Ellie Kildunne will be back in an England side featuring a mammoth 13 changes when they continue their quest for yet more Women’s Six Nations glory away to Wales on Saturday.
Kildunne, the current world player of the year, returns at full-back for her 50th Test appearance after being on the bench for England’s tournament-opening 38-5 win over Italy in York last weekend.
England captain Zoe Aldcroft, who continues at blindside flanker, and No 8 Maddie Feaunati are the only survivors from a new-look side that started against Italy.
The Red Roses are overwhelming favourites to win a seventh successive title and fourth consecutive Grand Slam ahead of this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup on home soil.
England have now lost just one of their last 52 games — but that sole reverse was an agonising 34-31 defeat by New Zealand in the World Cup final three years ago.
They have been beaten by the Black Ferns in five World Cup finals, with native New Zealander John Mitchell, a former coach of the men’s All Blacks, brought in to help England go one better.
Mitchell said before the start of the Women’s Six Nations he planned to use two different teams during the tournament in a bid to build squad depth.
The England coach has lived up to those words by selecting an entirely new backline, as well as front and second rows, for Saturday’s match in Cardiff against a Wales team beaten 24-21 by Scotland in the first round.
England (15-1)
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt; Maddie Feaunati, Sadiya Kabeya, Zoe Aldcroft (capt); Abbie Ward, Morwenna Talling; Sarah Bern, Lark Atkin-Davies, Mackenzie Carson
Replacements: Amy Cokayne, Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir, Rosie Galligan, Abi Burton, Lucy Packer, Holly Aitchison, Helena Rowland
