Feaunati to make first England start in France Test

Maddie Feaunati scored her first England try against Ireland earlier this year

Women's Test match: England v France

Venue: Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester Date: Saturday, 7 September Kick-off: 14:30 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and online; listen on BBC Radio 5 Live for updates; text commentary, highlights and report on BBC Sport website and app.

Flanker Maddie Feaunati will make her first England start on Saturday as John Mitchell names a strong side to face France at Kingsholm Stadium.

Head coach Mitchell makes two changes to the starting XV that defeated France 42-21 in April to clinch a third Six Nations Grand Slam in a row.

Exeter Chiefs' Feaunati replaces the injured Sadia Kabeya, with centre Helena Rowland coming in for Megan Jones, who was ruled out of the entire autumn campaign through injury.

Mitchell confirmed flanker Kabeya and lock Catherine O'Donnell will join Jones in missing the autumn, but it is expected that the trio will return in time for next year's Six Nations.

Feaunati, who turned 22 in May, featured from the bench in all five of England's Six Nations games this year, scoring against Ireland at Twickenham.

"Maddie [Feaunati] came off the bench and played some good cameo roles during the Six Nations," Mitchell told BBC Sport.

"Now it is her time to stand up as starter. I am sure there will be some nerves, but it is an opportunity for her to stake a place."

Captain Marlie Packer continues to captain the side from open-side flanker in a back row competed by number eight Alex Matthews.

Saturday is the first of two tough warm-up games for England before the WXV1 tournament in Canada, with world champions New Zealand facing the Red Roses at the newly named 'Allianz Stadium' next Saturday.

Victory would make it 14 wins out of their past 14 games against France in all competitions.

"I don't believe in friendlies," Mitchell added.

"WXV isn't won until October so we are keen to play and at the end of the day we want a challenge so we have picked France and New Zealand.

"France are always unpredictable and a great attacking side."

Centre Rowland impressed in England's opening Six Nations victory over Italy before missing the rest of the campaign through injury.

The 24-year-old joins Tatyana Heard in a midfield which will be keen to unleash the exciting back three of Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow and Jess Breach.

The trio has scored a combined 18 tries in their last five matches together.

England Under-20 captain and second row Lilli Ives Campion is set to make her senior debut from the bench, while fly-half Zoe Harrison could make her 50th appearance if she comes on.

"She [Ives Campion] is one of our future locks with strong leadership skills and good communication skills, and she is starting to mature physically," the New Zealander added.

"I saw the emotion in her heart when I said to her last week that she would be in the 23. She got emotional and I wasn't ready to share too much more as it was getting to her heart.

"I said 'go call mum and dad, we can catch up on the rugby later'."

Replacement prop Sarah Bern returns to international rugby after missing the Six Nations because of injury.

A third of Mitchell's starting team will be playing at home, with scrum-half Natasha Hunt, prop Maud Muir, second row Zoe Aldcroft, number eight Matthews and centre Heard all playing their club rugby for Gloucester-Hartpury.

Line-ups

England: Kildunne; Dow, Rowland, Heard, Breach; Aitchison, Hunt; Botterman, Cokayne, Muir, Aldcroft, Talling, Feaunati, M Packer, Matthews.

Replacements: Atkin-Davies, Carson, Bern, Campion, Cleall, L Packer, Harrison, Scarratt.

France: Jacquet; Banet, Konde, M Menager, Boulard; Tuy, Chambon; Brosseau, Sochat, Khalfaoui, M Feleu (capt), Fall, Escudero, Gros, R Menager.

Replacements: Bigot, Mwayembe, Bernadou, Ikahehegi, Okemba, T Feleu, Bourdon Sansus, Vernier.