Leonard given start against Scotland

Flanker Leonard replaces Saracens’ Maggie Alphonsi who picked up an injury playing in a club game against Worcester at the weekend.

Leonard is one of a handful of changes for the reigning Grand Slam champions. Richmond hooker Emma Layland and Saracens full back Vicky Massarella will get their first starts of this season’s Six Nations campaign while Darlington Mowden Park Sharks centre Georgina Roberts will make her international debut. Wasps player Natalie Binstead could also earn her first cap for England if she is called off the bench.

Richmond’s Alice Richardson will start the game at fly half with Katy McLean moving to the bench, while Wasps wing Michaela Staniford moves to the left wing in place of Danielle Waterman. Worcester’s Katherine Merchant will now wear the number 14 jersey while Wasps prop Claire Purdy could earn her third cap if she too is called off the bench.

England Head Coach Gary Street said: “It is unfortunate that we have had to withdraw Maggie from this fixture, but in Jane Leonard we have a quality flanker. She has already proved herself at international level this season, making her debut against the USA in December and coming off the bench against Wales and Italy.”

England

1 Rochelle Clark Henley

2 Emma Layland Richmond

3 Katy Storie Blaydon Team Northumbria

4 Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps

6 Sarah Hunter Lichfield

7 Jane Leonard Wasps/Army

8 Catherine Spencer (C) Worcester

9 Amy Turner Richmond

10 Alice Richardson Richmond

11 Michaela Staniford Wasps

12 Rachael Burford Saracens

13 Georgina Roberts Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

14 Katherine Merchant Worcester

15 Victoria Massarella Saracens

Replacements:

16 Amy Garnett Saracens

17 Claire Purdy Wasps

18 Natalie Binstead Wasps

19 Karen Jones Richmond

20 Danielle Waterman Clifton

21 Katy McLean Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

22 Claire Allan Saracens

Head Coach Gary Street

Assistant Coach Graham Smith

England RBS 6 Nations Fixtures

February 2^nd England v Wales, London Irish RFC, Sunbury KO 230pm WON 55-0

February 9^th Italy v England, Stadio Tre Fontane, Rome, KO 230pm WON 76-6

February 23^rd France v England, Bergerac, nr Agen, WON 0-31

March 8^th Scotland v England Meggetland Stadium, Edinburgh KO12pm

March 15^th England v Ireland, London Irish RFC, Sunbury KO 445pm