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England Head Coach, Geoff Richards has named the 22 who will take to the field this Saturday 19th March at Twickenham for the final Six Nations encounter against Scotland.
Richards has made just one change to the squad of 22 with Wasps’ Selena Rudge returning after injury, but as in previous matches he has moved players between the starting 15 and the bench.
Vanessa Gray starts at prop in place of Wasps colleague Vanessa Huxford as the front row is rotated and Saracens’ Helen Clayton starts at number 7 in place of Maggie Alphonsi. In the backs Sue Day’s impressive performances in the Six Nations means she is preferred at outside centre and Saracens Vicky Massarella gets the opportunity to start at full back.
Commenting on the selections Richards said:
“It’s good to have Selena back after injury, but other than that it’s the same squad that faced the Spanish on Saturday. We were keen to give Vicky (Massarella) a start at 15 as she has impressed with her time on the field so far, but we wanted to retain Sue Day’s experience. It means Michaela will start on the bench, but I am sure she will still have a part to play on Saturday. She has done very well in this Six Nations and promises to be a part of English Women’s Rugby for a long time to come.”
England who lie second in the Six Nations table behind France are hoping for a Spanish upset on Sunday evening, but Richards won’t be underestimating the Scottish:
“We are just focusing on this game. Scotland will be a tough match and we are taking nothing for granted. They pushed France all the way in their first Six Nations encounter and haven’t lost since, so we need to be on our game for the full 80 minutes.”
The squad in full for the match against Scotland is as follows:
1. ROCHELLE CLARKE (HENLEY)
2. ANN O’FLYNN (ARMY & LICHFIELD)
3. VANESSA GRAY (WASPS)
4. JENNY SUTTON (RICHMOND)
5. RACHEL VICKERS (RICHMOND)
6. KAREN JONES (WASPS)
7. HELEN CLAYTON (SARACENS)
8. CATHERINE SPENCER (FOLKESTONE)
9. JO YAPP – CAPTAIN (WORCESTER)
10. KAREN ANDREW (SARACENS)
11. KIM SHAYLOR (WORCESTER)
12. PAULA GEORGE (WASPS)
13. SUE DAY (VICE CAPTAIN) (WASPS)
14. CHARLOTTE BARRAS (LICHFIELD)
15. VICKY MASSARELLA (SARACENS)
16. SELENA RUDGE (WASPS)
17. VANESSA HUXFORD (WASPS)
18. LOIS MOULDING (WORCESTER)
19. MARGARET ALPHONSI (SARACENS)
20. AMY TURNER (WASPS)
21. SUSIE APPLEBY (CLIFTON)
22. MICHAELA STANIFORD (THIRSK)
England will play Scotland at Twickenham, on Saturday 19th March, kick off 2.30pm. The other remaining fixtures are Wales v Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday evening at 7.15pm and Spain v France at Reus on Saturday at 4.00pm.
Current standings after 4 rounds
|
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
For |
Against |
Diff |
Pts |
|
France |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
117 |
25 |
92 |
8 |
|
England |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
199 |
13 |
186 |
6 |
|
Scotland |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
71 |
35 |
36 |
6 |
|
Spain |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
32 |
122 |
-90 |
3 |
|
Wales |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
15 |
161 |
-146 |
1 |
|
Ireland |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
22 |
100 |
-78 |
0 |
Results to date
Friday 4th February 2005
France 22 – 15 Scotland
Wales 0 – 81 England
Saturday 5th February 2005
Spain 19 – 17 Ireland
Saturday 12th February 2005
Scotland 15 – 5 Ireland
Spain 10 – 10 Wales
Sunday 13th February 2005
England 10 – 13 France
Friday 25th February 2005
France 48 – 0 Wales
Saturday 26th February 2005
Ireland 0 – 32 England
Scotland 19 – 3 Spain
Saturday 12th March 2005
England 76 – 0 Spain
Sunday 13th March 2005
Ireland 0 – 34 France
Scotland 22 – 5 Wales
Ends |
