England Women's Squad for New Zealand 26th Nov 2011
By RFU Press Office by Julia Hutton
November 22 2011
The England Women’s squad to take on world champions New Zealand over three international tests later this month has been announced and it includes 16 survivors from last year’s Rugby World Cup campaign.
England Women's Squad for New Zealand Test Series |
England will take on their old rivals, the Black Ferns, over two weeks with the first test kicking off at Twickenham Stadium on November 26th, kick off 5pm following the Australia versus Barbarians clash. The women’s rugby giants will then meet again on November 29th and December 3rd at Esher RFC. The two sides haven’t met since the Rugby World Cup final 14 months ago when New Zealand just edged out the host nations 13-10 in a thrilling final in front of a record breaking crowd, denying England their chance to lift the world cup crown again. After a two test series defeat to France last week for a young England side Head Coach Gary Street has welcomed back Margaret Alphonsi, Rebecca Essex, Sophie Hemming, Katy McLean, Danielle Waterman, Alice Richardson and Claire Purdy to the squad. At the same time, some strong performances for England’s five newly capped players in France has seen Hannah Gallagher and Alexandra Matthews, who scored on her debut, also get the nod into the squad. Street said: “Barring a handful of injuries I have been able to select the core squad from last year’s Rugby World Cup. This means we have a lot of experience in the side as well as a lot of potential through our younger players. We have got some exciting new caps in Alexandra Matthews and Hannah Gallagher who did an excellent job against France and certainly did enough to cement their place in this squad. “I am sure for our experienced players there is the matter of unfinished business against New Zealand. In the world cup final we didn’t play to our potential and I know the players will want to put that right against New Zealand in our first game at Twickenham Stadium.” England head into the series on the back of a winning Six Nations and Nations Cup campaign while New Zealand have not played an international test match since being crowned world champions in 2010. Street, however, is not expecting anything less that another world class performance from the Black Ferns. “New Zealand’s international record is second to none, they always turn up and I am not expecting anything less for this series,” added Street. “Like us they too have a strong world cup contingent in their squad as well as some young players, which is really going to set up this series to be a thriller.” England Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens) Rachael Burford (Richmond) Rowena Burnfield (Richmond) Rochelle Clark (Worcester) Rebecca Essex(Richmond) Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield) Hannah Gallagher (Saracens) Sophie Hemming (Bristol) Natasha Hunt (Lichfield) SarahHunter (Lichfield) Laura Keates (Worcester) La Toya Mason (Wasps) Alexandra Matthews (Richmond) Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) Katherine Merchant (Worcester) Kimberley Oliver (Bristol) MarliePacker (Bristol) ClairePurdy(Wasps) Alice Richardson (Richmond) Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) Emily Scarratt (Lichfield) Michaela Staniford (Wasps) Amy Turner (Richmond) Tamara Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) Danielle Waterman (Worcester) Kay Wilson (Richmond) England Autumn International Series Nov 26th England v New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium, KO 5pm, live on Sky Sports Nov 29th England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, KO 7pm Dec 3rd England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, 2pm
Tickets for the game at Twickenham on November 26th are available from Ticketmaster.co.uk and group booking are available from the RFU by calling 0871 22 22 017, option 6. Prices range from £65 to £35. Junior tickets cost just £15. Tickets for the international tests at Esher RFC on November 29th and December 3rd will be available on the gate and cost £10 for adults and £5 for juniors. They can also be purchased in advance at www.esherrugby.com |
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Through RFU.com England’s matches against the Black Ferns on November 29th and December 3rd at Esher RFC will be available at www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive. Launched the week of November 28th, users will be able to watch each match live and in full for up to three days after each game whilst highlights footage will also be available on RFU.com. England’s opening match against New Zealand at Twickenham Stadium on November 26th will be shown live on Sky Sports.
With the autumn series representing the first time these two sides have met since the 2010 Rugby World Cup final old rivalries will definitely be renewed. For New Zealand they’ll be out to maintain their all-conquering record, while England will want to settle the score after their 13-10 defeat in the world cup final.
An impressive five camera feed with match commentary from some of the game’s leading commentators and former England stars, as well as post-match interviews, will provide rugby fans with broadcast quality viewing as the two best teams in global women’s rugby go head to head.
Rosie Williams, Managing Director of the RFUW, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer rugby fans the opportunity to watch England and New Zealand in action through RFU.com. With the first match against New Zealand at Twickenham Stadium also live on Sky Sports, rugby supporters from both sides of the world will be able to watch their teams in action in all three games in what is set to be the biggest women’s rugby series since the 2010 Rugby World Cup.”
Thursday November 24, 2011
Issued by Julia Hutton
England Captain Katy McLean
England Women’s captain Katy McLean says her side are as ready as they will ever be to take on the world champions New Zealand on Saturday, kick off 5pm, at Twickenham Stadium following Australia versus the Barbarians.
McLean, who will lead her side for the first ever time against the mighty Black Ferns, is a survivor of the 2010 Rugby World Cup final which England narrowly lost 13-10 to their arch rivals.
Saturday marks the first time these two sides have met since the RWC and there is no doubt that the rivalry between England and New Zealand is as fierce as it has ever been.
Fly-half McLean, in her second season of captaining England, said: “We have been in our training camp for four days now and we have fitted a lot in. It is great being back in the camp environment; there’s a brilliant atmosphere with the new players fitting in well with the more experienced heads. It is certainly a good place to be at the moment.
“We have covered a lot in the time we’ve had and we are feeling good right now. Now it is a matter of counting down until Saturday as we can’t wait for this challenge. It’s time to stop talking off the pitch and do it on it and we are really ready.”
McLean knows better than most how devastated England were 14 months ago when New Zealand were crowned world champions. It was the third world cup final in a row where England failed to topple the all-conquering Black Ferns. But with time for reflection McLean is adamant that England and New Zealand are evenly matched rivals which will undoubtedly provide a thriller of a match on Saturday.
The Darlington Mowden Park Sharks player added: “A year ago we didn’t play so well. There is no doubt that New Zealand played better than us on the day but it was down to a performance on that day rather than there being a massive gulf between us and them. I know that if we had played the game we wanted to then we could have won.
“New Zealand are a phenomenal side but I think the pressure is on them. They are the world champions and I know if we can play at our best we have the ability to defeat them. The Twickenham pitch suits us and we have a good winning record there and we have every intention of maintaining that. New Zealand are not unbeatable.”
Saturday’s game signals the first of three test matches between England and New Zealand this autumn. The two sides will also clash on November 29th and December 3rd at Esher RFC.
England Squad
Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens)
Rachael Burford (Richmond)
Rowena Burnfield (Richmond)
Rochelle Clark (Worcester)
Rebecca Essex(Richmond)
Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield)
Hannah Gallagher (Saracens)
Sophie Hemming (Bristol)
Natasha Hunt (Lichfield)
SarahHunter (Lichfield)
Laura Keates (Worcester)
La Toya Mason (Wasps)
Alexandra Matthews (Richmond)
Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Katherine Merchant (Worcester)
Kimberley Oliver (Bristol)
MarliePacker (Bristol)
ClairePurdy(Wasps)
Alice Richardson (Richmond)
Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Emily Scarratt (Lichfield)
Michaela Staniford (Wasps)
Amy Turner (Richmond)
Tamara Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Danielle Waterman (Worcester)
Kay Wilson (Richmond)
England Autumn International Series
Nov 26th England v New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium, KO 5pm, live on Sky Sports HD 1 Red Button
Nov 29th England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, KO 7pm, live on www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive
Dec 3rd England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, 2pm, live on www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive
Tickets for the game at Twickenham on November 26th are available from Ticketmaster.co.uk and group booking are available from the RFU by calling 0871 22 22 017, option 6. Prices range from £65 to £35. Junior tickets cost just £15.
Tickets for the international tests at Esher RFC on November 29th and December 3rd will be available on the gate and cost £10 for adults and £5 for juniors. They can also be purchased in advance at www.esherrugby.com