Field to make first England start against Canada in World Cup final rematch
Hooker Bryony Field will make her first England start on Saturday against Canada, the team England beat in last year's World Cup final, as part of the WXV Global Series at Exeter's Sandy Park.
England's Red Roses face Canada on Saturday at Exeter's Sandy Park in the WXV Global Series, marking the first meeting between the two sides since England beat Canada in last year's World Cup final.
Hooker Bryony Field will start for England for the first time. Field, who plays club rugby for Huddersfield RFC, scored a try on her debut off the bench last weekend in England's 48-15 win over Australia in Salford, a performance cheered on by young players from her home club.
England are currently missing several options at hooker: Amy Cokayne is injured, Connie Powell is recovering from surgery, and Lark Atkin-Davies has recently become a mother. Field will start alongside Maud Muir and Hannah Botterman, who were part of the replacement front row that helped turn last weekend's match in England's favour.
The side also features a new half-back pairing of Lucy Packer at scrum-half and Zoe Harrison at fly-half, while Jess Breach and Alex Matthews return from injury. Fourteen players in the current squad also featured in the matchday squad for England's World Cup final victory.
England head coach John Mitchell said rivalries are essential to the sport and that England's rivalry with Canada has developed into a strong one, adding that Canada are a well-coached side who will present a different kind of challenge than Australia did.
England have won 34 of their 38 all-time meetings with Canada, including the last 14 in a row. Canada's most recent win over England came in 2016, a 52-17 result in Salt Lake City.
After the Canada fixture, England will host New Zealand — their closest rivals in the world rankings — at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium on 26 September. The WXV Global Series then moves to North America in October, with fixtures against Canada in Toronto and Ottawa and a match against the United States in New Jersey.
