England vs New Zealand LIVE: Latest score and updates from women’s rugby Test today

Ellie Kildunne of England

England will attempt to complete a double over New Zealand when the two sides meet for the second time in as many weeks this Sunday. Simon Middleton’s side completed a spectacular seven-try rout of the world champions last week at Sandy Park, with Abbie Ward, Ellie Kildunne, Lark Davies, debutant Holly Aitchison, Abby Dow and Zoe Harrison all crossing the line in a 43-12 victory.

“We’ve got them next week as well. We can’t get complacent. We need to look what we can do better for next week,” Harrison told BBC Sport after the victory. “Today we were really looking at ourselves. Even in the Six Nations we’ve been looking towards the World Cup.”

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One to watch – Helena Rowland

Described by her head coach as “a special player”, Simon Middleton had intended to start Helena Rowland at fly-half this week but Zoe Harrison made herself undroppable with her Sandy Park star-turn, which means Rowland steps in at inside centre.

The pair have largely been deployed the other way round since Rowland’s debut 12 months ago but this configuration has had past success – Saracens won the inaugural final of the Premier 15s with the playmakers in combination.

Rowland was left physically and mentally exhausted after a long season finally ended with a fourth place finish at Tokyo 2020, but having been allowed a bit of time to recharge before returning at Loughborough, this is a chance to show the sort of performance that seemed to have seized her the starting ten shirt in the Six Nations.

“Going away to sevens definitely changed my game a lot,” Rowland said in September. “The opportunity to be in a full time athlete and in a professional programme for the best part of two years was massively beneficial. I think I have come back a different player. I think from a confidence point of view, coming back in I am much more confident to take people on and back myself more.”

One to watch – Portia Woodman

It is a mild surprise that Portia Woodman is not joined in the New Zealand team by fellow Olympic sevens champion Kelly Brazier, but the full-back is not quite ready to return. Woodman is, though, a player who is perhaps, in a crowded field, the most feared winger in the game whether playing fifteens or sevens.

Devastatingly quick and possessing a percussive fend, she lends added star quality to a New Zealand backline that largely failed to impose themselves at Sandy Park, other than the impressive Ayesha Leti-I’iga. Glenn Moore will be hoping for, well, more.

One to watch – Poppy Cleall

It will be a proud day for Poppy Cleall, leading England out for the first time . Her form has been irresistible for most of the last two years and gets an opportunity to start at her week-in, week-out number eight spot, and the further opportunities to carry that it should bring.

She will combine with Leanne Infante, a sometimes fiery foe at club level when the pair have battled in fixtures between Saracens and Harlequins, in England’s new leadership team – they are two knowledgeable, talkative leaders. Simon Middleton is hoping to see how England get on without both Sarah Hunter and Emily Scarratt against top-class opposition as he continues to plot his way towards next year’s World Cup on antipodean soil.

Team News – New Zealand

Having been so heavily beaten, it was always likely that Glenn Moore would look to refresh his Black Ferns side, and so he has. Portia Woodman is the most high-profile addition, fit again after missing out with a knock at Sandy Park and adding real threat on the right wing.

Team News – England

A handful of changes for England, most notably in the pack, where Poppy Cleall shifts back to number eight and takes the captaincy from Sarah Hunter, the Saracen leading England for the first time. There is an injection of Harlequins’ might in the front row, with Vickii Cornborough and Amy Cokayne promoted to the starting side, while Alex Matthews fills the six shirt as England re-slot their jigsaw to create a different final image.

Behind the scrum there is just a single change – Helena Rowland takes the place of Lagi Tuima to combine with former Saracens teammate Zoe Harrison, so impressive last weekend.

England vs New Zealand

England will attempt to complete a double over New Zealand when the two sides meet for the second time in as many weeks this Sunday.

Simon Middleton’s side completed a spectacular seven-try rout of the world champions last week at Sandy Park, with Abbie Ward, Ellie Kildunne, Lark Davies, debutant Holly Aitchison, Abby Dow and Zoe Harrison all crossing the line in a 43-12 victory.

“We’ve got them next week as well. We can’t get complacent. We need to look what we can do better for next week,” Harrison told BBC Sport after the victory. “Today we were really looking at ourselves. Even in the Six Nations we’ve been looking towards the World Cup.”

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