England Head Coach Gary Street has named his side for the opening game of the Nations Cup, which will see England take on the USA at Esher Rugby Club on Friday evening, kick-off 7pm.
Street has made 12 changes, including three positional, to the starting line-up that took on the US Eagles on Tuesday evening in a warm-up fixture. England triumphed 50-3, running in an impressive eight tries.
Richmond’s Karen Jones takes over the captaincy armband with Bath’s Catherine Spencer rested. Wasps lock Jo McGilchrist is the only forward to start her second consecutive game while Katy McLean starts again at fly-half and is Vice Captain. Wasps duo Amy Turner and Michaela Staniford move into the centre positions, while Saracens’ Charlotte Barras moves to full-back.
Street said: “We have made several changes and this is because we have got to make sure we have enough players in our elite squad who are capable of playing international rugby at a high standard. From selecting this squad I am confident these players will do as good as job as the team on Tuesday did.
“This is the start of the Nations Cup, but for us this match is all about playing as good as rugby as we can. Every game we play is as important as the next and I always expect the players to have the same attitude. The USA are a brave, strong rugby nation and I am sure they’ll be looking to improve their performance against us on Friday evening.”
England’s Nations Cup campaign continues on Sunday at 5pm at Esher also, while the USA and Canada will clash on Tuesday 26th of August. England, the reigning RBS 6 Nations champions, will also take on Canada in a friendly match on Friday 29th August.
England
1 Sophie Hemming Clifton
2 Emma Layland Richmond
3 Rosemarie Crowley Lichfield
4 Natalie Binstead Wasps
5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
6 Sarah Hunter Lichfield
7 Gemma Sharples Worcester
8 Karen Jones (C) Richmond
9 Georgina Rozario Plymouth Albion
10 Katy McLean VC Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
11 Fiona Pocock Richmond
12 Amy Turner Richmond
13 Michaela Staniford Wasps
14 Katherine Merchant Worcester
15 Charlotte Barras Saracens
Replacements:
16 Samantha Dale Worcester
17 Katy Storie Blaydon Team Northumbria
18 Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
19 Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
20 Danielle Waterman Clifton
21 Kimberley Oliver Clifton
22 Georgina Roberts Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Match Schedule:
England v USA, August 19th at Esher RFC, KO 7pm WON 50-3
England v USA August 22nd at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 7pm
England v Canada August 24th at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 5pm
USA v Canada August 26th at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 7pm
England v Canada August 29th at Esher RFC, KO 7pm
by Julia Hutton
August 20th, 2008
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