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Zoe Aldcroft’s consistency at lock has been crucial to England’s success during the Six Nations campaign - Getty Images/Charlotte Wilson
England face France at Allianz Stadium on Saturday in a Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider.
After all the chopping and changing during this year’s championship, here are the Red Roses teams Telegraph Sport writers would like to see John Mitchell pick.
You can join the debate in the comments section at the bottom.
‘Start Aitchison at 12’
In a World Cup year, unpredictability is England’s buzzword but they must not be tempted to play all their cards too early, which is why I have resisted tinkering with Zoe Aldcroft’s position. She continues as part of an all-conquering back row that will benefit from Alex Matthews’ big-game experience. I would swap in tighthead titan Sarah Bern for Maud Muir at half-time, given the pair are seamlessly interchangeable.
In a Grand Slam decider, tactics trump form so Holly Aitchison dislodges Tatyana Heard at inside centre, adding another kicking threat to complement the more assured choice of Zoe Harrison at fly-half. England’s back three speaks for itself. Claudia MacDonald has earned her stripes on the wing but there is no place in the match-day squad for Jess Breach or Emily Scarratt. England’s depth is greater than the Challenger Deep.
‘Move Aldcroft to lock’
Accepted wisdom might suggest that the time for experimentation should be over with a Grand Slam decider against France at Twickenham to cap another encouraging Six Nations campaign, but the bigger picture of a home World Cup demands a few more tweaks and trials.
I am extremely curious about whether the exceptional Zoe Aldcroft could revert back to lock to accommodate a mighty back-row trio of Maddie Feaunati, Sadia Kabeya and Alex Matthews. John Mitchell knows a fair bit about assembling funky combinations on the eve of World Cups after teaming up Tom Curry and Sam Underhill back in 2019.
Elsewhere, though her versatility would also suit a bench role, Claudia MacDonald deserves to start. Her running style reminds me of Gabin Villière, one of my absolute favourite players, and a half-back partnership of Lucy Packer and Zoe Harrison will feed the flanks. Holly Aitchison is mightily unlucky to return to the bench, and you have individuals as classy as Rosie Galligan, Emily Scarratt and Jess Breach not even making the squad. England are in a remarkable position of strength.
‘Experience on the bench’
People have lauded Sarah Bern’s impact off the bench in this championship but I would like to see the tighthead unleashed from the first minute against France. She can punch holes in the visitors’ defence with her powerful carrying game and cause them problems in the scrum. Then Maud Muir can come on around the 50-minute mark and do the same.
There are tight calls across the starting team: Rosie Galligan just pips Morwenna Talling in the second row and I have opted for Amy Cokayne at hooker as I feel she has a slight edge over Lark Atkin-Davies as a carrier. Given the magnitude of the match, I think experience is needed on the bench should the ship need to be steadied late on, so centurions Marlie Packer and Emily Scarratt make the 23.
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