3. RED ROSES RE-SHUFFLE THE MIDFIELD – TATYANA HEARD & MEG JONES START
The England midfield has undergone a reshuffle, with Mitchell again trying out new combinations in the early goings of the Women’s Six Nations. There is no place in the squad for Emily Scarratt, and Helena Rowland misses out of the Wales test through injury.
The starting centres from the Italy opener have been replaced by Tatyana Heard and Meg Jones, with Jones in particular excited for this fixture. Born in Cardiff, Jones admitted earlier this week how her Welsh Dad has split allegiances to this fixture, in what will be her first run-out against Wales. Mitchell spoke at length about Jones’ involvement, and the reasons behind the change-up in the centre of the park.
JOHN MITCHELL: “Tat’s (Tatyana Heard) is coming in on the game line. She’s, able to do that, there’s one of her big strengths. Yes, she’s got a really positive personality as well. So she’s really keen. And then Meg is a little dynamo isn’t she, like she’s quick. She’s a triple threat as well and a huge competitor And they’ve played together before, which is I think is a good combination.”
“We have a particular way that we play. She’s (Emily Scarratt) probably not as quick as he used to be, which I believe that an outside centre needs to be. But she possesses probably the almost the softest hands and the best distribution in the backline, and so we want to use that skill set.”
“So it’s her (Meg Jones’) first test match against Wales. Like speaking to her briefly about it, like the family is amazing. She’s a rugby player and they’re in the rest of the family are obviously supporting her. But outside of that they generally don’t follow rugby. So they get quite a nice balance. See about this weekend obviously she’s going to be well supported by her family but she says she’s a very focused athlete, very focused person who likes to likes to succeed.”
4. SYDNEY GREGSON RETURNS TO THE RED ROSES AFTER MULTIPLE INJURIES
Sydney Gregson is set to make her return to England action, having been on the sidelines for an extended time. The Saracen centre has battled back from a series of brutal MCL and ACL injuries, and is looking to build upon her three England caps that she accrued as far back as 2015. Gregson has also spent time with the England Sevens set-up, as has been welcomed back by her club and country captain Packer, as well as head coach Mitchell.
MARLIE PACKER: “I think just resilience is absolutely amazing, what she’s done and you know, to keep getting up from injury and keep battling it and keep knocking on the door. It’s just amazing from her I think, you know, her caps back when she got them, a lot of the England girls have moved across to sevens so the door opened.
“She took that and then I think injuries came along which is not made it possible to be around for selection recently. But you know, the way she played for Saracens this season coming off the back of doing her ACL just shows what incredible player she is.”
JOHN MITCHELL: “She’s probably been the most consistent outside centre in the PWR. She’s demonstrated really good power. She’s probably one of the most powerful backs that we have as someone of that stature. She just has a really fighting attitude. Yeah, she’s a real competitor.
“And then off the field she’s an extremely good character for for the group. So I like her energy and the girls really enjoy it as well. I think if you go back to the experience of the first few tests, I think the maturity now the age that she is, she’s definitely ready for test rugby again.”