According to Sadia Kabeya, England is well-equipped to overcome the absence of several key players when they face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday. The team is currently missing 10 players due to injury or pregnancy, including double World Cup winner Alex Matthews, who is sidelined with a shoulder issue. This has significantly impacted their second row, where 22-year-old Lilli Ives Campion is now the senior lock, partnering with Abi Burton, a converted back row player.
Kabeya views this crisis as an opportunity for England to showcase their squad's depth and build on their 33-12 victory over Ireland in the championship's opening round. "This team is known for its strength in depth, and now we have a chance to prove it," the flanker stated. "Although it's unfortunate to have so many injuries and missing leaders, the incoming players are stepping up, having performed well in the Premiership Women's Rugby all season and in our training sessions." England will be led by a new captain as they face a record crowd of over 25,000 spectators at Murrayfield, where Rachel Malcolm's team will attempt to pull off an upset in the highest-attended standalone women's sporting event in Scotland. Kabeya expressed her excitement about playing at Murrayfield, having previously watched a game there from home during a snowy and freezing day, and is now eager to be part of a historic day for women's rugby.