England Womens' side for Spain WRWC 2014 clash
By Julia Hutton
August 5 2014
England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has made 12 changes to the starting line-up, including one positional, for Tuesday’s Rugby World Cup clash against Spain, at Marcoussis, kick off 245pm (BST).
Lichfield’s Sarah Hunter will captain the side as Street chooses to rotate his 26-woman squad for the tournament which will see England contest five games in just 16 days. Hunter moves to flanker with Richmond’s Alexandra Matthews making her first start for England since July 2013 and her World Cup debut. There is also a new front row with Claire Purdy, Victoria Fleetwood and Sophie Hemming starting whilst Rebecca Essex and Marlie Packer get their first WRWC starts in the pack. In the backs, scrum-half La Toya Mason has been named as vice-captain and she teams up with Ceri Large at fly-half with Katy Mclean rested. Amber Reed and Claire Allan form a new centre partnership for this game. England Head Coach Street, whose side defeated Samoa 65-3 in the tournament opener on Friday, said: “Because of the schedule of the World Cup it's key that we rotate our players. Having a game every four days is hugely physically and mentally demanding so our strategy is to rotate the squad and keep the players fresh. “Rotating the squad means Sarah Hunter is captain for this game and she brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. This is a very different looking team to the squad that defeated Samoa but there are still 575 caps shared between our starting XVs so this is by no means an inexperienced team. We have got the depth so we are going to use it. “It is exciting to bring back Alex Matthews who has been out for a while with injury. She has been outstanding in our training camps over the last couple of months. Alex is a dynamic ball carrier and gives us another huge physical presence in the backrow.” England boast a 9-0 winning record over Spain and the two sides last met in the 2012 European Cup and England won that contest 61-0. Spain, meanwhile, opened their Rugby World Cup account with a 31-5 defeat to Canada. Street added: “Apart from a shaky 20 minutes against Canada in their opening World Cup game, I thought they played some excellent rugby. They have some strong ball carrying forwards and some quick athletic backs from the Sevens programme. After one defeat they are going to be fighting all out for a spot in the knockout stages.” England 15 Danielle Waterman (Bristol) 14 Kay Wilson (Bristol) 13 Claire Allan (Richmond) 12 Amber Reed (Bristol) 11 Lydia Thompson (Worcester) 10 Ceri Large (Worcester) 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps) VC 1 Claire Purdy (Wasps) 2 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield) 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol) 4 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps) 5 Rebecca Essex (Richmond) 6 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield) C 7 Marlie Packer (Wasps) 8 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond) Replacements: 16 Emma Croker (Richmond) 17 Laura Keates (Worcester) 18 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) 19 Heather Fisher (Worcester) 20 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield) 21 Rachael Burford (Thurrock) 22 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield) England’s WRWC Fixtures: Friday, August 1 England 65 Samoa 3 Tuesday, August 5 England v Spain, KO 245pm BST, Marcoussis, live on Sky Sports 1 Saturday, August 9 England v Canada, KO 245pm BST, Marcoussis, live on Sky Sports 1 Wednesday, August 13 (19) 10th Seed v 11th Seed, KO 1pm BST, Marcoussis (20) 9th Seed v 12th Seed, KO 315pm BST, Marcoussis (21) 6th Seed v 7th Seed, KO 530pm BST, Marcoussis (22) 5th Seed v 8th Seed, KO 245pm BST, Jean Bouin Stadium (23) 2nd Seed v 3rd Seed, KO 5pm BST, Jean Bouin Stadium 24) 1st Seed v 4th Seed, KO 745pm BST, Jean Bouin Stadium Sunday, August 17 Loser Match 19 v Loser Match 20, KO 11am BST, Marcoussis Winner Match 19 v Winner Match 20, KO 1pm BST, Marcoussis Loser Match 21 v Loser Match 22, KO 3pm BST, Marcoussis Winner Match 21 v Winner Match 22, KO 115pm BST, Jean Bouin Stadium Loser Match 23 v Loser Match 24, KO 330pm BST, Jean Bouin Stadium Winner Match 23 v Winner Match 24, KO 545pm BST, Jean Bouin Stadium |
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Marlie Packer on the charge
England 45-5 Spain
ENGLAND Women made it two from two in Pool A at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in France, beating Spain 45-5.
Gary Street’s side scored six tries to Spain’s one, with Kay Wilson, Danielle Waterman, Laura Keates, Claire Allan and Marlie Packer – who landed a brace – all dotting down. Emily Scarratt added 15 points thanks to a flawless performance from the tee.
After a cagey opening quarter England broke the deadlock when a deft grubber from fly half Ceri Large bounced perfectly for Wilson to slide on for her third try of the tournament.
Scarratt converted the try from out wide, and the Lichfield centre added another three points with a penalty after 33 minutes. At 10-0 down, Spain continued to press, but some dancing feet from Waterman saw her over the line for a 35th international try.
England went into the break 17-0 ahead, and started the second 40 with real intent. First Keates rumbled over to score after strong work from the pack before Allan was on hand to finish off a smart team move for 31-0 and the bonus point.
Scarratt converted both with ease and had her sixth successful kick after Packer barged her way over the line for her first try of the World Cup.
With just over 10 to play, Spain were rewarded with their first try after a spell of pressure on England’s line – fly half Marina Bravo eventually diving over.
But it was England who had the final say. Packer scored her second try after more strong work from the pack and Scarratt rounded off the win with the conversion, her seventh from seven.
Head Coach Street said: “We had a plan going into these first two games – we wanted to give everyone a chance and we wanted to see all 26 players in action. I thought that we started quite slowly today but we knew that we would have to be patient, and that proved to be the case. Space eventually came our way and we got ourselves into some good positions.
“It’s great to have a kicking option like Emily Scarratt. I’ve seen a lot of a kicking performances from women over the years, but that was one of, if not the, best I’ve ever seen. To get seven from seven in the pressure of a World Cup is a testament to her character.
“Looking ahead to Canada, we have some fresh legs who will come into contention, but there will be some tough calls to make ahead of what promises to be a very difficult game.”
Captain Sarah Hunter added: “It was a tough game, we knew that Spain would come at us and cause us problems. It was a case of playing in the right areas and hoping that we would get the rewards – and eventually they came.
“Canada up next will be a huge test for us, we’ll look at this game and take what we can out of it and then switch attention to that match on Saturday, which will be a difficult game as they are an excellent side.”
England Women
15 Danielle Waterman (Bristol), 14 Kay Wilson (Bristol), 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 12 Amber Reed (Bristol), 11 Claire Allan (Richmond) (Worcester), 10 Ceri Large (Worcester), 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps) VC, 1 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 2 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol), 4 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 5 Rebecca Essex (Richmond), 6 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield) C, 7 Marlie Packer (Wasps) 8 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond)
Replacements: 16 Emma Croker (Richmond), 17 Laura Keates (Worcester), 18 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 19 Heather Fisher (Worcester), 20 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield), 21 Rachael Burford (Thurrock), 22 Maggie Alphonsi (Saracens)
Tries: Wilson, Waterman, Keates, Allan, Packer 2
Conversions: Scarratt 6
Penalties: Scarratt 1
Substitutions: Keates for Hemming 40 mins, Burford for Reed 50 mins, Fisher for Hunter 50 mins, Taylor for McGilchrist 56 mins, Hunt for Waterman 61 mins
Spain Women
15 Marta Cabane 14 Vanesa Rial 13 Irene Schiavon 12 Barbara Pla 11 Eli Martinez 10 Marina Bravo 9 Patricia Garcia 1 Isabel Rico 2 Aroa Garcia 4 Diana Gasso 5 Maria Ribera 6 Paula Medin 7 Angela Del Pan 8 Ana Maria Aigneren C.
Replacements: Maria Sequedo 17 Elena Redondo 18 Lourdes Alameda 19 Maria Casado 20 Iera Etxebarria 21 Helen Rpca 22 Berta Garcia
Tries: Marina Bravo
England’s WRWC results and fixtures:
Friday, August 1
England 65 Samoa 3
Tuesday, August 5
England 45 Spain 5
Saturday, August 9
England v Canada, kick-off 2.45pm BST, Marcoussis, live on Sky Sports 1
Wednesday, August 13
Match 19: 10th Seed v 11th Seed, kick-off 1pm BST, Marcoussis
Match 20: 9th Seed v 12th Seed, kick-off 3.15pm BST, Marcoussis
Match 21: 6th Seed v 7th Seed, kick-off 5.30pm BST, Marcoussis
Match 22: 5th Seed v 8th Seed, kick-off 2.45pm BST, Jean Bouin Stadium
Match 23: 2nd Seed v 3rd Seed, kick-off 5pm BST, Jean Bouin Stadium
Match 24: 1st Seed v 4th Seed, kick-off 7.45pm BST, Jean Bouin Stadium
Sunday, August 17
Loser Match 19 v Loser Match 20, kick-off 11am BST, Marcoussis
Winner Match 19 v Winner Match 20, kick-off 1pm BST, Marcoussis
Loser Match 21 v Loser Match 22, kick-off 3pm BST, Marcoussis
Winner Match 21 v Winner Match 22, kick-off 1.15pm BST, Jean Bouin Stadium
Loser Match 23 v Loser Match 24, kick-off 3.30pm BST, Jean Bouin Stadium
Winner Match 23 v Winner Match 24, kick-off 5.45pm BST, Jean Bouin Stadium
ENDS