World Cup favourites England start marketing campaign in opposition to Fiji on Saturday (4.45am BST); Sarah Hunter to skipper facet whereas Abby Dow named among the many replacements and will make her first look since breaking leg in April; England may also face France and South Africa in Pool C
Final Up to date: 05/10/22 10:56pm
Sarah Hunter will skipper England of their Girls’s World Cup opener in opposition to Fiji on Saturday
Captain Sarah Hunter will begin at No 8 when England open their Girls’s World Cup marketing campaign in opposition to Fiji in Auckland on Saturday.
The 37-year-old will skipper a Pink Roses facet at the moment on a document 25-match profitable streak, along with her crew routing Wales 73-7 of their final fixture in September to stay unbeaten since July 2019.
Hunter has gained 135 caps for her nation up to now and desires two extra to maneuver stage with England document holder Rochelle Clark.
Vice-captain Emily Scarratt is at outdoors centre, whereas winger Abby Dow may make her first England look since breaking her leg in April after being named on the bench.
Sadia Kabeya, 20, begins at flanker in opposition to the World Cup debutants.
Prop Shaunagh Brown was dominated out earlier this week after testing constructive for Covid-19 and is now spending every week in isolation below present steering in New Zealand.
England prop Shaunagh Brown will miss the fixture in opposition to after testing constructive for Covid-19
England will face Fiji at 4.45am UK time on Saturday as they start their bid for a 3rd World Cup title after beforehand triumphing in Scotland in 1994 after which in France in 2014.
They’ve additionally been runners-up an extra 5 instances with the one ultimate they didn’t make coming within the Netherlands in 1998.
England squad to face Fiji: 15. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins); 14. Lydia Thompson (College of Worcester Warriors); 13. Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning); 12. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning); 11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs); 10. Zoe Harrison (Saracens); 9. Leanne Infante (Saracens); 8. Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning captain); 7. Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning); 6. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury); 5. Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears); 4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury); 3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears) 2. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins); 1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins).
Replacements: 16. Connie Powell (Gloucester-Hartpury); 17. Hannah Botterman (Saracens); 18. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury); 19. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning); 20. Poppy Cleall (Saracens); 21. Lucy Packer (Harlequins); 22. Holly Aitchison (Saracens); 23. Abby Dow (Wasps).
Abby Dow may make her first look since breaking her leg throughout the Six Nations in April
Head coach Simon Middleton stated: “We have chosen an skilled matchday 23 who we really feel are in place to get our marketing campaign off to a robust begin.
“We all know we may have chosen any of the broader squad and there are 9 gamers this week with a key supporting function.
“It is a privilege to come back up in opposition to a crew of their first-ever World Cup match. We all know they’ve gifted gamers and we’re trying ahead to the problem. It is nice to listen to over 30,000 tickets have been offered for the opening day.
“I am actually happy with the group effort in coaching and we won’t wait to get began at an iconic venue in Eden Park on Saturday.”
France and South Africa are England’s different Pool C opponents, with the Pink Roses to face France in Whangarei on October 15 after which South Africa in Auckland on October 23.
This yr’s ultimate takes place at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, November 12.
