Women’s Six Nations 2024: Marlie Packer to win 100th cap in England’s opener against Italy

0
46

Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Date: Sunday, 24 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Coverage: Watch reside on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and on-line; textual content commentary, highlights and report on BBC Sport web site and app.

Captain Marlie Packer will win her 100th cap in England’s opening sport of the Women’s Six Nations against Italy on Sunday.

The 34-year-old flanker debuted for the Red Roses in 2008 and turns into the seventh girl to attain the milestone.

Fly-half Zoe Harrison, centre Emily Scarratt and lock Abbie Ward all return to the beginning XV.

The trio haven’t performed for England because the World Cup final defeat by New Zealand in 2022.

Loughborough Lightning’s Scarratt begins in the unfamiliar function of inside centre regardless of spending nearly all of her 108-cap worldwide profession at 13.

Scarratt performed at inside centre for Lightning last month following her return from a 13-month harm lay-off with a neck injury which required surgical procedure.

Bristol Bears’ Ward returns to worldwide rugby for the primary time after the beginning of her daughter final 12 months, with Saracens’ Harrison recovering from her prolonged ACL harm in time for the Six Nations.

The Red Roses received a Six Nations Grand Slam final 12 months and are aiming to win their sixth Six Nations title in a row.

“Talking to Marlie about her journey, she has had to overcome adversity since her Test debut in 2008,” Red Roses head coach John Mitchell stated.

“What has been evident since I first met her is her willpower to succeed has been ingrained in her over the previous 16 years, serving to her obtain she has in the sport.

“She epitomises what it’s to be a Red Rose.”

Flanker Sadia Kabeya and scrum-half Lucy Packer are additionally named in the beginning XV after lacking the inaugural WXV1 match in New Zealand, which England received in November to partially avenge their World Cup final defeat.

Exeter Chiefs again rower Maddie Feaunati, 21, may make her Red Roses debut after being named on the bench.

“We are excited to get going in what’s an superior match,” Mitchell added “Italy is our first alternative to put into observe what we’re aiming to obtain.”

Line-up

England: Kildunne; Dow, Rowland, Scarratt, Breach; Harrison, Packer; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Clifford, Aldcroft, Ward, Kabeya, Packer, Beckett.

Replacements: Powell, Carson, Muir, Feaunati, Matthews, Hunt, Aitchison, Jones.

Source link