Helena Rowland will earn her 50th international cap when the Red Roses travel to Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi to play Italy in Round 4 of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
The versatile Loughborough Lightning back debuted for England at the same stadium in Parma back in November 2020 and has accumulated 186 points for her country to date.
Rowland, who has started every match at 12 in this year’s tournament, is part of a backline with two changes from victory over Wales.
Gloucester-Hartpury duo Emma Sing and Mia Venner come into the back three and Ellie Kildunne is named on the wing. Captain Jones is at outside centre while Lucy Packer and Zoe Harrison form the half-back pairing.
In the pack, props Kelsey Clifford and Maud Muir start in the front row with hooker Amy Cokayne, and Abi Burton continues in the second row alongside Delaney Burns.
Marlie Packer and Maddie Feaunati, who have fond memories of winning their 100th and first caps respectively against Italy two years ago, remain in the back row, and Demelza Short completes the forwards starting her second Red Roses game at blindside flanker.
On the bench, there is a potential debut for Trailfinders Women forward Haidee Head. The England Under-21 international, who is Australian born, qualifies for the Red Roses through her mother and has impressed in the PWR since arriving in West London from Queensland Reds.
Head coach John Mitchell said: “This week is about re-establishing our processes and sharpening our focus now that we have new purpose. We’ve had a deliberate reset around learning where we will need to improve, we trust the way we play, and now it’s time to get back to it.
“We’ve built momentum throughout this tournament by stacking strong moments together, and that will be crucial again this week. Italy will be full of confidence after their result against Scotland, and they’ll challenge us in different ways.
“For us, it’s about staying locked in on our key actions: applying pressure and intentionally attacking the space with speed. Ultimately, it always comes down to showing courage in the moments that matter.”
Lilli Ives Campion and Sadia Kabeya continue their rehabilitation in camp, but Alex Matthews has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament. The Gloucester-Hartpury back row will have surgery on her shoulder this week.
Red Roses team to play Italy
15 Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 15 caps)
14 Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury, 3 caps)
13 Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 36 caps) – captain
12 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 49 caps)
11 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 60 caps)
10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 68 caps)
9 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 42 caps)
1 Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 24 caps)
2 Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 92 caps)
3 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 51 caps)
4 Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 7 caps)
5 Delaney Burns (Bristol Bears, 4 caps)
6 Demelza Short (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)
7 Marlie Packer (Saracens, 114 caps)
8 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 26 caps)
Replacements
16 Connie Powell (Harlequins, 22 caps)
17 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 26 caps)
18 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 82 caps)
19 Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning, 3 caps)
20 Haidee Head (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
21 Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, 3 caps)
22 Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 47 caps)
23 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 38 caps)
With thanks to the RFU
