Helena Rowland will certainly make her initial worldwide beginning at fly fifty percent for 3 years with John Mitchell calling an interesting side for England‘s Women’s Six Nations opener versus Italy.
The Red Roses get started once again as solid favourites for a 7th title straight in a competitors they have come to dominate, and start their project in York on Sunday as they prepare for a home World Cup later on this year.
Zoe Aldcroft, selected skipper ahead of this championship, captains the side from blindside flanker, with Lilli Ives Campion handed an initial Test beginning in her stead in the 2nd row.
Rowland, seen mainly as a centre by head instructor Mitchell, relocates internal to occupy lead playmaking obligations, the duty she plays routinely forLoughborough Lightning Holly Aitchison, that began all bar 2 video games at fly fifty percent for England in 2015, is pointed at within centre.
Emma Sing and Mia Venner are compensated for their standout Gloucester-Hartpury form with beginnings having actually aided their club finish a Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) three-peat on Sunday.
Joining both in the back 3 is Claudia MacDonald, that has actually fought back from a 2nd significant neck injury to make her worldwide return.
Two debutants wait for unemployed, with Exeter scrum fifty percent Flo Robinson collection for an initial cap having actually been refuted a look by a flood lamp failing in Lille in 2021, and Great Britain Sevens routine Jade Shekells supplying centre cover.
Senior gamers consisting of Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt, Alex Matthews and Abby Dow are missing from the opening side, with Mitchell meaning to check out a selection of mixes and alternatives throughout the initial couple of weeks of the competition. There is, however, a beginning for openside Marlie Packer, that shed the captaincy to Aldcroft in January.
England have actually not shed on home dirt in this competitors for a years, and will certainly be anticipated to defeat Italy greatly.
Their midfield shakeup is intriguing, however, with a World Cup year putting better focus on positional flexibility. Aitchison has actually developed herself as England’s first-choice fly half because Mitchell’s arrival with her outstanding circulation opening their assaulting growth, yet the vibrant Rowland offers a supreme running threat.
The 25-year-old’s last beginning for England at the setting came versus Scotland in 2022 in the exact same mix with Aitchison and fellow centre Emily Scarratt.
Of intrigue in other places is a beginning for Kelsey Clifford, that can use either side of the front row, at loosehead, and additional proof of just how extremely ranked Loughborough lock Ives Campion desires the child made her launching in the fall.
England’s team calling occurred at the prominent Cabbage Patch bar in Twickenham, which has actually been relabelled “The Red Roses Patch” throughout of the competition. Mitchell’s side end their war France, their closest opponents, at Allianz Stadium on Saturday 26 March.
Red Roses XV to face Italy in York (Sunday 23 March, 3pm GMT): 1 Kelsey Clifford, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Maud Muir; 4 Lilli Ives Campion, 5 Rosie Galligan; 6 Zoe Aldcroft (capt.), 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Maddie Feaunati; 9 Lucy Packer, 10 Helena Rowland; 11 Claudia MacDonald, 12 Holly Aitchison, 13 Emily Scarratt, 14 Mia Venner; 15 Emma Sing.
Replacements: 16 May Campbell, 17 Hannah Botterman, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Abbie Ward, 20 Sadia Kabeya; 21 Flo Robinson, 22 Jade Shekells, 23 Ellie Kildunne.
