The crucial issue for the Red Roses was, who was fit to play?
The good news is that Helena Rowland, Claudia Moloney-Macdonald and Mackenzie Carson are all aboard, Rowland slotting in at 10 for a change. That means in turn that Holly Aitchison is still AWOL.
Two players. Abi Burton and Lilli ives Campion make their RWC debuts. Congratulations!
The squad:
1 KELSEY CLIFFORD 2 LARK ATKIN-DAVIES 3 SARAH BERN 4 LILLI IVES CAMPION 5 ROSIE GALLIGAN 6 ABI BURTON 7 MARLIE PACKER 8 MADDIE FEAUNATI 9 LUCY PACKER 10 HELENA ROWLAND 11 CLAUDIA MOLONEY-MACDONALD 12 JADE SHEKELLS 13 MEGAN JONES 14 JESS BREACH 15 EMMA SING
16 MAY CAMPBELL 17 MACKENZIE CARSON 18 MAUD MUIR 19 MORWENNA TALLING 20 SADIA KABEYA 21 MO HUNT 22 ZOE HARRISON 23 ELLIE KILDUNNE
I’ll leave it to you to spot the weaknesses in this line-up.
The least experienced sector is the second row. One area of the USA game that will have had a rethink is kick-off reception. The policy of lifting the catcher was a distinct failure.
Opponents may fancy their chances of working the blind-side assiduously. Some have already with success.
The next round will present a bigger challenge, though even the Wallaroos still await their first victory in this contest.
But it will throw some light on John Mitchell’s thinking about his first-choice side for the games that count most.
Details
Opponents: Samoa
Date: 30 August
KO: 17.00 BST
Venue: Northampton
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
