England name team to play USA in World Cup Pool B decider
England Women head coach Simon Middleton has made 10 changes, including four positional changes to the starting 15 to face the USA on Thursday 17 August in Billings Park, Dublin, Ireland (KO 14:30 ITV 4).
The Red Roses are two wins from two in Pool B having beaten Spain 56-5 and Italy 56-13 in the last week. The USA is also undefeated in the pool, overcoming Italy 24-12 and Spain 43-0.
Sarah Hunter returns to captain the side, following England’s win over Italy, at No 8.
In the scrum, Vickii Cornborough and Sarah Bern return to the front row with props Rochelle Clark and Justine Lucas on the bench. Abbie Scott starts at lock alongside Tamara Taylor, who scored her fourth try for England against Italy in her fourth World Cup appearance, and Alex Matthews moves to blindside flanker.
In the backs, Kay Wilson, who scored four tries in the opening game against Spain and made her debut against the USA in 2011, returns to the wing, while Amy Wilson Hardy switches to the right wing. Amber Reed moves to inside center with Katy Mclean starting at fly-half.
Scrum half Leanne Riley takes a place on the bench alongside Vicky Fleetwood as replacement hooker, having come back from a recent minor injury, while England center Rachael Burford is set to make her 7oth international appearance off the bench in the Pool B decider.
England Women head coach Simon Middleton said: “This is a winner takes all game in terms of topping the pool and will require a full 23 squad effort to get the job done. Regardless of whether players have been selected to start or will come on as finishers, everyone has equal weight on the team, fully understands what their role is and what they need to deliver come match day.
“We know playing against the USA will be tough, they play a very physical game and have some dangerous players on the ball, but we have prepared well and the squad are in a good place, not only physically but mentally. We have confidence in the entire squad and it’s now about going out and making sure we put in a full 80-minute performance.”
The Red Roses have played the USA in four previous World Cups, starting in 1991 when England lost 19-6 in the final in Cardiff. The sides met once again in the 1994 World Cup final, where England won 38-23, and they have also played in the pool stages of the 2006 and 2010 World Cups with England winning on both occasions.
England match-day 23 against the USA, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017
15. Danielle Waterman (Bristol, 72 caps)
14. Amy Wilson Hardy (Bristol, 8 caps)
13. Emily Scarratt (Lichfield, 71 caps)
12. Amber Reed (Bristol, 41 caps)
11. Kay Wilson (Richmond, 46 caps)
10. Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 88 caps)
9. Natasha Hunt (Lichfield, 38 caps)
1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Ladies, 28 caps)
2. Amy Cokayne (Lichfield, 30 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol, 12 caps)
4. Abbie Scott (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 18 caps)
5. Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 106 caps)
6. Alex Matthews (Richmond, 34 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (Bristol, 48 caps)
8. Sarah Hunter (Bristol, 95 caps) (C)
16. Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens, 62 caps)
17. Rochelle Clark (Worcester Valkyries, 126 caps)
18. Justine Lucas (Lichfield, 24 caps)
19. Poppy Cleall (Bristol, 14 caps)
20. Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield, 48 caps)
21. Leanne Riley (Harlequins Ladies, 12 caps)
22. Rachael Burford (Harlequins Ladies, 69 caps)
23. Megan Jones (Bristol, 6 caps)
Schedule Pool B
England 56 v 5 Spain
Tries: Jones, Wilson (4), Scarratt, Millar-Mills, Matthews, Cokayne, Thompson
Conversions: Mclean (2), Scarratt
England 56 v 13 Italy
Tries: Scarratt (2), Matthews, Thompson (2), Cokayne, Taylor, Waterman (2), Wilson Hardy
Conversions: Scarratt (2) Reed
England v the USA
Thursday 17 August – Billings Park UCD, Dublin (KO 2.30pm)
Live coverage ITV4 from 2 pm
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