Head coach Amanda Bennett insists England Under-20’s clash with Wales is the perfect springboard to the July’s Nations Cup campaign.
After a resounding 77-0 defeat of Scotland, Bennett has made seven personnel and two positional changes for the clash at Hartpury College.
But while England had things all their own way against Scotland, Bennett is anticipating a far sterner test of their credentials against a Wales team that defeated them in 2010.
She said: “This represents one of our toughest games this season and we expect them (Wales) to be well drilled, tenacious and unpredictable.
“Another win would be nice but another strong performance is what we are looking for. This would be the best platform from which we launch our Nations Cup campaign.
“Although we are delighted with two wins from our first two games, the most important aspect is the quality of performance.
“24 of the 26 Under 20s squad members have had the opportunity to start against France or Scotland and we have seen individual progress as well as two very good, if different, team performances.”
Lichfield Harriet Mills takes the captain’s armband while Emily Kingston, Geri Thomas, Mica Evans, Poppy Cleall, Rebecca Hughes and Louise Dennis all come in to the starting line-up.
Locks Fiona Fletcher and Abi Scott also swap places in England’s final game before the head to America for the Nations Cup.
Bennett added: “The aim against Wales is to continue on that curve- focussing our attention on the essential technical and tactical elements that we’ve prioritised in training.
“The squad is also beginning to grow and although there is clearly competition for places, the players are clearly gelling and this bodes well for the Nations Cup.”
England Under-20 team: 15 Rachel Roberts (Gloucester, South West)
14 Katie Mason (Bristol, Somerset, South West)
13 Amy Wilson-Hardy (Bristol, Sussex, South West)
12 Louise Dennis (Worcester, North Midlands, Midlands)
11 Rebecca Hughes (Bristol, Somerset, South West)
10 Emily Scott (Thurrock, Essex, London & South East)
9 Charlotte Keane (Worcester, South West)
1 Emily Kingston (Gloucester, Gloucestershire, South West)
2 Geri Thomas (Old Albanian Saints, Hertfordshire, London & SE)
3 Mica Evans (Exeter Saracens, Devon,South West)
4 Fiona Fletcher (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands)
5 Abbie Scott (Keswick, Cumbria,North)
6 Poppy Cleall (Bristol, Hampshire,South West)
7 Megan Oaten (Bristol, Gloucestershire, South West)
8 Harriet Mills (C) (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Notman (Newquay Hornets (Queen Bees), Cornwall, South West)
17 Daniker Willmore (Bristol, South West)
18 Alexandra Matthews (London Irish, Surrey, London & South East)
19 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens, Hertfordshire, London & South East)
20 N/A
21 Leanne Riley (Worcester, North Midlands, Midlands)
22 Georgia Peedle (Worcester, Hertfordshire, London & South East)
