England Women ring the changes
MAR
England Head Coach Gary Street has rung the changes for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland, kick off 1.30pm at Meggatland in Edinburgh.
For the first time this season Darlington Mowden Park Sharks' Katy McLean will captain England with skipper Catherine Spencer starting on the bench. Worcester's Karen Jones, Richmond's Emma Layland and Bristol's Kim Oliver also return to the England squad for the first time this season after some impressive performances for England A.
Richmond's Fiona Pocock will also make her first start for England at full back after missing England's 22-5 victory over Ireland because of illness.
Street, whose side are on track to secure a fifth successive Six Nations crown, said: "This is a really strong side - it's the nucleus of the team that played against New Zealand.
"I'm also pleased to welcome back some players with experience. Karen Jones had one of the stand-out performances against Spain for England A as did Kim Oliver. Kim started the last world cup final and Karen and Emma were both non playing reserves so there's a host of experience there. Amber Penrith also had a great game against Italy so we are bringing in some good players."
England are currently top of the Six Nations table, having conceded just one try against Ireland. Street called it the toughest game they've had in the competition so far but welcomed the challenge ahead of Saturday's Scotland clash.
"The Ireland game was massively important," added Street. "We need tough, competitive battles and playing Ireland in the middle of the Six Nations really gave us the chance to make sure we can win, not just with lots of ball in hand and scoring tries, but digging it out with good forwards and good backs defending well. It can only help us in our preparation for the Scotland game, and as a whole ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup.
"Confidence is higher than I've ever known it. We really believe that we're going in the right direction, not just with the results but with the way we're playing."
The 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup kicks off on August 20th at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford, with the semi finals and final being held at the Stoop in September. Tickets for the WRWC will be available from Ticketmaster from March 22nd.
England
15 Fiona Pocock Richmond
14 Katherine Merchant Worcester
13 Emily Scarratt Lichfield
12 Kimberley Oliver Bristol
11 Amber Penrith Worcester
10 Katy McLean (C) Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
9 Amy Turner Richmond
1 Claire Purdy Wasps
2 Emma Layland Richmond
3 Sophie Hemming Bristol
4 Rebecca Essex Richmond
5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
6 Karen Jones Worcester
7 Jane Leonard Lichfield / Army
8 Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Replacements:
16 Amy Garnett Saracens
17 Rochelle Clark Team Northumbria
18 Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
19 Catherine Spencer Bristol
20 LaToya Mason Wasps
21 RachaelBurford Richmond
22 Francesca Matthews Richmond
