| Venue: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton Date: Sunday, 2 April Kick-off: 15:00 BST |
| Protection: Watch dwell on BBC Two; comply with dwell textual content commentary on the BBC Sport web site & app |
Sarah Hunter calling time on her stellar 141-cap Take a look at profession was a poignant second for 2 causes. It marked the tip of an period for the quantity eight and the England set-up, but it surely additionally factors to a brand new future and the start of a World Cup cycle.
That cycle will culminate with a house World Cup on English soil in 2025, when the hosts will wish to go one higher than final yr’s crushing final defeat by New Zealand.
England started the defence of their Six Nations title with a thumping victory over Scotland in Hunter’s hometown of Newcastle final Saturday.
Hunter’s send-off was becoming for a trailblazer – however who will choose up the baton sooner or later? BBC Sport takes a have a look at 5 gamers to observe in a brand new period for the Pink Roses.
Holly Aitchison
The fly-half is definitely not a newcomer to the worldwide stage. The dynamic distributor has deployed at inside centre for many of her England profession, which is the place she began the World Cup ultimate.
However with Zoe Harrison and Helena Rowland each injured, Aitchison has been moved to 10.
She helped Saracens to a 3rd title from fly-half final season and her means to take the ball flat and convey her exterior backs into the sport is great.
Aitchison impressed in opposition to Scotland as she led the assault with fluidity and attacked potential gaps within the opposition defences.
With England eager to play a extra expansive sport, 26-year-old Aitchison has an opportunity to stamp her authority on the place past the present event.
Mackenzie Carson
Gamers switching worldwide allegiances is nothing new in rugby.
Former Canada prop Mackenzie Carson has made the transfer to signify England, who she is eligible to play for by way of her mom.
England have points at prop as loose-head Hannah Botterman is injured and Vickii Cornborough is lacking the event for private causes. On the opposite aspect of the entrance row, tight-head Laura Keates can be injured and Shaunagh Brown has retired.
Carson beforehand performed in opposition to England in 2018, in one in every of three Canada caps she earned, however she was capable of fill the void and begin for England in opposition to Scotland after spending at the very least three years away from worldwide rugby.
She was influential as England dominated the set-piece and powerfully overturned a number of scrums in Newcastle.
Ella Wyrwas
The Saracens scrum-half has been rewarded for her spectacular kind for Saracens with a spot in Simon Middleton’s squad.
She was named forward of former England common Leanne Infante within the 23-player squad to face the Scots.
Wyrwas got here on for Lucy Packer simply after the hour mark in Newcastle and injected tempo into the England assault because the Scottish defence started to tire.
Whereas Packer, who began the World Cup ultimate, stays first alternative quantity 9, Wyrwas can be hoping to construct on her membership kind when she is given the possibility to impress off the bench.
Emma Sing
Emma Sing has luggage of expertise and it’s testomony to her means that she is in a squad which incorporates among the deadliest finishers in world rugby.
If England have issues within the entrance row, it’s the reverse within the again three, which is extraordinarily aggressive.
Abby Dow, Jess Breach and Claudia MacDonald are skilled operators at Take a look at stage, with 81 caps between them.
MacDonald has moved from scrum-half to wing, the place she was devastating in opposition to the Scots with two gorgeous tries.
At 22-years-old, Sing nonetheless has her finest years in entrance of her, with all of the uncooked means to power her approach into the aspect.
Nancy McGillivray
Exeter Chiefs centre Nancy McGillivray started her profession in Hong Kong, the place she additionally performed sevens.
The velocity and step she developed on the sevens circuit has aided her improvement and she or he is likely one of the most fun runners within the Premier 15s.
She was taken off comparatively early within the the under-20s win over Scotland, which prompt she could also be in Middleton’s plans after Amber Reed’s damage within the senior sport.
She has not been named within the squad to face Italy, however will journey with the aspect as a non-playing reserve as she continues to study the ropes.