Clark set for women’s appearance record as England face New Zealand

Rochelle Clark will become the most-capped women’s international in history if she features from the bench for England Women against New Zealand at Twickenham Stoop this Saturday in the Old Mutual Wealth Series (kick-off 12pm).

The loosehead prop matched the record of 115 international caps, held by Valkyries Director of Rugby Donna Kennedy, when she scored in last weekend's win over Ireland.

Valkyries winger Lydia Thompson is also recalled to the side on the wing to face New Zealand while Laura Keates starts at tighthead. 

The match will be shown live on EnglandRugby.com and BBC 5 Live Sports Extra.

The Red Roses are two from two so far this autumn having beaten France 10-5 in the series opener before following up with a gritty 12-10 win over Ireland at University College Dublin last Sunday.

However, they face a tougher challenge on Saturday when they take on the world’s number one side, fresh from a convincing 2-0 series win against Australia.

The sides have met just once this World Cup cycle, in July 2015 when the Black Ferns came away with a 26-7 victory.

England Women
15 Danielle Waterman (Bristol, 62 caps)
14 Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries, 25 caps)
13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield, 59 caps)
12 Rachael Burford (Aylesford Bulls, 58 caps)
11 Fiona Pocock (Aylesford Bulls, 31 caps)
10 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 79 caps)
9 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield, 31 caps)
1 Vickii Cornborough (Aylesford Bulls, 19 caps)
2 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield, 18 caps)
3 Laura Keates (Worcester Valkyries, 54 caps)
4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 96 caps)
5 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield, 36 caps)
6 Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol, 22 caps)
7 Marlie Packer (Bristol, 38 caps)
8 Sarah Hunter (Bristol, 83 caps) (c)

Replacements
16 Emma Croker (Richmond, 63 caps)
17 Rochelle Clark (Worcester Valkyries, 115 caps)
18 Justine Lucas (Lichfield, 13 caps)
19 Poppy Cleall (Bristol, 5 caps)
20 Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens, 53 caps)
21 La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 58 caps)
22 Emily Scott (Saracens, 14 caps)
23 Claire Allan (Saracens, 34 caps)

Old Mutual Wealth Series
England 10-5 France, Wednesday 9 November, Twickenham Stoop
Ireland 10-12 England, Sunday 13 November, University College Dublin
England vs New Zealand, Saturday 19 November, Twickenham Stoop, 12pm
England vs Canada, Saturday 26 November, Twickenham, 5.05pm – FREE entry after the conclusion of the men’s game


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