Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Women's Six Nations 2023: England v France - Marlie Packer fit for decider

Written by 
Published in Rugby
Wednesday, 26 April 2023 06:11

England captain Marlie Packer is fit for Saturday's Grand Slam decider against France in the final weekend of the 2023 Women's Six Nations.

Flanker Packer, 33, and prop Hannah Botterman, 23, were injury concerns after last weekend's win in Ireland but both will start at Twickenham.

Helena Rowland is at outside centre as Lagi Tuima drops out of the squad while Lucy Packer starts at scrum-half.

Prop Sarah Bern and hooker Lark Davies also return to the starting line-up.

Sarah Beckett - omitted from last year's World Cup squad - is retained in the second row after a player-of-the-match performance against Ireland and Poppy Cleall is included on the bench as she returns from injury.

Crowd that defies expectations

England are seeking a fifth successive Women's Six Nations title and will be watched by a crowd of more than 53,000 in their first standalone Test at Twickenham.

That figure will surpass the record for a women's rugby crowd of 42,579, for England's World Cup final defeat against New Zealand at Eden Park in 2022.

Earlier in that World Cup, England claimed an 11th victory in a row against France with a tight 13-7 win in the pool stage.

England head coach Simon Middleton - who will step down after Saturday's game - said of the ticket sales: "I'm not sure we were expecting it to be as big as what it is.

"Hopefully that's because the team and the competition have grabbed the imagination of the public."

Packer is included in the team despite spraining her ankle against Ireland while Middleton said Botterman initially appeared to have suffered "a significant knee injury" last weekend.

"We got a second opinion and he was convinced it was an old injury that could very easily have been interpreted as a new injury," Middleton added.

"She's been managed through the week, as has Marlie. It was a very painful injury originally but she's good."

Saracens back row Packer is certain she is ready for what will be England's toughest test of the Women's Six Nations.

"I've done a different training load this week from the rest of the squad but I've come through what I need to be at my best for this week," she said.

France's team for Saturday will be named on Thursday morning.

England: Kildunne; Dow, Rowland, Heard, MacDonald; Aitchison, L Packer; Botterman, Davies, Bern; Aldcroft, Beckett; Kabeya, M Packer (capt), Matthews.

Replacements: Powell, Carson, Muir, Cleall, Talling, Hunt, Reed, Breach.

Read 125 times

Soccer

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice -- with one goal in each half -- a...

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRúben Amorim said Manchester United will have to "suffer for a long...

Liverpool player ratings: Salah stars in comeback win at Southampton

Liverpool player ratings: Salah stars in comeback win at Southampton

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLiverpool fought back from 2-1 down on Sunday to secure a 3-2 victo...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams sustained season-ending te...

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsScotty Pippen Jr. already had plenty of fond memories of watching h...

Baseball

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Chris Woodward has been named first-base coach by th...

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

EmailPrintRico Carty, who won the 1970 National League batting title when he hit a major-league-best...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated