Henley centre Danielle Waterman will start her first Six Nations game of the season after England Women’s head coach Geoff Richards today (Monday) announced his starting line-up to face Scotland at Murrayfield, kick-off 7.15pm.

Waterman came on as a replacement against Wales and Spain earlier this month and has clearly done enough in both England’s wins to earn her first start of the tournament. Waterman replaces Lichfield’s Charlotte Barras who moves to the bench.

Richards said: “I am very pleased to be able to give Danielle her first start of the tournament. She is a tremendous rugby player. Being our reserve number nine and with Jo Yapp, our captain, at scrum-half she hasn’t had much game time. However, she came on for the last ten minutes against Spain and performed well so she deserves some game time on the wing, another position she is very strong in. She is a very dynamic rugby player.

“Danielle’s inclusion means Charlotte moves to the bench but this is no reflection on her performances. As she has started the last two games this move is more of a rotation than anything else and it also shows on strong our bench is. Because of that strength in depth it is important that we keep all the players ticking over.”

The only other change to the squad that defeated Wales 38-15 and Spain 86-3 is the return of Saracens’ Vicky Massarella, who will start the game on the bench. The full-back returned to international action earlier this month, impressing for England A against Italy, after recovering from a series of injuries.

“I am also delighted to welcome Vicky back into the 22,” Richards continued. “It is at the expense of Amy Turner, which was a tough call as she is a terrific footballer, but we were lacking some cover in the outside backs and at fullback and Vicky will fill that void.”

England last took on their Celtic neighbours in the Six Nations a year ago at Twickenham and they provided tough opposition with skipper Yapp only sealing a 22-10 win in the 71st minute of the game with a late try.

Richards added: “Scotland’s Six Nations results so far have been fairly ordinary. I know that they will be disappointed with the way they have performed and that won’t have helped our cause at all. Playing England is their big game of the year and there is always intense rivalry between the two countries.

“Having lost two matches I think they will be quite formidable opposition. Our matches are always very physical, coupled with the fact that we will be playing on their turf at Murrayfield this is going to be another tough game.”

England team:
1 Rochelle Clark (Henley),
2 Selena Rudge (Wasps)
3 Vanessa Gray (Wasps)
4 Jennifer Sutton (Richmond)
5 Rachel Vickers (Richmond)
6 Georgia Stevens (Clifton)
7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens)
8 Catherine Spencer (Folkestone)
9 Joanne Yapp (Worcester)
10 Karen Andrew (Saracens)
11 Danielle Waterman (Henley)
12 Kim Oliver (Clifton)
13 Michaela Staniford (Henley)
14 Nicola Crawford (Worcester)
15 Susan Day (Wasps)
Replacements:   
16 Amy Garnett (Saracens)
17 Vanessa Huxford (Wasps)
18 Tamara Taylor (Thirsk)
19 Helen Clayton (Saracens)
20 Shelley Rae (Wasps)
21 Charlotte Barras (Lichfield)
22 Vicky Massarella (Saracens)

England Women’s Six Nations fixtures:

England v Wales, February 4th, Old Albanians RFC, won 38-15
England v Spain, February 11th, kick-off 4pm, La Ciudad Universitaria Madrid, won 86-3
England v Scotland, February 25th, kick-off 715pm, Murrayfield
England v France, March 11th, kick-off 5pm, Bondoufle, Paris
England v Ireland, March 18th, kick-off 3pm, Old Albanians RFC

Ends…