October 20, 2005
England Women face their toughest challenge yet this season when they take on reigning world champions the Black Ferns at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday (kick-off 230am English time).
Head coach Geoff Richards has made a handful of changes to the starting XV that beat a New Zealand Invitational XV 40-8 on Wednesday.
Clifton’s Georgia Stevens moves from the second-row to no.8, while Folkestone’s Catherine Spencer moves back into the second row.
Captain Jo Yapp returns to the starting line-up at scrum-half, partnering the experienced Saracens fly-half Karen Andrew with Worcester’s Alice Richardson moving to the bench.
The test match comes at an immensely important time for England who will want to access their abilities against the best team in the world ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in Canada.
It is also the first of two back-to-back tests against the Black Ferns with England also playing the Black Ferns on October 26 at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.
Richards said: "We have picked a very exciting team and one I have every confidence in. The players are really looking forward to playing at Eden Park in front of what we hope will be a big crowd.
“This is a vital game for our World Cup preparations and we are looking forward to seeing how the Black Ferns are playing at the moment. We have some young players in our squad and it will be great to see how they fair under this kind of pressure.”
Richards’ opposite number, Jed Rowlands, added: “England played well against the New Zealand Invitational XV and there is no doubt that they will be a strong side.
“We haven’t been together for a while but the players are familiar with our game. The Canada Cup was good and our preparation this week went well.”
Saturday’s match will act as the curtain raiser to the Air New Zealand NPC Division One final between Auckland and Otago.
England team: 1. Rochelle Clarke (Henley), 2. Selena Rudge (Wasps), 3. Vanessa Gray (Wasps), 4. Rachel Vickers (Richmond), 5. Catherine Spencer (Folkestone), 6. Shannon Baker (Richmond), 7. Helen Clayton (Saracens), 8. Georgia Stevens (Clifton), 9. Joanne Yapp (Worcester), 10. Karen Andrew (Saracens), 11. Kim Shaylor (Worcester), 12. Kimberly Oliver (Clifton), 13. Michaela Staniford (Henley), 14. Nicky Crawford (Worcester), 15. Sue Day (Wasps). Replacements: 16. Amy Garnett (Saracens), 17. Vanessa Huxford (Wasps), 18. Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 19. Karen Jones (Wasps), 20. Danielle Waterman (Henley), 21. Alice Richardson (Worcester), 22. Vicky Massarella (Saracens).
Black Ferns team: 15. Amiria Marsh (Canterbury), 14. Claire Richardson (Otago), 13. Hannah Myers (Auckland), 12. Exia Edwards (Bay of Plenty), 11. Stephanie Mortimer (Canterbury), 10. Anna Richards (Auckland), 9. Emma Jensen (Auckland), 8. Marina Canterbury (Hawke’s Bay), 7. Rochelle Martin (Auckland, captain), 6. Melissa Ruscoe (Canterbury), 5. Victoria Heighway (Auckland), 4. Monalisa Codling (Auckland), 3. Casey Robertson (Canterbury), 2. Fiao’o Fa’amausili (Auckland) and 1. Helen Va’aga (Auckland). Replacements: 16. Karina Penetito (Auckland), 17. Diane Maliukaetau (Auckland), 18. Kimberley Smith (Canterbury), 19. Justine Lavea (Auckland), 20. Waimania Teddy (Auckland), 21. Piki Solomon (Otago) and 22. Amy Williams (Hawke’s Bay)
Tour schedule
England v Manusina Samoa October 15th WON 53-0
England v New Zealand Invitational XV October 19th WON 40-8
England v Black Ferns October 22, Eden Park Auckland, kick-off 230am (English time)
England v Black Ferns October 26 Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, kick-off 530am (English time)
Ends…
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