Match Preview – England vs Canada – 2nd Test

Canada face a foreboding challenge on Tuesday when they face England in the second of three tests between the two in the span of eight days. The first match was a brutal 79-5 drubbing in favor of the hosts at Allianz Park. The second takes place at The Stoop as the teams move within eyesight of Twickenham, where they will wrap up the series on Saturday.

Each team, predictably, has made changes for the mid-week encounter. England will make it three test centurions on the pitch when captain Sarah Hunter runs out to win her 100th cap in her favored No 8 shirt. Rochelle Clark will start at loosehead prop in her record-stretching 131st international, and Tamara Taylor returns to the engine room from kickoff in her 110th game in a senior England jersey. At the other end of the spectrum there are two new caps in Catherine O’Donnell and Jo Brown who start at lock and blindside flank respectively.

The backs have two changes and one slight positional switch. Charlotte Clapp is recalled on the left wing with six-try sensation Jess Breach switching to the right. Teenage star Ellie Kildunne earns her first start after making her debut on Friday. Bristol outside back Lagi Tuima should win her first cap as a reserve after being added to the bench.

Sandro Fiorino has opted for just three changes to his run-on side but there are a handful of positional switches. Three players will make their debut with Emily Tuttosi starting at hooker, Pam Buisa on the blindside flank, and Dria Bennett in at outside centre. Buisa, part of the women’s sevens squad, is a late call-up to the squad in place of injured Fabiola Forteza. Ireland-based second row Emma Taylor is recalled on the bench.

Captain Laura Russell swaps the front row for the second in the only other change to the pack while four backs have swapped jerseys. Jess Neilson moves from flyhalf to scrumhalf, Brianna Miller from scrumhalf to fullback, and Anaïs Holly from fullback to flyhalf. Emma Jada is pushed back to the wing after playing outside centre on Friday.

The match kicks off at 7:45pm local, 2:45pm Eastern. Broadcasts are available on TSN Go and Sky Sports.

ENGLAND
1 Rochelle Clark, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Heather Kerr, 4 Catherine O’Donnell, 5 Tamara Taylor, 6 Jo Brown, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Sarah Hunter (capt.), 9 Leanne Riley, 10 Katy Mclean, 11 Charlotte Clapp, 12 Amber Reed, 13 Rachael Burford, 14 Jess Breach, 15 Ellie Kildunne

Replacements: 16 Lark Davies, 17 Vickii Cornborough, 18 Hannah Botterman, 19 Abbie Scott, 20 Izzy Noel-Smith, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Zoe Harrison, 23 Lagi Tuima

CANADA
1 Brittany Kassil, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 Olivia DeMerchant, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Laura Russell (capt.), 6 Pam Buisa, 7 Sara Svoboda, 8 Cindy Nelles, 9 Jess Neilson, 10 Anaïs Holly, 11 Emma Jada, 12 Emily Belchos, 13 Dria Bennett, 14 Paige Farries, 15 Brianna Miller

Replacements: 16 Alex Ellis, 17 Veronica Harrigan, 18 McKinley Hunt, 19 Emma Taylor, 20 Janna Slevinsky, 21 Justine Pelletier, 22 Nadia Popov, 23 Sam Alli

Date: Tuesday, November 21
Venue: The Stoop, London
Kickoff: 19:45 local (14:45 ET, 11:45 PT)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
Assistants: Alhambra Nievas (FER) & Tim Baker (HKRFU)
Broadcasts: TSN Go, Sky Sports