England Faces Group Stage Challenge Without Skipper
The England squad will continue their group-stage campaign without captain Zoe Aldcroft, who suffered a knee injury in the opening match against the USA. She joins Emily Scarratt (shoulder) and Holly Aitchison (ankle) on the sidelines.
Marlie Packer returns for her first appearance in the tournament, taking the captain’s armband for her fourth World Cup. The 35-year-old is among 13 changes from the team that played last Friday.
Megan Jones retains her spot at outside centre after a full 80-minute performance against the USA, partnering with Jade Shekells in midfield. Helena Rowland gets an opportunity at fly-half.
England lineup: Emma Sing; Jess Breach, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Megan Jones, Jade Shekells, Helena Rowland, Lucy Packer; Kelsey Clifford, Lark Atkin-Davies, Sarah Bern, Lilli Ives Campion, Rosie Galligan, Abi Burton, Marlie Packer (c), Maddie Feaunati.
Replacements: May Campbell, MacKenzie Carson, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Sadia Kabeya, Natasha Hunt, Zoe Harrison, Ellie Kildunne.
England remains one of the most dominant teams in international sports, with a significant gap between them and their rivals. Given their resources and development, they are clear favorites to win the tournament.
While they comfortably defeated the USA 69-7 in their first match, expectations are higher this time. A bonus-point win isn’t enough—England must deliver a complete performance, with precision in set pieces, attacking structure, and defensive execution.
Kickoff is at 5pm BST in Northampton. Follow for updates.
Read next
Pidcock Furious as Teammates Crash into Police Motorcyclist in Italy
Tom Pidcock admitted he nearly quit the Tre Valli Varesine race in frustration after a police motorcyclist drove into the peloton, injuring two of his Pinarello Q36.5 teammates. After finishing second in the northern Italy race, Pidcock recounted the incident: “A police motorbike was going the wrong way down
2026 Rising Stars: Top 60 Young Football Talents Worldwide
Next Generation 2017: 60 of the Best Young Talents in World Football
In the dynamic world of football, young talent is always at the forefront of shaping the future of the sport. The 2017 edition of the Next Generation list highlights 60 of the most promising young players from across
Arsenal and Chelsea to miss a month of WSL due to Club World Cup commitments
The Women's Super League (WSL) is set to face significant disruption in the upcoming season due to the Club World Cup. Arsenal and Chelsea are likely to miss domestic matches for up to a month, as the inaugural Women's Club World Cup is scheduled for January