Daisy Hibbert-Jones is one of the replacements and ready for her first England cap; Tatyana Heard and Megan Jones come together in midfield for the first time; The new WXV tournament starts on Friday in New Zealand
Last updated: 10/17/23 9:29 am
Ella Wyrwas makes her first start for the Red Roses on Friday
Ella Wyrwas will make her first start for England when the Red Roses take on Australia in the opening match of the inaugural WXV1 tournament on Friday.
Wyrwas, who made three substitute appearances in the 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations, will start at scrum-half as England look to make a winning start in the new three-tier annual international women’s competition.
There will be a new center partnership on display as Tatyana Heard and Megan Jones share midfield together for the first time. Helena Rowland starts at fullback, while wings Abby Dow and Jess Breach also line up at the back. Holly Aitchison continues at fly-half in the Red Roses backline.
In the forwards, props Hannah Botterman and Maud Muir retain their positions, with Connie Powell as hooker.
Number 8 Alex Matthews returns to the squad for the first time since helping the Red Roses to the Grand Slam in April. She joins Captain Marlie Packer and Maisy Allen in the back row. Locks in the pairing between Rosie Galligan and Zoe Aldcroft to complete the package.
Among the replacements, Daisy Hibbert-Jones is ready for her first England cap.
Red Roses head coach Louis Deacon said: “We have had ten fantastic days as a group, both on and off the field, and we are now enjoying our first WXV match under the lights in Wellington on Friday.
“The preparation has been positive; the players are excited about the special opportunities that await them in the coming weeks. They have worked so hard as a collective over the past few months and they are determined to put their work on the pitch as we start our WXV campaign.
“We want to deliver a performance that shows progression and growth and want to make the best possible start in the competition. When we face an Australian team that we don’t face that often, the tension only increases. “
Louis Deacon is interim head coach for the Red Roses in New Zealand
Red Roses line-up: 15. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning), 14. Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women), 13. Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers), 12. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), 11. Jess Breach (Saracens), 10. Holly Aitchison, 9. Ella Wyrwas (Saracens)
1. Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears), 2. Connie Powell (Harlequins), 3. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), 4. Rosie Galligan (Saracens), 5. Zoe Aldcroft – vice-captain (Gloucester-Hartpury), 6 Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs), 7. Marlie Packer – captain (Saracens), 8. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Substitutions – 16. Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears), 17. Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), 18. Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), 19. Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury), 20. Daisy Hibbert-Jones (Loughborough Lightning ), 21. Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), 22. Sophie Bridger (Saracens), 23. Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury)
What is the WXV Tournament?
World Rugby has launched a new annual international women’s competition, WXV, with all home nations in action from Friday 13 October. Each tier has six teams and is played as a standalone tournament in a different location, with WXV 1 in New Zealand, WXV 2 in South Africa and WXV 3 in Dubai.
WXV 1: Australia, Canada, EnglandFrance, New Zealand, Wales.
WXV 2: Italy, Japan, Samoa, ScotlandSouth Africa, USA
WXV 3: Colombia, Fiji, IrelandKazakhstan, Kenya, Spain.
It is a cross-pool format, meaning that teams do not play everyone in their level, but against three countries from outside their continent (excluding Ireland versus Spain).
There will be no relegation from WXV 1 for the first two years, but the sixth-placed team from WXV 2 will be relegated to WXV 3 and replaced by the winner of the third tier. The lowest placed team from WXV 3 is at risk of dropping out of the competition and faces a play-off with the second best team according to the World Rugby Women’s Rankings.