Six Nations Preview: Red Roses v Italy
Everything you need to know ahead of the Red Roses' TikTok Women's Six Nations fixture against Italy in Northampton.
Simon Middleton's side will be looking to build on their opening ground victory against Scotland when they host Italy in Northampton on Sunday.
Marlie Packer captains the side with Zoe Aldcroft named vice-captain at No.8. Sadia Kabeya packs down on the blind side to complete the back row.
It's a first cap for Bristol Bears' Delaney Burns, who is named in the starting lock pairing alongside Cath O'Donnell. Meanwhile, in an unchanged front row, Mackenzie Carson, Amy Cokayne and Sarah Bern are named as starters.
In the backs, Lucy Packer pulls the strings at scrum half, with Holly Aitchison outside her. Tatyana Heard and Lagi Tuima are the centre pairing, while Claudia MacDonald (left wing), Jess Breach (right wing) and Abby Dow (full back) make up the back three.
On the bench, Lark Davies, Liz Crake and Kelsey Clifford are the replacement front row options. Uncapped Harlequins forward Emily Robinson could make her Red Roses debut as she is named in the 23 for the first time. Sarah Beckett, Ella Wyrwas, Sarah McKenna and Emma Sing are also named in as replacements.
TEAMS
England
Starting
15. Abby Dow, 14. Jessica Breach, 13. Lagi Tuima, 12. Tatyana Heard, 11. Claudia MacDonald, 10. Holly Aitchison, 9. Lucy Packer, 1. Mackenzie Carson, 2. Amy Cokayne, 3. Sarah Bern, 4. Catherine O'Donnell, 5. Delaney Burns, 6. Sadia Kabeya, 7. Marlie Packer (C), 8. Zoe Aldcroft (VC)
Finishers
16. Lark Davies, 17. Liz Crake, 18. Kelsey Clifford, 19. Sarah Beckett, 20. Emily Robinson, 21. Ella Wyrwas, 22. Sarah McKenna, 23. Emma Sing
Italy
Starting
15. Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14. Aura Muzzo, 13. Michela Sillari, 12. Beatrice Rigoni, 11. Sofia Stefan, 10. Veronica Madia, 9. Sara Barattin, 1. Gaia Maris, 2. Vittoria Vecchini, 3. Lucia Gai, 4. Sara Tounesi, 5. Giordana Duca, 6. Francesca Sgorbini, 7. Giada Franco, 8. Elisa Giordano (C)
Replacements
16. Emanuela Stecca, 17. Alice Cassaghi, 18. Sara Seye, 19. Valeria Fedrigh, 20. Isabella Locatelli, 21. Emma Stevanin, 22. Jessica Busato, 23. Beatrice Capomaggi
VIEWS FROM CAMP
Simon Middleton: "We have a great amount of strength and depth across our squad with players coming in from the Premier15s like Delaney Burns who we have given her first cap to this weekend so we are happy to get her in to step up. She has come into the squad and shown a great deal of maturity for such a young player in an elite environment showing her temperament, knowledge of the game, skillset and bravery."
Marlie Packer: "I want to make sure the girls are in the best place they can be to perform on the pitch, I’m driving across the messages and the game plan whilst also researching the new cappers coming into the squad. The player pool we have is amazing which means we can call on players bringing them into training knowing they will raise their game."
Italy Captain, Elisa Giordano: "England are always very strong and physical so we will have to tackle low. As for the rest, we do what we know how to do. We might not be at their level, physically at least, but we will give everything we have to play a good game. We are very happy facing the challenge after all the effort that has been put in."
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
2021: Italy 3-67 England
2020: Italy 0-54 England
2019: England 60-3 Italy
2019: England 55-0 Italy
2018: Italy 7-42 England
STATS
England have won all 16 of their previous TikTok Women’s Six Nations matches against Italy, including their most recent by a margin of 74 points (74-0), their biggest ever win against Italy in the Championship.
England have won each of their last 20 games in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations, the longest ever winning run of any side in the Championship.
Italy won their most recent away game in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations (10-8 v Wales) after losing three in a row previously.
England scored 10 tries against Scotland in the opening round of this year’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations – it is the fifth time a team has scored 10+ tries in the Championship since the start of 2020, with all five instances having been recorded by the Red Roses.
