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Eli Kildon is one of nine changes England have made in their squad to face Canada
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place: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin date: Friday 27 October Starting: 07:00 GMT |
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coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. |
England made nine changes to the side that beat Australia in their next WXV1 match with Canada in Dunedin.
Mackenzie Carson, Sarah Byrne and Lark Atkin-Davies make up the new front row, while Cath O'Donnell and Morwenna Taling are also up front.
Ellie Kildon returns at full-back with Claudia Macdonald on the wing, Amber Reid at center and Natasha Hunt at scrum-half.
“We have named a team that we believe gives us the best opportunity to build on our momentum after last weekend’s game,” interim England coach Lewis Deacon said, referring to the 42-7 win over Australia. 7.
“The energy has been positive throughout our time in New Zealand, and it's been a great start to our time in Dunedin as we prepare for the next round of WXV.
“Our Summer Series games against Canada were the perfect warm-up for WXV and we have no doubt they will provide a stern test again on Friday night.”
Winger Abby Dow, fly-half Holly Aitchison and Helena Rowland, who moves from full-back to outside midfield, all keep their places in defence.
Up front, Zoe Aldcroft, captain and winger Marley Packer and number eight Alex Matthews also hold their places.
The Red Roses, who currently top the world rankings, recorded a bonus-point win over Australia on Friday to make a winning start to the WXV1 tournament.
This is the penultimate match of the Red Roses campaign, with the final against New Zealand taking place in a repeat of last year's World Cup final on 4 November.
New coach John Mitchell linked up with the squad in New Zealand last week, following Simon Middleton's decision to step down following the conclusion of the Six Nations major in April.
England XV: It will come out. Dow, Rowland, Reed, MacDonald; Aitchison, Hunt; Carson, Atkin-Davies, Byrne, Aldcroft, O'Donnell, Talling, Packer (captain), Matthews.
Replacements: Powell, Potterman, Muir, Galligan, Allen, Wierwas, Hurd, Britsch
