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COKAYNE AND WARD BACK IN FOR 'LE CRUNCH'

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John Mitchell has made two changes to his Red Roses match day 23 for Le Crunch this Super Saturday in Bordeaux (16:45, live on BBC).

Amy Cokayne (pictured) returns to the starting XV at Stade Chaban-Delmas, in place of the injured Lark Atkin-Davies (ankle) while Abbie Ward comes into the team with Rosie Galligan (thumb) also ruled out.

Morwenna Talling continues in the second row having been promoted from the bench moments before kick-off in last week’s emphatic victory over Ireland at Twickenham Stadium.

The other six selected forwards also started last time out while the backline remains the same for a fourth match in a row.

Head coach Mitchell said: “Our focus has remained on our process and how we best prepare for the next opposition. We now have an exciting challenge against France in France which we’re all looking forward to.”

Red Roses team to take on France

15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 42 caps); 14 Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 44 caps); 13 Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 20 caps), 12 Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 21 caps); 11 Jess Breach (Saracens, 37 caps); 10 Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 29 caps), 9 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 71 caps); 1 Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 46 caps), 2 Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 73 caps), 3 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 29 caps); 4 Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 52 caps), 5 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 12 caps); 6 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 17 caps), 7 Marlie Packer (Saracens, 103 caps) - captain, 8 Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 66 caps)

Replacements

16 Connie Powell (Harlequins, 18 caps), 17 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 14 caps), 18 Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 7 caps), 19 Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 64 caps), 20 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps), 21 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 20 caps), 22 Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 110 caps), 23 Sydney Gregson (Saracens, 6 caps)