“We’ve spent a lot of time in fight club” – Red Roses Name Squad for Fiji Opener
Simon Middleton has named an experienced Red Roses squad for their opening game of the 2021 Rugby World Cup against Fiji.
The front row alone boasts an impressive total of 180 international caps between them, with Harlequins duo Vickii Cornborough and Amy Cokayne starting alongside each other at loosehead prop and hooker respectively. Bristol Bears tighthead Sarah Bern completes the front three.
Zoe Aldcroft and Abbie Ward start alongside each other in the row while the exciting Sadia Kabeya, who has hugely impressed in her 4 caps so far, starts at openside in the place of the injured Marlie Packer, who is currently side-lined with a foot injury. Alex Matthews starts at 6 with captain Sarah Hunter at 8, making her 136th appearance for the Red Roses in her 4th World Cup.
Club teammates Leanne Infante and Zoe Harrison anchor the side at 9 and 10 while Helena Rowland and Emily Scarratt, also domestic club partners, combine in the centres.
An electric back three of Claudia MacDonald, Lydia Thompson and Ellie Kildunne complete the starting 15.
Abby Dow is the standout name on the bench, who is set to make her first return to the Red Roses since her horrific leg break against Wales in the 2022 Six Nations.
Asked about the expectations he had for Dow on her return, Head Coach Middleton said:
“It’s probably a stock answer, but just to be herself. We just want the Abby Dow back that we saw before she got injured, she was the best finisher in world rugby at that particular point before she got injured”
“I said to her just to enjoy it. To get back from where she’s been is just incredible.”
Speaking about the areas the squad have most improved on, captain Hunter stressed the emphasis the team have put on the breakdown and contact area leading up to the World Cup.
“We’ve spent a lot of time in fight club and the pen of pain, but I think it has paid off. Our set piece has gone up another level since the Six Nations, especially the scrum,” she said.
“From a leadership point our communication and our strategy group have spent a lot of time over the summer working on how we want to run our game plan, how we want to run our training week, and then how we communicate, but probably more importantly how we review sessions from how we’ve tried to implement the objectives that Simon and the coaches have wanted out of it.
“From that area we have spent a lot of time on our work as a leadership group which I think in the USA and Wales games really came into its own. Hopefully, it’s more of the same as we go through the World Cup,” she added.
The Red Roses kick off their World Cup campaign against Fiji at 4:45am (UK/IRE time).
Red Roses v Fijiana – Saturday 8th October, 4:45am (UK/IRE time)
15. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 25 caps)
14. Lydia Thompson (University of Worcester Warriors, 54 caps)
13. Emily Scarratt (VC; Loughborough Lightning, 103 caps)
12. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 17 caps)
11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 20 caps)
10. Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 40 caps)
9. Leanne Infante (Saracens, 52 caps)
1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 70 caps)
2. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 64 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 46 caps)
4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 32 caps)
5. Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)
6. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 51 caps)
7. Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps)
8. Sarah Hunter (C; Loughborough Lightning, 135 caps)
Finishers
16. Connie Powell (Gloucester-Hartpury, 5 caps)
17. Hannah Botterman (Saracens, 30 caps)
18. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 11 caps)
19. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 20 caps)
20. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 57 caps)
21. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 5 caps)
22. Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 10 caps)
23. Abby Dow (Wasps, 24 caps)
