England Women have made four changes to their starting line-up for their final Women’s Six Nations clash with Ireland in Coventry on Friday.
The Red Roses were beaten 18-17 in Grenoble in front of a world record crowd in Round Four, but could still take the title if they beat Ireland and Les Bleues lose away in Wales.
Head coach Simon Middleton has made three changes to his backline, with Kelly Smith coming onto the wing, Lagi Tuima in at outside centre and Caity Maddison at scrum-half.
The other change in the pack sees Rowena Burnfield come into the back row, with Poppy Cleall shifting to lock. Middleton said: “We fully expect the game against Ireland to be a tough, yet exciting encounter, they are a dangerous side, who will be looking to bounce back after their defeat by Scotland last week. We are really looking forward to playing them at the Ricoh on Friday night in front of a bumper crowd.
“We have made changes across the starting 15, with new combinations in the forwards and the backs. We have depth in the EPS squad and are confident that the players coming in will relish the opportunity to showcase their talents in the Six Nations, one of the flagship competitions in the women’s game.”
England Women team to face Ireland: 15. Ellie Kildunne (Gloucester-Hartpury, 7 caps) 14. Kelly Smith (Gloucester-Hartpury, 1 cap) 13. Lagi Tuima (Bristol Ladies, 4 caps) 12. Rachael Burford (Harlequins Ladies, 78 caps) 11. Danielle Waterman (Wasps FC Ladies, 81 caps) 10. Katy Daley-Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 98 caps) 9. Caity Mattinson (Bristol Ladies, 6 caps) 1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Ladies, 38 caps) 2. Amy Cokayne (Wasps FC Ladies, 40 caps) 3. Sarah Bern (Gloucester Hartpury, 19 caps) 4. Abbie Scott (Harlequins Ladies, 28 caps) 5. Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women, 21 caps) 6. Rowena Burnfield (Richmond F.C, 46 caps) 7. Marlie Packer (Saracens Women, 58 caps) 8. Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning, 104 caps)
Replacements: 16. Lark Davies (Worcester Valkyries, 9 caps) 17. Rochelle Clark (Wasps FC Ladies, 136 caps) 18. Justine Lucas (Wasps FC Ladies, 32 caps) 19. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 3 caps) 20. Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins Ladies, 1 cap) 21. Leanne Riley (Harlequins Ladies, 20 caps) 22. Zoe Harrison (Saracens Women, 4 caps) 23. Amber Reed (Bristol Ladies, 48 caps)
