Field to make first England start in final rematch

Hooker Bryony Field will make her first start for England as the Red Roses take on Canada, who they beat in last year’s World Cup final, in the WXV Global Series at Exeter’s Sandy Park on Saturday.

Field, who scored a debut try off the bench in the 48-15 win over Australia last weekend, is a product of Huddersfield RFC and was cheered on by a clutch of young girls from the club in the win over the Wallaroos in Salford.

England have a number of absences at hooker with Amy Cokayne injured, Connie Powell recovering from surgery and Lark Atkin-Davies having recently become a mother.

Field starts alongside Maud Muir and Hannah Botterman, who were also part of the replacement front row which helped turn last weekend’s game the hosts’ way.

There is a new-look half-back combination with Lucy Packer and Zoe Harrison at scrum-half and fly-half respectively, while Jess Breach and Alex Matthews return from injury.

In total, 14 of the squad were also in the matchday 23 for their landmark world-title win the last time the teams met.

“You need rivalries in our sport and our rivalry with Canada is one that has evolved to a great level,” said England head coach John Mitchell.

“They are a well-coached team who will bring a different challenge to the one Australia presented. We will be expected to raise our standards.”

England have won 34 of their 38 meetings with Canada, including their last 14 in a row. Canada’s last victory in the fixture was a 52-17 win in Salt Lake City back in 2016.

After taking on Canada, England will play New Zealand, their closest challengers in the world rankings, at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday, 26 September.

Their WXV Global Series campaign then continues on the other side of the Atlantic in October with Tests against Canada in Toronto and Ottawa and a meeting with the United States in New Jersey.

England: Kildunne; Breach, Jones, Rowland, Moloney-MacDonald; Harrison, Packer; Botterman, Field, Muir, Talling, Ives Campion, Burton, Kabeya, Matthews

Replacements: Campbell, Carson, Bern, Burns, Feaunati, Packer, Robinson, Aitchison