Claudia MacDonald returns to the left wing for England's Rugby World Cup 2021 semi-final

Claudia MacDonald returns to the left wing for England's Rugby World Cup 2021 semi-final with Canada at Eden Park on 5 November.

England coach Simon Middleton has named his team for the Rugby World Cup 2021 semi-final against Canada at Eden Park on 5 November.

1. Hannah Botterman
2. Amy Cokayne
3. Sarah Bern
4. Zoe Aldcroft
5. Abbie Ward
6. Alex Matthews
7. Marlie Packer
8. Sarah Hunter (captain)
9. Leanne Infante
10. Zoe Harrison
11. Claudia MacDonald
12. Tatyana Heard
13. Emily Scarratt
14. Abby Dow
15. Helena Rowland

16. Lark Davies
17. Vickii Cornborough
18. Maud Muir
19. Rosie Galligan
20. Poppy Cleall
21. Lucy Packer
22. Holly Aitchison
23. Ellie Kildunne

• England coach Simon Middleton has made two personnel and one positional change to his starting line-up from the 41-5 victory over Australia
• Hannah Botterman earns a second start of the tournament at loose-head with Vickii Cornborough dropping to the bench
• Claudia MacDonald returns on the left wing after missing the last two games with injury
• This means a switch to the right wing for Abby Dow
• Second-row Abbie Ward will play her 60th test for the Red Roses in this semi-final
• England are the only side to reach the semi-finals at every Rugby World Cup. They have only failed to reach the final on one occasion, in 1998 when they lost 44-11 to New Zealand
• This is a repeat of the 2014 final when England ran out 21-9 winners in Paris
• There are four survivors from that squad in England’s team for this semi-final in Marlie Packer, Sarah Hunter, Emily Scarratt and Alex Matthews. Scarratt contributed 16 points in the final, including a try
• That was their second meeting at RWC 2014, having played out a 13-13 draw in their final pool match to ensure both teams progressed to the semi-finals, Canada as the best runners-up across the three pools
• This is their eighth meeting on the RWC stage with England unbeaten in the previous seven, including two at the semi-final stage – 53-10 in 2002 and 20-14 in 2006
• England have won their last eight matches with Canada, dating back to 2016. In this sequence their biggest win has been 79-5 in November 2017 and the closest 19-17 in July 2019
• The Red Roses have won a record 29 consecutive test matches, dating back to a 28-13 loss to New Zealand in San Diego, USA, in July 2019