Saracens scrum-half Ella Wyrwas is set to make her first start for the Red Roses in their opening match of the inaugural WXV1 tournament against Australia in Wellington this Friday.
This game will also see a new centre partnership as Tatyana Heard and Megan Jones combine in the England midfield for the first time. Helena Rowland gets the nod at full-back with Abby Dow and Jess Breach on the wings. Holly Aitchison continues at fly-half in the Red Roses backline.
England’s Number 8, Alex Matthews, returns to the side for the first time since helping the Red Roses secure the Grand Slam in April, joining forces with captain Marlie Packer and Maisy Allen in the back row, as locks Rosie Galligan and Zoe Aldcroft complete the pack.
On the bench, Daisy Hibbert-Jones is poised to earn her first England cap as the Red Roses aim to kick off the new three-tier annual women’s international competition with a victory.
England enter the tournament in great form, having secured a Grand Slam and two victories against Canada after their heart-wrenching World Cup final loss to New Zealand last November; the Red Roses have now won 37 of their last 38 games.
England have played Australia only six times and won all six matches, most recently defeating the Wallaroos 41-5 in the quarter-final of last year’s World Cup in Auckland, and the Wallaroos’ form has been mixed since their exit at the hands of the Red Roses.
They have beaten Fiji and the USA but suffered heavy defeats against Canada and twice against the Black Ferns. Following their match against England, they will go on to face France in Dunedin and Wales in Auckland.
Interim head coach of the Red Roses Louis Deacon expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming challenge, as England follow this game with a clash against Canada in Dunedin, before concluding their campaign against world champions New Zealand in Auckland in what could be a title decider.
“We have had a fantastic 10 days of bonding as a group on and off the field,” he said. “We are now relishing our first WXV match under the lights in Wellington on Friday.
“Preparation has been positive; the players are excited about the special opportunities that await them over the next few weeks. They have worked so hard as a collective over the past couple of months and they are determined to put their work on the field as we kick off our WXV campaign.
“We want to deliver a performance that shows progression and growth and want to get off to the best possible start in the competition. Facing an Australian side we don’t come up against too often only adds to the excitement.”
Written by Matthew Luddington
ENGLAND: Helena Rowland, Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach, Holly Aitchison, Ella Wyrwas, Hannah Botterman, Connie Powell, Maud Muir, Rosie Galligan, Zoe Aldcroft (VC), Maisy Allen, Marlie Packer (C), Alex Matthews,
Replacements – Lark Atkin-Davies, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Sarah Beckett, Daisy Hibbert-Jones, Natasha Hunt, Sophie Bridger, Emma Sing
AUSTRALIA: Faitala Moleka, Maya Stewart, Georgina Friedrichs, Arabella Mckenzie, Ivania Wong, Carys Dallinger, Layne Morgan, Brianna Hoy, Tania Naden, Eva Karpani, Michaela Leonard, Anabelle Codey, Siokapesi Palu, Emily Chancellor, Kaitlan Leaney
Replacements: Adiana Talakai, Bree-Anna Cheatham, Emily Robinson, Atasi Lafai, Ashley Marsters, Sarah Dougherty, Cecilia Smith, Desiree Miller
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