March 14th, 2007
England Women’s A coach Amanda Bennett has made three changes to the starting line-up that defeated France A on Sunday ahead of Friday’s Nomads clash at Clifton RFC, kick-off 7pm.
Lichfield’s Roz Crowley comes in at prop instead of Richmond’s Katie Smith who has been moved to the bench. Also in the pack, Wasps lock Natalie Binstead replaces Richmond’s Becky Essex, who is recovering from an injury.
Saracens fullback Vicky Massarella, who has 12 caps for England, also get her first start of the season at the expense of Lichfield’s Jo Watmore, who moves to the bench.
England A are set to face a Nomads team, a representative side similar to that of the men’s Barbarians, brimming with experience. The Nomads squad includes 13 former England internationals who will be led by Clifton scrum-half Susie Appleby, who played for England in the RBS 6 Nations just last month. The squad also includes the likes of Selena Rudge, Vanessa Huxford, Jenny Lyne and Nicola Crawford, who all played for England in last year’s IRB Rugby World Cup.
Bennett said: “Friday is going to be a really tough test for the players. The Nomads have some very experienced players who not that long ago were playing international rugby.
“However, on Sunday we registered a very encouraging 21-7 win over France A in what was our first game of the season together. We played a good game of rugby and got all 22 players involved. We kicked for position brilliantly and that gave us the ability to apply the pressure on France. We also defended very well and that was why France weren’t able to get any momentum going. Hopefully, we can repeat all those things on Friday and play with even more cohesion.”
England A:
1 Sophie Hemming Clifton
2 Sam Dale Worcester
3 Roz Crowley Lichfield
4 Natalie Binstead Wasps
5 Emma Dresser Lichfield
6 Sonia Green Saracens
7 Jane Leonard Wasps
8 Leah Carey Lichfield
9 Georgina Rozario Plymouth Albion
10 Shelley Rae Wasps
11 Fiona Pocock Richmond
12 Kim Oliver Clifton
13 Georgina Roberts Thirsk
14 Katherine Merchant Worcester
15 Vicky Massarella Saracens
Replacements:
16 Pippa Crews Worcester
17 Katie Smith Richmond
18 Sara Anastasi Richmond
19 Laura Jenkins Richmond
20 Harriet Slynn Richmond
21 Jo Watmore Thirsk
22 Vicky Jackson Lichfield
Ends…
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