England head coach John Mitchell has named three uncapped players in his Red Roses squad for the Women’s Six Nations, including the surprise choice of flanker Maddie Fe’aunati.
Fe’aunati arrived in Premiership Women’s Rugby from New Zealand’s top flight five months ago, signing for Exeter Chiefs and immediately impressing with her ball-carrying performances.
The daughter of Samoan and Bath striker Issac Fe’aunati, she was born in Leeds and holds a British passport, but attracted interest from the Black Ferns after moving to New Zealand to play in the country’s top women’s division. After turning down a Black Ferns contract earlier this year, the 21-year-old has decided to pledge her allegiance to the Red Roses.
The other two uncapped players in the 35-player Red Roses squad are Ealing Trailfinders winger Vicky Laflin and Exeter tighthead Lizzie Hanlon.
Emily Scarratt is back, despite playing just three hours of rugby since returning from a serious neck injury that sidelined her for 14 months. Sydney Gregson, a dynamic center who earned the first of her three England caps in the 2015 Women’s Six Nations as a 19-year-old but has not played for her country since, has also been selected. The 28-year-old has been one of Saracens’ most consistent players since returning from a 13-month break due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Mitchell, who officially took over the Red Roses late last year at the end of their victorious WXV campaign, praised the extraordinary depth in the England women’s game and admitted he could have chosen “three sides” for the tournament.
Asked if he could remember a time in his coaching career when he had so much depth at his disposal, Mitchell, who coached the New Zealand men’s team from 2001 to 2003, said: “Probably the All Blacks. Yes. That’s the last time I’ve had this opportunity and rugby has changed a lot in the men’s game since the All Blacks. [Now] they probably don’t have the same depth as I knew then. I am very grateful to be in the position I am in.”
Abbie Ward, the Bristol Bears lock who was one of the first to benefit from the RFU’s pioneering maternity policy, has also taken the plunge as she focuses on her first international match since becoming a mother last summer.
What do we know about ‘bolter’ Maddie Fe’aunati?
Despite her stop-start season at Exeter Chiefs, she is the most important player in the England team. The blindside flanker, who can also operate as a number 8, declined a contract for Black Ferns earlier this year.
She spent most of her childhood in England, where her father coached, before moving to New Zealand to play in the country’s Super Rugby Aupiki competition for Hurricanes Poua. Despite not being involved in any of England’s Six Nations training camps, she has been on Mitchell’s radar for some time.
“Maddie is a naturally talented ball-carrying football player,” Mitchell said. “She can be a very good line-out jumper. We have invested in what we believe is a very good carrying athlete.
“We are fortunate that she is committed to playing for England. She has always seen the Red Roses as something to aspire to. We have been in contact with her family and Exeter about the reasons why she returned. Ultimately, we had to make sure we had the right commitment.”
Aside from her standout performances for Chiefs, her call-up is in line with Mitchell’s stated aim to look beyond England’s contracted players when it comes to squad selection. “The door is still open to everyone. It will always remain that way. I’m always looking for a go-getter,” Mitchell told Telegraph Sport last month.
Where does Emily Scarratt fit into the midfield plans?
England’s experienced outside center Scarratt has played just 181 minutes of rugby in the last 14 months after undergoing surgery due to a career-threatening neck injury. On Tuesday, Mitchell confirmed he wanted to use the former World Player of the Year – who he described as a ‘triple threat’ – more as a distributor in the centre.
Scarratt has already spent all three games in this position for her club, Loughborough Lightning. “She still has challenges ahead of her to handle the speed of the game, but if we stage that well, the strength and conditioning team can handle that. We see her as a twelve,” he said.
So where does Scarratt fit in the England midfield? Scarratt has not played for England since the 2022 World Cup final. Her passing game and all-round skills remain among the strongest in the game, but she faces a battle to dislodge Tatyana Heard, a boundary-breaking midfielder who has started 10 of the last 14 England Tests in the middle, from the starting line-up. .
Who will take the keys to number 10?
England’s kicking game – and depth at fly-half – has set the Red Roses apart from other countries in recent years. This year is no different. Zoe Harrison is back in the mix after a year away from the international stage after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in March last year. Holly Aitchison took over as England’s first-choice fly-half and spoke about her ambitions to make the shirt her own. She grew into the role last year, but there were times when she lacked edge.
Another viable option could be to unleash Helena Rowland, one of the Red Roses’ most versatile backs, into the position. Previously used as an outside centre, Rowland has excelled in the fly-half role for Loughborough Lightning in Premiership Women’s Rugby this season, but Mitchell still sees her primarily as an outside centre. “She will still play thirteen, that is her main role, but in some matches she will return to ten,” he confirmed. “Ultimately we have three fly-halves and they all play in different ways. Helena has the ability to chase a game for us and finish a game for us because of her attacking, attacking ability.
Who will replace Sarah Bern at Tighthead?
Bern was ruled out of the tournament weeks ago after suffering a season-ending injury. No one can replace the raw speed of the Bristol tighthead, who has cemented her status as one of the best props in the women’s game.
With her 25 Test caps, Maud Muir is the most experienced among the trio of tightheads selected, ahead of Kelsey Clifford and Lizzie Hanlon, the latter with a diving and gymnastics background. “They have the opportunity to really take the position themselves,” Mitchell said. “I’d like to think that by the time we get to WXV, Kelsey and Lizzie will look at Sarah and say, ‘You’re after us.’
Will Poppy Cleall start after being banned from the opening match?
Cleall’s inclusion had been questioned after she was a surprise omission from England’s 38-player Six Nations training camp last January, before being called up to the side’s second training camp in early March.
Despite being handed a two-match ban for conduct prejudicial to the match in Saracens’ win over Leicester Tigers last week – meaning she will miss England’s match in Parma on March 24 – Mitchell confirmed he had a “ shift” in the way the number 8 has played. has registered in recent weeks.
Her place as a starter in the Red Roses’ pack is not a foregone conclusion, however, given the fierce battle for the No. 8 spot following Sarah Hunter’s retirement.
Alex Matthews, England’s highly experienced flanker, was deployed in this position throughout the victorious WXV campaign. Zoe Aldcroft has also worn the number 8 shirt since Hunter’s retirement, while Sarah Beckett is another candidate who could be a good fit for the role given her experience in the role.
But during her 65 England caps, Cleall has shown herself to be one of the most resourceful players in the England squad. Having played lock, flanker and even prop for her country, her versatility counts in her favor.
