Katy Mclean will captain England on Saturday when they kick off their Autumn International Series against France at Twickenham Stadium.
The Darlington Mowden Park fly-half Mclean takes over the captaincy reigns from Lichfield No. 8 Sarah Hunter who had to withdraw from the series with an injury.
Player of the year Emily Scarratt, Katherine Merchant, Danielle Waterman and Heather Fisher are also missing through injury but England see the return of flanker Maggie Alphonsi who has been tearing the Premiership apart with Saracens coming back from a long term injury.
Alphonsi partners Wasps‘ Marlie Packer and Richmond‘s Rebecca Essex in the back-row while the experienced Rochelle Clark is set to earn her 86th cap at loosehead.
In the backs, there is a new wing combination with Ruth Laybourn and Claire Allan starting whilst Rachael Burford and Amber Reed form a tried and tested centre partnership.
Bristol‘s Kay Wilson will start at full-back whilst her club teammate prop Sasha Acheson could be set to win her first cap.
England Head Coach Gary Street said: “This is going to be a seriously tough test for us. France got a good win over us last season and they have just defeated Canada at the weekend but a tough test is exactly what we want as we continue to build towards the Rugby World Cup next season and playing at Twickenham is certainly going to add to the occasion of this Test match.”
“We are heading into this Series with a handful of injuries but we have got an experienced pack and a lot of pace in our backline. Playing France is going to be a tough and physical game but I am also very excited about our flanker combination of Marlie Packer and Maggie Alphonsi. We’ve had some good results without Maggie but undoubtedly she adds quality through her experience and knowledge.
“Katy last captained England a year ago in our successful Autumn International Series against New Zealand and she brings a wealth of experience and quality both on and off the pitch.”
England: Kay Wilson (Bristol); Claire Allan (Richmond), Amber Reed (Bristol) , Rachael Burford (Thurrock), Ruth Laybourn (Darlington Mowden Park); Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park, Capt.), La Toya Mason (Wasps) ; Rochelle Clark (Worcester), Emma Croker (Richmond), Sophie Hemming (Bristol); Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park), Emily Braund (Lichfield); Marlie Packer (Wasps), Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), Rebecca Essex (Richmond).
Replacements: Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), Claire Purdy (Wasps), Sasha Acheson (Bristol), Hannah Gallagher (Saracens), Harrier Millar-Mills (Lichfield), Natasha Hunt (Lichfield), Ceri Large (Worcester), Michaela Staniford (Wasps).
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