MacDonald returns for Red Roses

By Mark Stevens
2/11/22

Exeter Chiefs back Claudia MacDonald is back in the England Women’s starting line-up for this Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against Canada at Eden Park, Auckand.

The summer signing has sat out the wins over South Africa and Australia due to a calf injury, but she returns for this crunch last four showdown, the victors of whom will face either France of hosts New Zealand in the final.

MacDonald returns on the left wing, taking the place of Lydia Thompson, whilst prop Hannah Botterman pushes Vickii Cornborough to the bench as Simon Middleton makes two changes to his starting line-up from that which beat Australia 41-5 in the quarter-finals.

England’s most capped player Sarah Hunter captains the side at No.8 with centre Emily Scarratt vice-captain.

Middleton said: “We are very much looking forward to returning to Eden Park for this weekend’s semi-final. I was really pleased with our performance against Australia in what were tough conditions. The players produced a professional performance and deserve great credit.

“Continuity is an important factor in team selection and we have achieved that through training, the pool stages and the quarter-final. Having said that, if you see an opportunity to improve or create different pictures that you believe could benefit the team’s performance, you have to be brave enough with your selections to make those calls. We have done that throughout the competition to date and that philosophy will not change.

“Canada are an opponent we know well with great pedigree and history in the women’s game. We know they are a strong side. We respect all they might bring but are focussed on our own performance.

“Our objective was to leave this country as a better squad than we arrived and to do that we need to move our game on again this week. If we do that and produce the level of performance we are capable of then we are confident we will get the right result.”

ENGLAND WOMEN’S SIDE TO FACE CANADA WOMEN

15. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 21 caps)
14. Abby Dow (Wasps, 29 caps)
13. Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 106 caps)
12. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 7 caps)
11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 22 caps)
10. Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 44 caps)
9. Leanne Infante (Saracens, 56 caps)
1. Hannah Botterman (Saracens, 34 caps)
2. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 68 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 50 caps)
4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 36 caps)
5. Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 59 caps)
6. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 54 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 87 caps)
8. Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning, capt, 138 caps)

16. Lark Davies (Bristol Bears, 42 caps)
17. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 73 caps)
18. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 15 caps)
19. Rosie Galligan (Harlequins, 9 caps)
20. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 61 caps)
21. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 8 caps)
22. Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 13 caps)
23. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 29 caps)