England Women's team named for penultimate Six Nations clashagainst France

England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has made three changes to the starting XV that will take on France in a potential Six Nations title decider this Sunday at the Stade Charlety in Paris, kick off 1245pm GMT.

Backrow partners Margaret Alphonsi and Sarah Hunter both return to the
starting line-up while Bristol’s Marlie Packer moves from open-side
flanker to blind-side flanker. Also in the 22, Richmond lock Rebecca Essex
returns from injury having missed the first three rounds of Six Nations
action, while Isabelle Noel Smith is also back on the bench. Fly-half Katy
McLean will lead England once again with Alphonsi as her vice-captain while
Wasps wing Michaela Staniford, who is England’s top try scorer in the
Six Nations with five tries, is set to claim her 50th cap.

“We have performed well over the last three games but we are now at
the business end of the championship and it is important that we have
consistency in the starting XV,” said England Head Coach Gary Street.
“This is a strong England side ready for a very big game against a
powerful French outfit that’ll be looking to upset our run.”

With England and France the only two unbeaten teams in the Six Nations
Sunday’s match is set to be a thriller with everything to play for.
England are the reigning Grand Slam champions but France could well be
smarting from their 2-0 victory over a young England side in Marseille in
the autumn.

“We took a young and inexperienced side to France in November and
although we lost both games it was invaluable preparation for our three test
series against New Zealand, which we went on to win, and obviously also for
the Six Nations,” added Street. “Some of our younger players,
the likes of Isabelle Noel Smith and Ceri Large, also had the opportunity to
experience how tough it is playing in France and with them being selected
for this game that is going to be a real heads up for them. They will know
what they are now going to be up against.”

England head into Sunday’s match on the back of victories over
Scotland, Italy and Wales. They have scored 123 points and conceded just
three as they look to secure a record breaking seventh consecutive title and
another Grand Slam.

Street added: “On Sunday we will be looking to build on our three
performances so far but we know France will be a lot tougher opposition than
our previous opponents. Competition for places to get into this 22 is hotter
than ever so I’m sure that this squad will want to make a real mark
ahead of the final game against Ireland on March 17th.”

England

15
Natasha Hunt
(Lichfield)

14 Kay
Wilson
(Bristol)

13 Emily
Scarratt (Lichfield)

12
Rachael
Burford
(Richmond)

11
Michaela
Staniford        (Wasps)

10 Katy McLean
(c) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

9          La
Toya
Mason
(Wasps)

1 Laura
Keates
(Worcester)

2
Victoria
Fleetwood     (Lichfield)

3
Sophie
Hemming       (Bristol)

4
Rowena
Burnfield       (Richmond)