Following the U20s’ impressive 12-5 victory over France two weeks
ago, Bennett makes eight changes to the first XV. Only Bristol quartet
Daniker Wilmore, Sarah George, Lucy Demaine and Katie Mason,
Lichfield’s Fiona Fletcher, Newquay Hornets’ Kayleigh
Callaway-Bawden and Worcester’s Ceri Large start a second consecutive
game.
Bennett said: “We are looking forward to playing Scotland U20s for
the first time ever and we have selected another team with great potential.
Some changes to the squad have been forced due to injury but we have also
made a commitment to players that they would be given an opportunity to show
us what they can do. Megan Oaten and Geri Thomas were not involved in the
France game but I know they will want to seize this chance to shine.
“There is a mix of experience in that there are several Premiership
players included as well as new faces to U20s rugby and the focus will once
again be on team performance - doing the basics well. This was our priority
against France and, whilst we learned a great deal about how this squad can
play, we also learned just how tough they can be under pressure.
“Unquestionably one of the biggest highlights of the win over France
was the way in which players responded to a fierce and physical French team
who played with great confidence. Despite conceding an early try and facing
a barrage of French ball carrying, England regrouped, built a platform of
possession and by the middle of the second half had almost complete control
of the game. Although there is much to work on, the composure and
maturity showed by the team bodes well for what will be an extremely tough
year with games against some of the world’s best U20s teams.”
Lock Fletcher will captain the young guns with Worcester scrum half
Charlotte Keane as vice captain.
Bennett added: “Although there has not previously been an U20s
fixture between these two countries, we can expect Scotland to be highly
competitive. With this in mind, we will focus our preparation on the
essential elements of our game, namely the quality of possession and our
decision making at key points. A win would be good but it is the performance
that matters most.”
England (Club, CB, Division)
15
Rachel
Roberts (Gloucester,
South West)
14 Katie
Mason
(Bristol, Somerset, South West)
13 Amy
Wilson-Hardy (Bristol, Sussex, South West)
12 Ceri
Large (Worcester, South West)
11 Lucy
Demaine (Bristol, Devon, South West)
10 Emily Scott
(Thurrock, Essex, London & South East)
9
Charlotte Keane (VC)
(Worcester, South West)
1
Daniker Willmore
(Bristol, South West)
2
Charlie
Notman (Newquay
Hornets (Queen Bees), Cornwall, South West)
3 SarahGeorge
(Bristol, South West)
4 Abbie
Scott (Keswick, Cumbria,North)
5 Fiona
Fletcher (C) (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands)
6 Kayleigh
Callaway-Bawden (Newquay Hornets (Queen Bees), Cornwall, South West)
7
Megan
Oaten(Bristol, Gloucestershire, South West)
8
Alexandra Matthews (London Irish, Surrey,
London & South East)
Replacements:
16 Geri
Thomas (OA Saints,
Hertfordshire, London & SE)
17 Emily
Kingston (Gloucester,
Gloucestershire, South West)
18 Harriet Mills (Lichfield,
Staffordshire, Midlands)
19
Hannah
Gallagher (Saracens, Hertfordshire, London &
South East)
20 Fiona Davidson
(Richmond, Surrey, London & South East)
21 Natasha Jones (Lichfield,
Staffordshire, Midlands)
22 Leanne
Riley
(Worcester, North Midlands, Midlands)
