Katy Daley-McLean will captain England for this weekend’s clash with France at Twickenham, as she becomes the standalone third-most capped Red Roses player of all time.
The Sale Sharks fly-half will be making her 116th international appearance on Saturday afternoon, on what will be a momentous occasion for the 34-year-old.
The two sides will do battle once again this weekend, after a bruising encounter in Grenoble last Saturday, where Simon Middleton’s side came out 33-10 victors.
And victory in London will see the England complete an unbeaten calendar year, having tasted Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam success earlier in the month.
Jess Breach scored a try in the victory last time out, but will miss out this time around through injury, while centre Lagi Tuima makes her first Red Roses appearance since June 2019.
Claudia MacDonald makes the step up from the bench to start on the wing at Rugby HQ, with Harriet-Millar Mills starting at blind-side flanker alongside Alex Matthews.
Returning Gloucester-Hartpury prop Ellena Perry will be among the replacements on Saturday, with Emily Scarratt also dropping to the bench.
Head coach Simon Middleton said: “Playing three physical matches against top opposition back-to-back is very attritional and understandably can take its toll.
“When I asked Katy if she’d captain the side, I honestly didn’t know it would fall on such an occasion and knowing her as I have come to I’m pretty sure she didn’t either.
“What I do know is that even after winning the World Cup as captain in 2014, the smile on her face when I asked her to captain the side said everything you need to know about one of England’s greatest-ever players.
“Harriet Millar-Mills thoroughly deserves her start. She’s been exceptional for us on and off the field. We’re delighted to welcome Ellena Perry back into the squad. She’s a player that has quality stamped all over her and someone we think very highly of.”
Annick Hayraud has made four changes to the French starting XV for the second part of the Autumn double header on Saturday, with Safi N’Diaye among those to return to the fold.
Cyrielle Banet, Jade Ulutule and Elise Pignot will also all return for Les Bleus, who will be looking to get their first victory over England since 2018 this weekend.
Pauline Bourdon will continue on the bench for the visitors, while there is a recall for Jessy Tremouliere, who missed out altogether in Grenoble last weekend.
England: 15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Claudia MacDonald, 13. Lagi Tuima, 12. Zoe Harrison, 11. Abby Dow, 10. Katy Daley-Mclean (c), 9. Leanne Riley, 1. Vickii Cornborough, 2. Lark Davies, 3. Shaunagh Brown, 4. Abbie Ward, 5. Morwenna Talling, 6. Harriet Millar-Mills, 7. Alex Matthews, 8. Poppy Cleall
Replacements: 16. Amy Cokayne, 17. Ellena Perry, 18. Laura Keates, 19. Sarah Beckett, 20. Marlie Packer, 21. Natasha Hunt, 22. Helena Rowland, 23. Emily Scarratt
France: Shannon Izar; Cyrielle Banet, Elise Pignot, Jade Ulutule, Coralie Bertrand; Caroline Drouin, Laure Sansus; Annaelle Deshave, Agathe Sochat, Rose Bernadou, Celine Ferer, Safi N’Diaye, Marjorie Mayans, Gaelle Hermet (c), Emeline Gros.
Replacements: Laure Touye, Maylis Traore, Clara Joyeux, Coumba Diallo, Romane Menager, Pauline Bourdon, Morgane Peyronnet, Jessy Tremouliere.
