 20 October by jotting down your version of the best England team. Then you’ll realise the horrible burden the management has to bear.
Fixtures:
20 October v Australia, Sky Stadium, Wellington
27 October v Canada, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
4 November v New Zealand, Go Media Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland