Red Roses side to face Italy in TikTok Women's Six Nations
Simon Middleton has named his Red Roses team to face Italy in their TikTok Women's Six Nations fixture at Franklin's Gardens.
Marlie Packer captains the side at open-side flanker while Zoe Aldcroft is vice-captain at No.8 and Sadia Kabeya is named blind-side flanker.
Bristol Bears’ Delaney Burns is set to earn her first cap at lock with Cath O’Donnell lining up alongside her.
- Red Roses v Italy kicks off at 3pm
- You can watch it live on BBC Two
- Over 12,000 tickets have been sold
Mackenzie Carson (loose-head prop), Amy Cokayne (hooker) and Sarah Bern (tight-head prop) form an unchanged starting front row from last week's win over Scotland.
Holly Aitchison and Tatyana Heard are the 10-12 axis while Abby Dow (full back), Jess Breach (right wing) and Claudia MacDonald (left wing) are the back three. Lagi Tuima retains her place at outside centre with her Harlequins team-mate Lucy Packer at scrum half.
Harlequins’ Emily Robinson could earn her first senior international cap as she takes her place among the substitutes. Detysha Harper sustained an Achilles tendon injury in training yesterday and will miss the rest of the tournament. Bristol Bears prop Simi Pam has joined the squad today and will travel to Northampton as a non-playing reserve.
“We’re really looking forward to Sunday’s game against Italy in Northampton," said Middleton.
"It’s great to have Northampton Saints hosting this fixture, especially as they have done a great deal to develop rugby for women and girls in the area. We had a memorable day at Franklin’s Gardens in the 2021 autumn international against New Zealand and hopefully we can put on a show.
"We were pleased to get our campaign up and running with a good win against Scotland last weekend which was a fitting send-off for long-time captain Sarah Hunter. Marlie Packer will now take over the role for the rest of the tournament and will want to stamp her own brand of leadership on the team starting against Italy."
Red Roses team to play Italy
Starting
15. Abby Dow (Harlequins, 31 caps)
14. Jess Breach (Saracens, 25 caps)
13. Lagi Tuima (Harlequins, 13 caps)
12. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 10 caps)
11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 25 caps)
10. Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 16 caps)
9. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 10 caps)
1. Mackenzie Carson (Saracens, 1 cap)
2. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 71 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 53 caps)
4. Catherine O'Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 25 caps)
5. Delaney Burns (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
6. Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 9 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (C; Saracens, 90 caps)
8. Zoe Aldcroft (VC; Gloucester-Hartpury, 39 caps)
Finishers
16. Lark Davies (Bristol Bears, 45 caps)
17. Liz Crake (Wasps, 1 cap)
18. Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 1 cap)
19. Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury, 26 caps)
20. Emily Robinson (Harlequins, uncapped)
21. Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 1 cap)
22. Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 43 caps)
23. Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 3 caps)
