Preview: Red Roses v Black Ferns
Everything you need to know as the Red Roses take on New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday 14th September.
Following their successful outing against France at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester, John Mitchell’s team return to Allianz Stadium to face the Black Ferns.
The two sides last played each other at the inaugural WXV 1 tournament, where the Red Roses won 33-12 to claim revenge for their Rugby World Cup 2021 final defeat.
Saturday’s fixture will be the last game for the team before they travel to Vancouver for this year’s WXV 1 where they will once again face New Zealand, as well as Canada and the USA.
The game kicks off at 14:30 BST on Saturday 14th September and will be shown live on BBC One.
Last time out
Views from camp
Amy Cokayne: “We haven’t played New Zealand on home soil very often so it’s always a huge battle, and to be able to play that kind of fixture at such an amazing stadium, I think both teams will be looking forward to it.
“I love playing against New Zealand, it’s definitely one of those games that no one needs any external motivation to get up for.”
Natasha Hunt: "New Zealand are historically a very big forward pack, they love the attritional ‘tuck it up the jumper and run over you’, but have also got silky skills out in the backs.
“In the World Cup final they had the nod and then we went over there and beat them in WXV on their own turf, so it’s going to be a feisty one I imagine.
“I’m really excited that we get the opportunity to run out at Allianz Stadium - to bring that level of game to London and to be able to do it in our home stadium is pretty epic.”
Lark Atkin-Davies: "We’re all excited to go and play at Allianz Stadium, it’s always special to run out there.
“We know it’s going to be a massive challenge against New Zealand and that’s what we love. We love the challenge. It’s what we want, it’s what we need and it’s what will keep growing the game.”
Jess Breach: “Us playing them now, and then again in WXV just shows how much growth the game is having that they can come over to us on the way to WXV and we can play them twice leading into the World Cup.
"The more we play them and the more we get used to playing them, then hopefully when it comes to the World Cup it will be a different story.”
Red Roses Squad for New Zealand Week
Forwards
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 54 caps)
Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 58 caps)
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 48 caps)
Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
Delaney Burns (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 16 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 75 caps)
Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 66 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 8 caps)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 6 caps)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 16 caps)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 68 caps)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 31 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 105 caps)
Connie Powell (Harlequins, 19 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 14 caps)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 65 caps)
Backs
Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 31 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 39 caps)
Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 46 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 50 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 23 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 73 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 44 caps)
Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 45 caps)
Phoebe Murray (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 22 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 30 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 112 caps)
Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)
Previous encounters
2023: New Zealand 12-33 Red Roses
2022: New Zealand 34-31 Red Roses
2021: Red Roses 56-15 New Zealand
2021: Red Roses 43-12 New Zealand
2019: Red Roses 13-28 New Zealand
