Seven Saracens set to face Scotland
Seven Saracens stars are set to face Scotland in the opening round of the TikTok Six Nations, with Ella Wyrwas and Kelsey Clifford poised to win their first caps for their country alongside Mackenzie Carson.
Saturday's game in Newcastle kicks off at 16:45 and will be broadcast live on BBC Two.
Sarah Hunter will lead her side for one final time at No.8 after announcing she is to retire following the match in her hometown, having been named in the back row alongside co-captain and Saracens flanker Marlie Packer.
Saracens prop Mackenzie Carson has been called up to England’s Six Nations squad after her birth right transfer to represent the Red Roses was confirmed. The 24-year-old qualifies for England through her English mother.
Having previously earned three caps for Canada, including one against England during the Autumn Internationals in 2018, Carson has made herself available to play for England under World Rugby’s birth right transfer rules which allows a capped player to switch allegiance to another country they are eligible to play for following a three-year stand-down period. She starts at loose-head prop to earn her first cap alongside Amy Cokayne (hooker) and Sarah Bern (tight-head prop) in the front row.
Poppy Cleall starts in the second row alongside Zoe Aldcroft, whilst Holly Aitchison starts at fly half, having returned to competitive action against DMP Sharks a few weeks ago.
Jess Breach also comes into the starting line up, after a blistering spell in Saracens colours that has seen her score ten tries since the Premier15s season resumed in January.
Amongst the replacements, homegrown talent Clifford and Wyrwas could earn their first caps for their country having impressed in the black and red of Saracens this season. Clifford recently made her 50th appearance for the club and graduates into the England senior side following a string of impressive performances at age-group level.
England's campaign sees them host Scotland and Italy, before making the trip to Wales. They will then travel to face an ever-improving Irish side, before rounding off the tournament with the first women's standalone fixture at Twickenham, when they take on the French.
