‘Miss Versatility’ Rowland crucial to England hopes

England vs. Spain warm-up for the Rugby World Cup

Location: Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Saturday, August 2nd Kick-off: 00 BST

Helena Rowland, England’s World Cup-chasing squad’s head coach, is “probably the most valuable person,” according to John Mitchell, head coach.

The versatile back’s 40th Test appearance will be her first on the wing in Saturday’s warm-up match against Spain.

After playing at fly-half, center, and full-back, Mitchell has also asked Rowland to play scrum-half for the tournament.

During the Red Roses’ Six Nations campaign earlier this year, the 25-year-old twice stepped off the bench and onto the wing.

Claudia Moloney-McDonald has been used as a backup in Mitchell’s World Cup squad despite Natasha Hunt and Lucy Packer serving as specialist scrum-halves in recent weeks.

Rowland has since added to her repertoire by working as a scrum-half in the wake of Moloney-McDonald’s minor leg injury.

Heathera is “Miss Versatility,” Mitchell said, “She is at full-back, wing, center, 10 and probably fourth nine.” She is equipped to play that role, she claims.

You must be certain to have that versatility because a 32-player squad has difficulty in its mix. Some sides lack that, but we are fortunate to have that versatility.

“Helena is probably the team’s most valuable member. She excels in rugby. I’m constantly considering how to fit her.

After their 2022 Rugby World Cup campaign, England is aware that depth and adaptability are important.

Due to injury to first-choice scrum-half Leanne Infante, they were forced into a late change before the final game against New Zealand. On the morning of the game, which England lost 34-31, Packer was added because she was suffering from a foot problem.

Mitchell has also given flanker Abi Burton, who was facing Spain in the Leicester game, his first Test start as a result of Mitchell’s preparation for the competition on home soil.

In this year’s Six Nations campaign, the former sevens player made two bench appearances for the Red Roses.

England makes nine changes to their starting lineup after beating France in their Grand Slam match in April, with the exception of Las Leonas, where several key players were rested.

While Packer is in at scrum-half with Hunt on the bench, inside center Jade Shekells and second row Lilli Ives Campion, both of whom have two caps, get a chance to stake their claims.

Rowland and Jess Breach complete the back three while Emma Sing and full-back Emma Sing finish the front three.

Abbie Ward replaces Rosie Galligan to assist her with her shoulder recovery after she was initially given the name “start.”

After Holly Aitchison complained of a minor ankle issue, center Tatyana Heard now has a spot on the bench.

Mitchell remarked, “I won’t play anyone who is injured.” The tournament has not yet begun.

Abby Dow, Sadia Kabeya, and Zoe Aldcroft are also expected to take the place.

The first of two warm-up games before the World Cup is when England and Spain, ranked 13th in the world, square off.

Next weekend in Mont-de-Marsan, where Mitchell is likely to field a team of a first-choice selection, they will also face France.

How they perform well in this campaign may depend on how well they fare with their formidable depth and players developed in their world-leading PWR competition.

In Sunderland on August 22 for the first time, they will face the United States.

England: Rowland, Jones, Shekells, Breach, Harrison, L Packer, Clifford, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Ward, Campion, Burton, M Packer (capt) Feaunati.