The England Women’s team announced for Wales RBS 6N clash
By RFU Press Office
January 26 2011
The England Women’s team to take on Wales in the opening round of the RBS 6 Nations on February 6th at Cross Keys RFC, kick off 230pm, has been announced.
| England Women’s team named for RBS 6 Nations opener |
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Darlington Mowden Park fly-half Katy McLean will skipper England as they bid to win a sixth consecutive Six Nations title this season and defend their grand slam crown. England Head Coach Gary Street has named a strong 22 that includes 17 players who featured in last September’s Rugby World Cup (RWC) final defeat against New Zealand. Michaela Staniford, who was also in the RWC squad, Kim Oliver, Rowena Burnfield, Georgina Rozario and Georgina Roberts meanwhile share an impressive 88 caps between them. “We have worked really hard since the disappointment of losing the world cup,” said Street, who is joined by assistant coach Graham Smith again this season. “We are fortunate that we haven’t had many retirements since the world cup and that this is still a relatively young squad, so we are now just looking forward to getting back on the pitch and playing again. Our aim is to raise our standards, and to focus 100 percent on this first game.” Wales finished ninth in the RWC, but England’s last visit to Wales in the RBS 6 Nations two years ago saw the Red Roses lose by a single point. Street is determined that England do not slip up on the road again, though he is expecting their Welsh rivals to offer a new challenge this season. He added: “The last time we played Wales in Wales we lost 16-15, so yes there is huge motivation for us here. We got turned over last time and we don’t want that to happen again. “Wales, however, have a new coach in Kris da Scossa. Kris is very experienced, having previously worked for the Canadian national side, and I am sure for his players having a new coach will create extra motivation. This is a new start for them so we won’t know what to expect. “For us too, this is a new start with a new captain and vice captain and we are all looking forward to getting back on the pitch and starting the healing process. There is huge anticipation for this game and the season ahead and my selection for this opener shows that I plan to make sure we do the job.”
England 15 Danielle Waterman Worcester 14 Katherine Merchant Worcester 13 Emily Scarratt Lichfield 12 Kimberley Oliver Bristol 11 Michaela Staniford Wasps 10 Katy McLean Darlington Mowden Park Sharks (C) 9 La Toya Mason Wasps 1 Rochelle Clark Worcester 2 Amy Garnett Saracens 3 Sophie Hemming Bristol 4 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps 5 Rebecca EssexRichmond 6 SarahHunter Lichfield 7 Margaret Alphonsi Saracens 8 Catherine Spencer Bristol Replacements: 16 Emma Croker Richmond 17 ClairePurdyWasps 18 Rowena Burnfield Richmond 19 Heather FisherWorcester 20 Georgina Rozario Lichfield 21 Rachael Burford Richmond 22 Georgina Roberts Darlington Mowden Park Sharks England’s RBS 6 Nations Fixtures Wales v England Feb 6 Cross Keys RFC KO 230pm England v Italy Feb 12 Esher RFC KO 430pm *England v France Feb 27 Worcester RFC KO 105pm ** England v Scotland March 13 Twickenham Stadium KO 515pm Ireland v England March 18 Ashbourne RFC KO 730pm * Live on Sky Sports **Free entry to Twickenham Stadium after men’s Calcutta Cup clash
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Thursday January 27, 2011
Issued by Julia Hutton
Matthews in starting line-up
Richmond wing Fran Matthews has been called up to the England Women starting line-up to face Wales in the opening game of the RBS 6 Nations on February 6th at Cross Keys RFC, kick off 230pm.
Matthews, who has 13 caps, replaces Michaela Staniford who has a fractured jaw.
McLean, who will lead England at Cross Keys RFC, kick off 230pm, was part of the England team that fell at the final hurdle in last year’s Rugby World Cup, losing 13-10 to New Zealand. She admits that defeat is still raw but England are ready to move on.
“The world cup was a massive disappointment but we have had time to work out what went wrong and how to move forward,” said the Sunderland based fly-half, who takes over the captaincy armband from Catherine Spencer this season.
“We absolutely cannot dwell on the past. The Six Nations is upon us and we must set down a marker on Sunday. Playing Wales is always tough, but playing Wales in Wales is even tougher. We need to prepare as hard we can possibly can and concentrate fully on this new campaign.”
For England too, the stakes are high. They are the reigning grand slam champions, and they will be gunning for a record breaking sixth consecutive crown.
“This is certainly a big tournament for us but we are so excited about it,” added McLean, who will earn her 39th cap on Sunday. “Playing Wales is quite a way to kick off the tournament, but there are some real showcase games this season as part of the Six Nations.
“We’ll be playing France at Worcester’s Sixways Stadium on February 27th as part of ‘Super Sunday’. It will be great to headline a triple billing of international rugby, with the U20s men and women all in action on the same day. And then getting the chance to play at Twickenham again, against Scotland on March 13th, is massive. I know from personal experience what a special occasion that is, and I just hope the crowd will get behind us again. We last played at Twickenham in 2009 against New Zealand and a record crowd of 12,000 willed us on to a first victory over the world champions in eight years so we really want a repeat of that again.”
It is all change for England, however, with a new captain in McLean, while Margaret Alphonsi has been appointed as vice captain. And McLean is delighted to have Alphonsi in support following her prolific performances during the world cup, which saw the flanker named Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year as well as becoming the first woman ever to win the prestigious Rugby Union Writers’ Club Pat Marshall award.
McLean added: “I am very lucky that we have so many natural leaders in our squad, and Maggie is definitely one of them. She will make a great vice captain and I am delighted to have her by my side.”
England have been forced to make one further change this week to their starting 22 to face Wales following the withdrawal of Wasps prop Claire Purdy through injury. Lichfield’s Rosemarie Crowley, who also featured in the world cup, replaces her on the bench.
England
15 Danielle Waterman Worcester
14 Katherine Merchant Worcester
13 Emily Scarratt Lichfield
12 Kimberley Oliver Bristol
11 Fran Matthews Richmond
10 Katy McLean Darlington Mowden Park Sharks (C)
9 La Toya Mason Wasps
1 Rochelle Clark Worcester
2 Amy Garnett Saracens
3 Sophie Hemming Bristol
4 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
5 Rebecca EssexRichmond
6 SarahHunter Lichfield
7 Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
8 Catherine Spencer Bristol
Replacements:
16 Emma Croker Richmond
17 Rosemarie Crowley Lichfield
18 Rowena Burnfield Richmond
19 Heather FisherWorcester
20 Georgina Rozario Lichfield
21 Rachael Burford Richmond
22 Georgina Roberts Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Wales v England Feb 6 Cross Keys RFC KO 230pm
England v Italy Feb 12 Esher RFC KO 430pm
*England v France Feb 27 Worcester RFC KO 105pm
** England v Scotland March 13 Twickenham Stadium KO 515pm
Ireland v England March 18 Ashbourne RFC KO 730pm
* Live on Sky Sports
**Free entry to Twickenham Stadium after men’s Calcutta Cup clash