Aldcroft to hit 50 caps as England make seven changes for Wales clash

Zoe Aldcroft is set to win her 50th England cap when The Red Roses face Wales in Bristol for the second round of the Women’s Six Nations.

Head coach John Mitchell has made seven changes to the side that routed Italy 48-0 in week one, with Emily Scarratt dropping out of the team after making her return to the Test arena in Parma following a lengthy injury.

Aldcroft, who was named World Player of the Year in 2021, starts at second row to reach her half-century in an England shirt.

Scarratt and the injured Helena Rowland are out, with a new centre partnership of Megan Jones and Tatyana Heard lining up.

Maud Muir, Rosie Galligan and Alex Matthews are new additions to the starting pack, while there is a new half-back pairing in Natasha Hunt and Holly Aitchison.

“Tatyana [Heard] can win the gainline and that is one of her big strengths,” said Mitchell. “Meg [Jones] is a little dynamo, she is quick, a triple threat and a huge competitor. They’ve played together before which I think is a good combination.”

History is set to be made, with 18,000 tickets already sold for the game at Ashton Gate making it the biggest home crowd for an England women’s game outside of Twickenham.

“We’re excited to play in front of a home crowd for the first time in this year’s tournament,” Mitchell added. “To have sold 18,000 tickets with two days to go until matchday shows the appetite for Red Roses rugby in this country.

“The girls have been focused on the opportunity that a match against Wales presents and we have been planning and building on this short week for some time.

“All teams will be better for their second outing and we’re looking forward to improving our game.”

England’s big win over the Azzurre in week one was achieved despite Sarah Beckett receiving an 11th-minute red card for a dangerous clearout that resulted in a three-week suspension.

There are six changes to the Wales side that lost 20-18 to Scotland last weekend.

Sian Jones will make her full international debut at scrum-half, while Carys Cox, Carys Pillips, Donna Rose, Georgia Evans and Kate Williams also come in.

“England are the benchmark side for every nation in the women’s game and we have nothing to lose against a team that won the Grand Slam last season,” said Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham.

England v Wales teams

England: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Aitchison, Hunt; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Muir, Aldcroft, Galligan, Kabeya, Packer (c), Matthews.

Replacements: Powell, Carson, Clifford, Ward, Feaunati, Packer, Harrison, Gregson.

Wales: Hesketh; Joyce, Jones, Lake, Cox; George, Jones; Pyrs, Phillips, Rose, Fleming, Evans, Williams, Callender, Lewis.

Replacements: Jones, Constable, Tuipulotu, John, Butchers, Bevan, Powell, Metcalfe.

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