Two Chiefs Players Included in Red Roses Squad to Face Black Ferns

The Red Roses have made five changes to their matchday 23 for their final WXV1 fixture against hosts New Zealand with two Chiefs Women’s players involved.

Inside centre Tatyana Heard and lock Rosie Galligan return to the line-up in an otherwise unchanged starting XV from last weekend’s 45-12 win over Canada. Amy Cokayne, Sarah Beckett and Megan Jones are among the replacements.

Elsewhere, Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow and Claudia MacDonald continue in the back three and Helena Rowland is at outside centre. Natasha Hunt and Holly Aitchison link up in the half-back positions in consecutive matches.

The front row of Mackenzie Carson, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern remains, and second row Zoe Aldcroft is partnered by Galligan.

Captain Marlie Packer will run out for the 99th time in an England jersey. Morwenna Talling and Alex Matthews complete the back row.

Interim head coach Louis Deacon said:

“As a group, we have developed immensely over the past 15 weeks on and off the field, and I am proud of the progress we have made.

“We have enjoyed each other’s company and experienced the trials and tribulations of a long campaign together. Everyone has bought into the direction we want to go and, to date, we have reaped the rewards on pitch for our efforts.

“We have an opportunity to take another step forward on Saturday night against the tournament hosts and it’s one we are relishing.”

Red Roses team to play New Zealand:

15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 37 caps)
14 Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 39 caps)
13 Helena Rowland – vice-captain (Loughborough Lightning, 27 caps)
12 Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 17 caps)
11 Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)
10 Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 24 caps)
9 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 66 caps)
1 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 9 caps)
2 Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 53 caps)
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 60 caps)
4 Zoe Aldcroft – vice-captain (Gloucester-Hartpury, 47 caps)
5 Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 13 caps)
6 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 10 caps)
7 Marlie Packer – captain (Saracens, 98 caps)
8 Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 61 caps)

Replacements
16 Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 72 caps)
17 Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 41 caps)
18 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 24 caps)
19 Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury, 33 caps)
20 Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps)
21 Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 5 caps)
22 Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 15 caps)
23 Jess Breach (Saracens, 32 caps)