Ellie Kildunne is set to earn her 50th cap for England when she starts against Wales at the Principality Stadium in the Women’s Six Nations on Saturday. She is one of 13 changes made to the starting XV following England’s 38-5 victory over Italy.
Kildunne, who debuted for England in 2017 and has scored 36 tries for her country, will start at full-back after making a substitute appearance on the wing in the previous match. Recognized as an exciting and influential player, she continues to be a key part of the team. Her achievement of 50 caps is a testament to her consistency and impact on the field, with many more games expected in her future.
The back three will also feature Abby Dow and Jess Breach on the wings. Megan Jones and Tatyana Heard will form the centre partnership, with Zoe Harrison and Natasha Hunt operating as the half-back duo.
In the forwards, Mackenzie Carson, Lark Atkin-Davies, and Sarah Bern will form the front row, while Morwenna Talling and Abbie Ward will be in the second row. Sadia Kabeya starts at openside flanker. The only two players retaining their places from the Italy match are captain Zoe Aldcroft and No. 8 Maddie Feaunati, who delivered a standout performance last time out. Meanwhile, Abi Burton, who can play across the back row, could make her England debut off the bench.
The large number of changes reflects the approach of head coach John Mitchell, who is experimenting with different combinations ahead of the World Cup. The team has been training with multiple lineups to ensure cohesion despite the squad rotations. The coaching staff remains confident that the transitions between different combinations will not affect the team’s performance, as players have already spent significant time working together in training.
Wales, meanwhile, have made two changes to their starting team following their narrow 24-21 defeat to Scotland. Gwenllian Pyrs will start in the front row, while Gwen Crabb joins the second row. No. 8 Georgia Evans, who was shown a red card against Scotland, has been cleared to play after a disciplinary review and retains her place in the lineup.
Saturday’s game at the Principality Stadium is set to be a historic occasion, as it will break the record for the highest attendance at a women’s sporting event in Wales. Over 18,000 tickets have been sold, surpassing the previous record of 16,845 set by the Wales women’s football team during their European Championship playoff match against the Republic of Ireland in November.
The occasion highlights the rapid growth of women’s rugby in Wales. Playing at the national stadium in front of a record crowd is a significant moment for the sport, and the Welsh players have been encouraged to take confidence in their ability to compete at the highest level.
As England continues their Six Nations campaign with a focus on squad depth and preparation for future tournaments, the clash with Wales promises to be a highly competitive encounter. The match will serve as an important test for both teams, with England looking to build momentum and Wales aiming to make the most of their home advantage in front of a record-breaking crowd.
