England make three changes, Hunter to earn 140th test
England have made three changes for the Rugby World Cup final against the Black Ferns at Eden Park on Saturday night.
One of them was forced, with fullback Helena Rowland suffering an ankle injury in their semifinal win over Canada at the same venue last weekend. She has been replaced by Ellie Kildunne.
Winger Abby Dow, who scored two tries in that match, including one at the end of a move that began in her in-goal, has shifted from the right flank to the left.
Lydia Thompson has then come in on the right, with incumbent left winger Claudia MacDonald dropping to the bench. Centre Tayana Heard has also dropped to the reserves, with Holly Aitchison coming in to form a combination with Emily Scarratt.
The forward pack is unchanged, with No 8 and captain Sarah Hunter set to earn her 140th cap – more than New Zealand’s eight starting forwards have amassed between them.
England have gone with a sixtwo forwards-backs split on their bench, with Cath O’Donnell replacing Rosie Galligan.
Prop Hannah Botterman was a late withdrawal ahead of the semifinal with a knee injury and has not been able to recover in time for this weekend’s decider.
England coach Simon Middleton said: “I could not be any prouder of the squad, how we have conducted ourselves and how we have performed.
“We set ourselves an objective to leave this country a better squad than when we arrived and regardless of what happens on Saturday (today) we will do that.”
He added that was “no bigger challenge in sport than to play the world champions in their own backyard in front of a sell-out crowd - 99.9 per cent of which will be forming part of the opposition”.
“Great teams don’t fear those challenges, they embrace them, and meet them head on, that’s what we intend to do.”
Captain Hunter said: “I think when you get to the finals, everything goes out the window.
“Form goes out the window, previous results go out the window and experience goes out the window.
“What’s important is who is prepared to show up on the day and put the best version of themselves out. It’s a one-off game.
“Nothing else matters in this tournament but those 80 minutes you’re on the field.
“It doesn’t matter if someone has one cap or 10 or 50, 100 – it’ll be how they go out there with that shirt on that given day. That’s the true test.”
Asked if this is the toughest match they’ve had to prepare for, she said: “We’ll find out on Saturday (today)!
“We’ve had some incredible tests against France that have really come down to fine margins.
“Now we’ve got a Rugby World Cup final in Eden Park with 40,000 people supporting New Zealand but it’s what we thrive on.
“As a player, these are the games you want to play and put the hours in for. We just can’t wait for it.
“It’ll no doubt be a tough test like the others we’ve had so far.”