Red Roses name team to play USA
Head coach Simon Middleton has named his match day squad to take on the USA at Worcester Warriors’ Sixways Stadium on Sunday.
Lydia Thompson is set to earn her 50th Test cap at the club she has represented throughout her career, while Rowena Burnfield is poised to reach the same milestone as she’s named in the match day squad for the first time since February 2019.
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World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Zoe Aldcroft captains the side for the first time with Gloucester-Hartpury team-mate Connie Powell and Harlequins scrum half Lucy Packer named among the finishers and in line for their first caps.
Prop Maud Muir is awarded her first start at tight head prop and is joined by Vickii Cornborough and Lark Davies in the front row. Harlequins’ Sarah Beckett makes her first appearance of the autumn internationals after returning from a knee injury at the back of the scrum.
Fresh from scoring a double on her debut, Heather Cowell starts on the left wing while Harriet Millar-Mills lines up alongside Aldcroft in the second row. Regular wing Abby Dow starts at full-back for the first time in her senior England career while Helena Rowland and Lagi Tuima form the 10-12 axis.
Sadia Kabeya retains her place at openside flanker while Worcester Warriors’ Alex Matthews is at blindside flanker.
Scrum half Leanne Infante is vice captain and Holly Aitchison starts at outside centre, the position she occupied in England’s two victories over New Zealand to open the autumn international period.
Sarah Hunter, Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman, Zoe Harrison and Ellie Kildunne are among the finishers.
"Any team coached by Rob Cain will bring an unpredictability and his USA will be no different," said Middleton. "We know we’re in for a tough game and will have to be ready for anything and that adds another dimension.
"Worcester Warriors are a fantastic club with a great history. Their support is hardcore and have stuck by them through thick and thin. That doesn’t happen unless the fans are passionate about their rugby and we recognised that when we were looking at potential venues. This is a great place to play.
"We’re all looking forward to running out for our final autumn international at Sixways on Sunday and hope to end the year on a high."
Red Roses team to play USA
Starters
1. Vickii Cornborough, 2. Lark Davies, 3. Maud Muir, 4. Harriet Millar-Mills, 5. Zoe Aldcroft (c), 6. Alex Matthews, 7. Sadia Kabeya, 8. Sarah Beckett, 9. Leanne Infante, 10. Helena Rowland, 11. Heather Cowell, 12. Lagi Tuima, 13. Holly Aitchison, 14. Lydia Thompson, 15. Abigail Dow.
Finishers
16. Connie Powell, 17. Hannah Botterman, 18. Sarah Bern, 19. Rowena Burnfield, 20. Sarah Hunter, 21. Lucy Packer, 22. Zoe Harrison, 23. Ellie Kildunne.
