Richards names squad for final Women’s Rugby Six Nations clash

 by Julia Hutton RFU Press Office

England Women’s head coach Geoff Richards has rung the changes ahead of this Saturday’s final Six Nations clash against Ireland at Old Albanians RFC, kick-off 3pm.    Richards’ side head into their last match of the tournament in the best possible position to secure the Grand Slam and the Six Nations title for the first time since 2003 following wins over Wales, Spain, Scotland and France.

Richards said: “I have got faith in every member of the England 22 so I am comfortable making a handful of changes to the starting line-up. Several of the players who have benched during the tournament so far are getting a start because I know they can go out there and do the job. Without underestimating our Irish opponents all our players need game time and a chance to prove themselves ahead of the World Cup this summer.”

Richards will be hoping the England Women can carry the impressive performance they displayed at the Stade Robert Bobin last Saturday which saw his side demolish arch-rivals France 28-0. The four try victory saw England defeat a side they have not beaten in two years.

He added: “I was delighted with our performance against France. The win puts us exactly where we want to be as we head into the final stages of the tournament. After the high of beating France so comprehensively it can sometimes be hard to replicate the performance but all the players know what an important game this Saturday will be, which is made all the more important because we want to go to the World Cup in Canada with a Six Nations Grand Slam under our belts. However, if we can achieve our aim it will give us a lot of confidence ahead of a summer of hard training and then the World Cup.”

England: 1 Vanessa Huxford (Wasps) 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens) 3 Vanessa Gray (Wasps) 4 Tamara Taylor (Thirsk Sharks) 5 Rachel Vickers (Richmond) 6 Georgia Stevens (Clifton) 7 Helen Clayton (Saracens) VC 8 Catherine Spencer (Folkestone) 9 Jo Yapp (Worcester) (C) 10 Karen Andrew (Saracens) 11 Danielle Waterman (Henley) 12 Kim Oliver (Clifton) 13 Michaela Staniford (Henley) 14 Charlotte Barras (Lichfield) 15 Vicky Massarella (Saracens) Replacements: 16 Selena Rudge (Wasps) 17 Rochelle Clark (Henley) 18 Jenny Sutton (Richmond) 19 Maggie Alphonsi (Saracens) 20 Shelley Rae (Wasps) 21 Nicola Crawford (Worcester) 22 Sue Day (Wasps)

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