Sadia Kabeya insists that England are prepared to demonstrate the depth of their talent pool despite a spate of absences as they head into the Saturday clash with Scotland at Murrayfield. The Red Roses have been forced to cope with the loss of ten players, either through injury or pregnancy, ahead of the second round of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
The most recent casualty is double World Cup champion Alex Matthews, who will miss the match after sustaining a shoulder injury. The most severely affected area of the side is the second row.
With the departure of seasoned veterans, 22‑year‑old Lilli Ives Campion, who has earned six caps, is now the senior lock and will partner with former back‑row player Abi Burton, who has been converted to the lock position. This new pairing forms the core of the engine room that Kabeya believes can still deliver a competitive performance. Kabeya frames the situation not as a setback but as a platform to showcase the breadth of England’s playing resources. After a commanding 33‑12 victory over Ireland that set the tone for their campaign, the team now has the chance to prove that their success is not dependent on a handful of star names.
"One thing everyone always says about this team is that we have strength in depth and we’ve got a really good chance to go and show that now," the flanker explained. She acknowledged the disappointment of missing key leaders but emphasized that the incoming players are eager to step up. "It’s unfortunate having so many injuries and having big leaders out, but we have players coming in who are stepping up.
They’ve been playing well in Premiership Women’s Rugby all season and our training has gone well," Kabeya said. The squad, while still officially the Red Roses, will feature several fresh faces.
"We are still a Red Roses squad but just with a few different names in there. We always talk about being one team and having depth and it’s now a chance to show that fully," she added. The match promises to be historic for several reasons.
A record‑breaking crowd of more than 25,000 spectators is expected to fill Murrayfield, making it the most attended standalone women’s sporting event ever held in Scotland. The atmosphere will be electric as Scotland, led by captain Rachel Malcolm, look to pull off an upset against a traditionally dominant England side. Kabeya admitted she has never played at Murrayfield before. "I remember watching from home the behind‑closed‑doors game there when it was snowing and freezing, thinking: ‘Oh God, I’m glad I’m not there!’ At that time I was nowhere near the England squad, so now I have a chance to go and play there myself," she reflected.
She also highlighted the rapid growth of the women’s game in recent years. "The way the women’s game has gone over the past couple years, it’s been amazing to see that growth. It will mean a lot for the Scottish girls, so it’s going to be a very emotional day and an emotional game. It’s a day that will go down in history, so I’m super excited to be a part of it," Kabeya concluded.
Beyond the immediate tactical considerations, Kabeya sees this fixture as a test of England’s resilience and adaptability. The coaching staff have used the forced changes as an opportunity to experiment with new combinations, particularly in the forward pack, where the lock partnership of Campion and Burton will be under close scrutiny.
Their ability to provide a stable platform for the backline, secure line‑out ball, and dominate the breakdown will be crucial. Meanwhile, the Scottish side will be buoyed by the massive home support and the narrative of an underdog challenge. The record attendance underscores the rising interest in women’s rugby across the UK and signals a shift toward greater visibility and commercial investment in the sport. Both teams will be aware that they are playing not just for points but for a milestone moment in the evolution of women’s athletics.
In summary, despite the setbacks caused by injuries and absences, England’s coaching staff and players like Sadia Kabeya view the upcoming Murrayfield encounter as an opportunity to validate the depth and versatility that have become hallmarks of the Red Roses program. The match promises high drama, historic attendance figures, and a showcase of the rapid development of women’s rugby, making it a must‑watch event for fans and a significant chapter in the sport’s ongoing story.