Gloucester–Hartpury have the chance to send boss Sean Lynn off with a perfect farewell as they chase an unprecedented hat-trick of consecutive titles.
The Cherry and Whites are unchanged for the final at the StoneX as England captain Zoe Aldcroft starts in the second row with club co-captain Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt at scrum-half and fellow Red Roses Tatyana Heard, Alex Matthews and Maud Muir at centre, No.8 and prop respectively.
Head of rugby Lynn is departing to take up the Wales women role, having been a driving force in transforming the club into the dominant force in English women’s rugby.
Five years ago they were a mid-table outfit. Now they are two-time PWR champions and on the verge of a historic hat-trick. Lynn says he’s not thinking about a possible ‘three-peat’ of victories, rather “making sure that we can get this final and win the PWR”.
Zoe Aldcroft
Second row Aldcroft says it could be the “biggest final” the league has ever seen. “We want to go there on Sunday and we want to make that history happen,” she added.
“I think the most important thing is getting this week right, how can we get back to being connected as a Gloucester-Hartpury team and train what we want to exploit in the opposition this week.
“Saracens are a super physical side, but they have also got that fast pace out wide, very similar to us. I think it depends on who can get the most momentum in the game and that will be the decider.
“Credit to Lynny, he’s done absolute wonders for us. He says ‘licence to inspire’ and that’s just about how can you be yourselves and how can you express yourself on the pitch.”
Team News
PWR leading points-scorer Emma Sing – who scored a try and kicked 11 points in the 36-20 semi-final win against Bristol – starts at full-back, in a squad packed with internationals including Wales captain Hannah Jones at centre and Ireland prop Neve Jones.
Club stalwart Kathryn Buggy is set to make her final appearance for the club before retirement from the bench, while the only change to the 23 sees fly-half Ellie Green come onto the bench in place of Millie Hyatt.
While Gloucester-Hartpury beat Saracens 47-31 in their last meeting in December, Saracens won 49-38 when the sides met earlier in the season at the StoneX.
“We’ve tweaked a few things which we feel will exploit Saracens, who are a very physical side,” said Lynn. “From both ends it’s going to be about discipline, because you don’t want either team going into each other’s 22. I think it’s then just making sure you can gather momentum.”
Teams
GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY: Sing; Venner, H Jones, Heard, Hendy; George, Hunt (c); Perry, N Jones, Muir; Beckett, Aldcroft (c), Williams, Lewis, Matthews
Replacements: Boag, Carson, Buggy, Else, Brock, Davies, Green, Lund
SARACENS: Breach; Corrigan, Hardy, Bridger, Sharp (c); Harrison, Wyrwas; Gondwe, Campbell, Clifford; Galligan, Evans, Senft, Packer (c), P Cleall
Replacements: Field, Hunt, Tremelling, B Cleall, McMillan, Sellors, McKenna, Gregson
Referee: Joe James
