England v New Zealand: Emily Scarratt to start her 100th Red Roses game
Centre Emily Scarratt will start her 100th game for England on Saturday against New Zealand in the first fixture at the newly named Allianz Stadium.
The 34-year-old is set to follow Sarah Hunter and Rochelle Clark in becoming the third England player to make 100 starts, and is one of five changes from the starting XV that defeated France 38-19 in Gloucester last weekend.
In a new-look front row, Mackenzie Carson, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern all come in for Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir.
Lock Abbie Ward returns from injury for Sale’s Morwenna Talling, who is named as a replacement.
Scarratt’s Loughborough Lightning team-mate Helena Rowland is named on the bench following her try-scoring return against France, as the only backline change.
The game against the world champions is the second warm-up match before WXV later this month, and will be the first played since Twickenham’s naming rights were sold to Allianz.
Scarratt was moved from her usual position of outside centre to inside centre by England head coach John Mitchell for this year’s Six Nations, but struggled to nail down her new position after only returning from neck surgery, which ruled the 34-year-old out for over a year.
“It [100 starts] is a fantastic achievement and we need those kind of people in our game. She is an inspiration to the future and now,” Mitchell said.
“She will still stay in the game outside of playing as she is a good person. You can tell her game still means a lot to her.
“Some players, when they get to a point of a series of cumulative injuries, make it a big challenge to come back but she has got some finishing goals [in her career] there which is really important.
“I am more interested in experience and enthusiasm, she has both.”
The Black Ferns were the last side to beat England, securing a dramatic victory in the World Cup final in 2022, although Mitchell’s side gained some revenge by defeating them in Auckland to win last year’s WXV tournament.
Mitchell, who coached the All Blacks from 2001–2003, also comes up against his native country.
“I am respectful but like any opponent I am as competitive as anyone, regardless of being born in New Zealand or holding a New Zealand passport,” the 60-year-old added.
“It gave me the opportunity to be here now, I will never forget that.”
Gloucester-Hartpury’s Georgia Brock is set to make her debut in the back row off the bench.
Exeter Chiefs flanker Maddie Feaunati made her first start for the Red Roses against France at Kingsholm Stadium and is retained in the starting XV.
The 22-year-old is joined by captain Marlie Packer and number eight Alex Matthews in an unchanged back row.
Inside centre Tatyana Heard will partner the 112-cap Scarratt in midfield, while the ever-present back three of Abby Dow, Jess Breach and Ellie Kildunne remains unchanged.
Only scrum-half Natasha Hunt, Packer and Scarratt survive from New Zealand’s last visit to Twickenham in December 2012.
The Black Ferns are boosted by the return of several key players with Kennedy Tukuafu, Kate Henwood, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu and Ayesha Leti-I’iga all back from injury.
More than 40,000 fans are expected on Saturday and New Zealand director of rugby Allan Bunting urged their players to savour the chance to play at the home of English rugby.
“We want them to play with freedom,” Bunting said.
“But most importantly, enjoy the occasion and embrace the opportunity to play at Allianz Stadium.”
