England name side for WRWC semi-final against Ireland

England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has made six changes for Wednesday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final clash against Ireland at the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris.
Street welcomes back captain Katy Mclean at fly-half with Sarah Hunter taking on the vice-captaincy role. Mclean also links up with scrum-half La Toya Mason who is given the nod at No. 9. The only other change in the backline sees Kay Wilson starting on the wing.
In the pack, prop Sophie Hemming is set to win her 70^th cap while Lichfield’s Victoria Fleetwood starts at hooker and Joanna McGilchrist returns into the second-row to team up with Tamara Taylor. Hunter, Margaret Alphonsi and Alexandra Matthews make up an exciting backrow partnership.
England and Ireland last met in this year’s Six Nations with England taking a 17-10 victory in front of a 15,000 strong crowd at Twickenham Stadium.
The two sides also met at the last Rugby World Cup with England taking a 27-0 victory in the pool stages. Ireland, however, come into this semi-final having recorded the shock win of the tournament to date, seeing off reigning World Champions New Zealand 17-14 in the pool rounds.

Street, whose side are bidding to secure a fourth successive RWC Final spot on Wednesday, said: “This is a hugely experienced side and it is a settled side too with the core of this team playing three out of the four games in this World Cup.
“Ceri Large has done a great job at fly-half for this tournament but it is great to welcome back Katy who is feeling fresh and ready to go. Alex Matthews has also been hugely impressive. She brings great power and explosiveness and although she is a young player she has grasped every opportunity we have given her over the World Cup. La Toya, meanwhile, is a very experienced scrum-half and featured in the last World Cup Final.
“Ireland are a side we know well and they are one of the most improved teams in international rugby. They play a similar game to us so it will be a big battle and it will come down to who performs best on the day.
“The result in our last match at Twickenham was close but we were disappointed we let a couple of scores go and certainly in this semi-final we have got to make sure we take all our chances if we are to make it through to the final.”
England: Danielle Waterman (Bristol); Katherine Merchant (Worcester), Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), Rachael Burford (Thurrock), Kay Wilson (Bristol); Katy Mclean (Darlington MP, Capt.), La Toya Mason (Wasps); Rochelle Clark (Worcester), Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), Sophie Hemming (Bristol); Tamara Taylor (Darlington MP), Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps); Alexandra Matthews (Richmond), Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), Sarah Hunter (Lichfield).
Replacements: Emma Croker (Richmond), Laura Keates (Worcester), Rebecca Essex (Richmond), Marlie Packer (Wasps), Natasha Hunt (Lichfield), Ceri Large (Worcester), Claire Allan (Richmond).
*Video courtesy of Nick Heath @rugbymedia and RFU.com.