England Women bid to win the European Championships

Tomorrow (Saturday) when they take on Wales in the final in Amsterdam, kick-off 3pm BST.

The European Championships for elite international sides comes around once every four years, with a development European Championship staged in the years in between.

Last year England’s A squad won the final by defeating France A 27-17 but this year England Head Coach Gary Street is hoping his Elite 22 can match the A team’s efforts and be crowned European Champions.

Street has made one positional change to the team that defeated Ireland 22-11 in the semi-finals on Tuesday with Lichfield’s Rosemarie Crowley coming in for Wasps’ Clare Purdy on the bench.

England last played Wales in the first game of this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship. England racked up a 55-0 win in February before going on to win an unprecedented third consecutive six nations Grand Slam crown.

Street, whose side also beat Sweden 80-3 on route to Saturday’s final, said: “Preparations have been going fantastically well and all our players are fit and well. We have had selection dilemmas because the players’ performances have been so strong, but I’m very happy with this 22.

“Wales had a tough game against France in their semi-final, winning 18-10, and they endured a real physical battle. They’ll certainly be motivated for this game, especially with the 6 Nations defeat raw in their minds. Wales are a good side and we have to be wary of them, especially as they have so much experience.

“For us, the expectancy is there for us to win but what we are looking at is playing our own game well and showing that we can play an exciting brand of attacking rugby. If we can do that, then hopefully the result will follow. Having not won the Elite European Championships since 1997, we are desperate to win this time, so we won’t be lacking any motivation.”

England

1 Sophie Hemming Clifton
2 Amy Garnett Saracens
3 Rochelle Clark Henley
4 Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
6 Sarah Hunter Lichfield
7 Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
8 Catherine Spencer (C) Worcester
9 Amy Turner Richmond
10 Katy McLean Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
11 Fiona Pocock Richmond
12 Rachael Burford (VC) Saracens
13 Michaela Staniford Wasps
14 Katherine Merchant Worcester
15 Charlotte Barras Saracens
Replacements:
16 Samantha Dale Worcester
17 Rosemarie Crowley Lichfield
18 Sarah Beale Leos
19 Karen Jones Richmond
20 Georgina Rozario Plymouth Albion
21 Kimberley Oliver Clifton
22 Vicky Massarella Saracens

by Julia Hutton
May 23rd, 2008