England Women’s team announced for French World Cup match

England Women’s head coach Geoff Richards has named his team to face France in what is a crucial IRB Rugby World Cup match on Friday, kick-off midnight BST, at St. Albert’s RFC in Edmonton, Canada.

England currently sits fourth on the IRB table following wins over the USA (18-0) and South Africa (74-8), but need a victory or a draw to confidently ensure a place in the semi-finals.  England and France last locked horns in March when the Red Roses stormed to a 28-0 victory in Paris to take the Six Nations title in style. Richards, however, is not expecting a re-run of his team’s emphatic victory, knowing that France are always a dangerous outfit.

He said: “Physiologically, we may have a slight advantage over France with the Six Nations win under our belts. We know we can beat them having done so recently, but realistically I really don’t think that result will have any bearing on the way this game goes and I am certainly not expecting such a performance again. That occasion was one of those days when everything we did turned to gold. It was almost like a perfect game for us in many ways.

“This match is going to be all about what happens on the day. France have certainly improved since March and clearly they have a very good back five in the scrum. They are also fast, powerful and they move the ball around well. They are going to be a very dangerous side for us.

“This match is basically a ‘do or die’ game and easily the most important match of the year for us. Potentially the loser drops out of the reckoning, but I have named a very strong team again and I have full confidence in every member of this squad that they will perform and come away with the right result.”

Worcester’s Jo Yapp returns to the starting line-up at scrum-half to lead England out against France with Saracens’ Karen Andrew also back in at number ten. Rochelle Clark and Amy Garnett return to the front-row with Richmond’s Jenny Sutton also back in the second-row.  Henley’s Danielle Waterman makes her first start of the World Cup on the wing, with vice-captain Sue Day this time moving into the centre to partner Clifton’s Kim Oliver. Lichfield’s Charlotte Barras starts at full-back for her third game on the bounce.

England: 1 Rochelle Clark (Henley), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Vanessa Gray (Wasps), 4 Jennifer Sutton (Richmond), 5 Tamara Taylor (Thirsk), 6 Georgia Stevens (Clifton), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (Folkestone), 9 Jo Yapp (Worcester) (Captain), 10 Karen Andrew (Saracens), 11 Kim Shaylor (Worcester), 12 Kim Oliver (Clifton), 13 Sue Day (Wasps) (VC), 14 Danielle Waterman (Henley), 15 Charlotte Barras (Lichfield),

Replacements:  16 Selena Rudge (Wasps), 17 Vanessa Huxford (Wasps), 18 Jenny Lyne (Richmond), 19 Helen Clayton (Saracens), 20 Amy Turner (Wasps), 21 Shelley Rae (Wasps), 22 Michaela Staniford (Henley),

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