Rugby World Cup: Excluding Natasha Hunt 'could come back to bite England'
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Lucy Packer has six England caps
Taking scrum-half Lucy Packer to the World Cup instead of the more experienced Natasha Hunt "could come back to bite England", says former captain Katy Daley-Mclean.
Packer, 22, was an unused substitute in England's 13-7 win against France as head coach Simon Middleton kept Leanne Infante on the field.
Claudia MacDonald can also play nine, but has so far been used as a wing.
"I think it's somewhere England are really vulnerable," Daley-Mclean said.
"What happens if Leanne goes down? That is a concern. We know Simon Middleton is encouraged by Lucy.
"World Cup and Test match rugby is a very different world. It could be a huge decision that comes back and bites them."
England's place in the quarter-finals was guaranteed after Fiji beat South Africa on Sunday and Middleton's side will secure top spot if beat struggling South Africa next Sunday.
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World Cup winner Hunt's exclusion was the biggest shock when England's squad was announced.
Middleton explained at the time that Packer's style of play suited the Red Roses' game-plan better, suggesting Hunt's flair had cost her a place on the plane.
In England's opening win against Fiji, Packer - who has six caps - came on in the 65th minute when her side were already 65-14 up.
Middleton believes she did not need the experience that playing a crunch match against France would have brought before England enter the knockout stages.
"Lucy's fine," he said. "She trains week in, week out with that much pressure on her."
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