Alex Matthews returns to England in Saturday’s clash with Ireland in the Mussgrave Park in a warning that she faces serious competition at No. 8 by Maddie Feaunati.
Matthews will make her first appearance of six women’s nations after completing a two-match suspension made for a dangerous solution in the Gloucester-Hartpur Prime Minister’s final victory over Saracens last month.
The 31-year-old enters for Feaunati as one of the three changes on the side that overloaded Wales 67-12-and is the rear row of adorned exeter that has appeared as a harsh rival for her place in the team.
The feaunati withdrew in the opening of two rounds of the tour, winning the player of the match against Italy and marking two efforts at the Principality Stadium, to pose a serious threat to the Matthews control of a jersey she has been wearing since the World Cup in 2022.
“Alex is aware of how well Maddie is going, but she’s not very proud to say that while she is a very good player, she does not own the shirt,” said Red Roses’ attack coach Lou Meadows.
“She knows she will always have to fight for her and that’s why she is so great to work on herself all the time. She doesn’t stop. She is an extremely focused individual.
“She wants to be better all the time and, most importantly, she wants to raise that shirt where she can be. She is aware of who is around her and how she can also support them. It is all about the shirt and red roses, not just for herself.
“On both sides of the Alex ball knows how to create an influence. It will enter this game absolutely flying because it will focus on the pictures, it will look at other players and how they are playing and it will look at the opposition.”
Props Maud Muir and Hannah Botterman complement changes for the round-three match in Cork with John Mitchell by named an unchanged line.
The team’s selection is designed for the first four matches of the six nations with the Grand Slavider-Decider possible against France at Allianz Stadium on April 26 the first indicator this year how Mitchell sees his first choice.
A week after three backs of Ellie Kildunne won her 50th lid, the Abby Dow’s Wing will Saturday at the same reference point armed at a 43-tast strike rate in 49 games.
“Abby is a phenomenal athlete, but it is also extremely smart. She is a very dedicated and run individual, but she is also extremely careful,” Meadows said.
Red Roses team to play Wales
England: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Jess Breach, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Natasha Hunt; 1 Hannah Botterman, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Morwenna Terwing, 5 Abbie Ward, 6 Zoe Aldcroft, 7 Sadia Kabaya, 8 Alex Matthews.
Substitutions: 16 Amy Cockayne, 17 Kelsey Clifford, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Rosie Galligan, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Helena Rowland.
Women’s matches of six nations
Saturday March 22
Ireland 15-27 France
Scotland 24-21 Wales
Sunday March 23
England 38-5 Italy
Saturday March 29
France 38-15 Scotland
Wales 12-67 England
Sunday 30 March
Italy 12-54 Ireland
Saturday 12 April
France vs Wales, 12.45 afternoon
Ireland vs England, 4.45 afternoon
Sunday 13 April
Scotland vs Italia, 3pm in the afternoon
Saturday 19 April
Italy vs France, 1 afternoon
England vs Scotland, 4.45 afternoon
Sunday April 20th
Wales vs Irland, 3pm in the afternoon
Saturday April 26
Italy vs Wales, 12.15 afternoon
Scotland vs Ireland, 2.30pm in the afternoon
England VS France, 4.45 pm
