Sensible choices made
I’m absolutely delighted to see who John Mitchell has chosen to face USA in the first match of the campaign in Vancouver.
The squad:
15 Ellie Kildunne 14 Bo Westcombe-Evans, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Phoebe Murray, 11 Jess Breach; 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Lucy Packer, 1 Mackenzie Carson, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 3 Sarah Bern, 4 Rosie Galligan, 5 Abbie Ward, 6 Morwenna Talling, 7 Georgia Brock, 8 Alex Matthews (captain)
16 Amy Cokayne, 17 Kelsey Clifford, 18 Maud Muir, 19 Zoe Aldcroft, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Ella Wyrwas, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Helena Rowland
It means he is willing to adjust his squad to the likely demands exerted by the opposition. The Eagles are the lowest ranked of the six nations competing in WXV1, and he has reacted accordingly.
It also means that it is now likely that every member of the squad will have the chance to appear within the tight confines of three matches. That is never a given. “Caps must be earned!” Is an oft- heard reminder from ex-players.
New Faces
There will be first caps for Phoebe Murray and Bo Westcombe-Evans, both as starters. It has taken Murray a long time to gain the recognition she richly deserves,
One irony is that she finds herself wearing the 12 shirt, not 13. At the same time Emily Scarratt, the natural choice at 13 since some of her team-mates were starting school life, ends the experiment of playing at 12 – maybe only temporarily?
Bo Westcombe-Evans has achieved what might have been deemed impossible, forcing her way into a wing-berth against considerable odds. The unavailability of Claudia Macdonald helped her cause.
Captaincy
Another notable change: Alex Matthews is appointed captain for the first time. For a player who was long considered far too shy to say boo to a goose, this is a wonderful tribute. After ten years wearing the colours, she is performing as well as ever she has done. On the field geese know better than to get in her way.
Cautious optimism
The result of all these permutations leaves both the starting XV and the bench looking immensely strong. Should the half-time score be a turn-up for the book (who knows?), the replacements will show how things should have been done.
It’s amusing to see Mitchell has found room for a local guide to be included; it just so happens that Mackenzie Carson grew up in the vicinity. Another player, Amy Cokayne, has played a similar role when the team has appeared on New Zealand soil.
Like every side making its first appearance in the tournament, the Red Roses may well take a while to settle down, but the Eagles have found it next to impossible holding out against them. Two years ago it was 52-14 at Sandy Park; a year earlier at Sixways it was 89-0. Last year the teams didn’t meet; the Eagles found were allocated to WXV2.
For the sake of American rugby and world rugby as a whole, we must hope that the English are given a far firmer test this time.
