Second Match of International Test Series – England vs New Zealand

UPDATE 11/29: Twitter Match Report

Don’t forget that the matches on November 29 and December 3 at Esher RFC will be available at to watch LIVE via www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive. 

November 29 England Women v New Zealand, Esher RFC, KO 7.00pm UK 1.00pm CST, live at www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive
December 3 England Women v New Zealand, Esher RFC, 2.00pm UK , 8.00am CST, live at www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive

View Round 2 Predictions from Scrumqueens here.

England have made 10 changes to their starting team to play New Zealand on Tuesday night from the side who were victorious at Twickenham at the weekend.

Head coach Gary Street is making full use of his 26-player squad for the short turnaround with just five players starting a second game in succession – as one of the changes is positional.

Tamara Taylor, Rebecca Essex, Katy McLean (pictured), Michaela Staniford and Kim Oliver all start for their second test in three days. Taylor and Essex swap spots in the second row.

There is a young feel about the starting line-up with Hannah Gallagher and Alexandra Matthews, who still qualify for England’s Under 20s squad, starting at flanker and Number 8 while youngster Kay Wilson gets the nod at 15.

Natasha Hunt, who shone off the bench at the weekend also starts.

England Roster
15 Kay Wilson (Richmond)
14 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
13 Rachael Burford (Richmond)
12 Kimberley Oliver (Bristol)
11 Michaela Staniford (Wasps)
10 Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) (C)
9 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield)
1 Claire Purdy (Wasps) (VC)
2 Amy Turner (Richmond)
3 Laura Keates (Worcester)
4 Rebecca Essex(Richmond)
5 Tamara Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
6 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens)
7 Marlie Packer (Bristol)
8 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond)

Replacements:
16 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield)
17 Sophie Hemming (Bristol)
18 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond)
19 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens)
20 La Toya Mason (Wasps)
21 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield)
22 Katherine Merchant (Worcester)

New Zealand coach Grant Hansen has made five changes to his starting line-up to play England in the second test against England.

Influential hooker Fiao’o Faamausili is out of the tour having suffered and cruciate knee ligament injury while captain Victoria Grant is in a race against time to be fit for the third test having injured her ankle.

The changes to the starting tem see Karina Penetito replace Faamausili while Kelani Matapo, Lydia Crossman, Kendra Cocksedge and Katarina Whata all come into the starting team. Matapo, Crossman and Whata will be winning their first caps while Muteremoana Aiatu is another debutant who is on the bench.

Casey Robertson (pictured) is handed the captaincy duties.

New Zealand Roster
1 Kathleen Wilton
2 Karina Penetito
3 Mel Bosman
4 Vita Robinson
5 Kelani Matapo
6 Lydia Crossman
7 Justine Lavea
8 Casey Robertson (C)
9 Kendra Cocksedge
10 Rebecca Mahoney
11 Renee Wickliffe
12 Amiria Rule
13 Shakira Baker
14 Katarina Whata
15 Kelly Brazier

Replacements
16 Stephanie TeOhaere-Fox
17 Muteremoana Aiatu
18 Eloise Blackwell
19 Aroha Savage
20 Emma Jensen
21 Teresa Te Tamaki
22 Hazel Tubic

Don’t forget that the matches on November 29 and December 3 at Esher RFC will be available at to watch LIVE via www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive. 

November 29 England Women v New Zealand, Esher RFC, KO 7.00pm UK 1.00pm CST, live at www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive
December 3 England Women v New Zealand, Esher RFC, 2.00pm UK , 8.00am CST, live at www.rfu.com/englandwomenlive