Women's 6 Nations- Eng v Wales Preview

The unbeaten English Women’s side face their Welsh rivals at Twickenham Stoop on Saturday. Jess Breach falls out of the side due to an ankle injury sustained in training this week and looks set to miss the remainder of the tournament. Sarah McKenna slots into the left wing with Emily Scott as the last line of defence.

17-year-old Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury) comes onto the bench with the possibility of attaining her first cap.

Emily Scarratt will captain the team from the outside centre position.

England Team:

15. Emily Scott (Harlequins Women, 37 caps)  14. Lydia Thompson (Worcester Warriors Women, 45 caps) 13. Emily Scarratt (C, Loughborough Lightning, 88 caps) 12. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears Women, 56 caps) 11. Sarah McKenna (Saracens Women, 31 caps) 10. Katy Daley-Mclean (Loughborough Lightning, 113 caps) 9. Leanne Riley (Harlequins Women, 36 caps) 1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Women, 52 caps) 2. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins Women/RAF, 49 caps) 3. Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins Women, 16 caps) 4. Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women, 39 caps) 5. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury Women, 19 caps) 6. Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps FC Ladies, 54 caps) 7. Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens Women, 75 caps) 8. Sarah Beckett (Harlequins Women, 16 caps)

Replacements: 16. Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 22 caps) 17. Hannah Botterman (Saracens Women, 19 caps) 18. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears Women, 34 caps) 19. Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning, 122 caps) 20. Amelia Harper (Loughborough Lightning, 3 caps) 21. Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury Women, 53 caps) 22. Zoe Harrison (Saracens Women, 23 caps) 23. Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury 0 caps)

Wales have made two changes to the team that lost to France in the last round. 

In the forwards, Natalia John comes into the second row to partner Georgia Evans while, in the backline, Hannah Jones is named at centre.

Coach Chris Horsman is well aware of the stiff challenge awaiting his charges.

“We know Saturday’s Test will be a huge challenge, England are one of the best teams in the world right now, if not the best.

“We always knew this would be a challenging championship and following a tough day against France, England will certainly be no easier. However, the girls are ready to test themselves again against the best, that’s what they want to do in order to improve ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. We are fulfilling our aims of growing depth in the squad by exposing players to this level of the game." Horsman said.

Welsh Team:

15. Kayleigh Powell 14. Lisa Neumann 13. Hannah Jones 12. Kerin Lake 11. Caitlin Lewis 10. Robyn Wilkins 9. Keira Bevan; 1. Gwenllian Pyrs 2. Kelsey Jones 3. Cerys Hale 4. Georgia Evans 5. Natalia John 6. Alisha Butchers 7. Bethan Lewis 8. Siwan Lillicrap (capt)

Replacements: 16. Molly Kelly 17. Cara Hope 18. Ruth Lewis 19. Gwen Crabb 20. Robyn Lock 21. Ffion Lewis 22. Hannah Bluck 23. Lauren Smyth

Kick-off: 14:05 (local)