The England women’s rugby team, known as the Red Roses, have made three notable changes to their match‑day squad ahead of the high‑stakes clash with the Black Ferns at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday. Prop Sarah Bern, prop Mackenzie Carson and hooker Bryony Field have all been handed starting berths, giving the coaching staff fresh options in the forward pack for what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter. In the front row, Bern and Carson will lock the scrum on either side of hooker Field, who is earning her second start of the campaign. Their inclusion pushes veteran Maddie Feaunati back onto the bench and sees her recalled at No.
8, a move that forces vice‑captain Alex Matthews to shift from her usual No. 8 role into the blind‑side flanker position.
This reshuffle aims to strengthen the back‑row dynamics and provide a more aggressive defensive line‑out. The second row remains stable, with Morwenna Talling and Lilli Ives‑Campion continuing to provide the height and power needed in set‑pieces.
Complementing them, Sadia Kabeya fills the remaining back‑row slot, completing a pack that blends experience with the newly introduced energy of the three starters. The backline will stay exactly as it was for the previous weekend’s draw against Canada. Scrum‑half Lucy Packer and fly‑half Zoe Harrison retain their half‑back partnership, while centre duo Helena Rowland and captain Megan Jones will again marshal the midfield attack. On the wings, Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald keeps her place after scoring two tries at Sandy Park, and the back three also features Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach, both of whom bring a mix of speed and defensive solidity.
Among the 23‑man bench, seasoned internationals Natasha Hunt and Tatyana Heard have been re‑included, while Emma Sing is set to make her debut in the WXV Global Series. The full list of replacements includes May Campbell, Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir, Abi Burton, Marlie Packer, and others, ensuring depth across every position should injuries or tactical changes be required during the match. The atmosphere at Allianz Stadium is expected to be electric, with more than 50,000 fans anticipated to witness the 34th meeting between England and New Zealand. Historically, the Red Roses have been dominant on home soil, unbeaten in their last 53 matches at English venues since a narrow 20‑25 loss to the Ferns at the Twickenham Stoop in November 2016.
In fact, they have won each of their last 13 fixtures at Allianz Stadium, a testament to their familiarity with the venue and the support of the crowd. Conversely, the Black Ferns have been in fine form, suffering only a single defeat in 17 games since the start of 2025.
Their last victory over England came in the final of the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup, a match that saw New Zealand upset the tournament favourites. Head coach Whitney Hansen has reinforced her side with the return of loose forward Kaipo Olsen‑Baker, winger Ayesha Leti‑I'iga, and lock Laura Bayfield, all of whom featured prominently in the Ferns’ 66‑14 rout of Scotland last week.
Hansen, the daughter of former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, praised her squad as "made for these moments" and emphasized that the team is eager to build on a streak of seven consecutive Test wins this year. She added that the Ferns are excited to test their rugby identity against a traditional rival, noting the importance of these high‑profile fixtures in shaping the future of women’s rugby worldwide. England’s head coach John Mitchell reflected on the recent 26‑26 draw with Canada, acknowledging that the Red Roses’ impressive 39‑match winning run had finally been halted.
He stressed that the team is moving in the right direction, adding depth to the squad while preparing for the upcoming test against New Zealand. Mitchell highlighted the significance of playing against the world’s elite, especially on a stage as iconic as Allianz Stadium, where the intensity and passion of the fans elevate the experience for both players and spectators.
The starting XV for England will be: 15 Ellie Kildunne (Bristol Bears), 14 Jess Breach (Saracens), 13 Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women), 12 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning), 11 Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), 10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens), 9 Lucy Packer (Harlequins); 1 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester‑Hartpury), 2 Bryony Field (Saracens), 3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears), 4 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks), 5 Lilli Ives‑Campion (Loughborough Lightning), 6 Alex Matthews (Gloucester‑Hartpury), 7 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning), 8 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs). Replacements: 16 May Campbell (Saracens), 17 Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears), 18 Maud Muir (Gloucester‑Hartpury), 19 Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women), 20 Marlie Packer (Harlequins), 21 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester‑Hartpury), 22 Tatyana Heard (Sale Sharks), 23 Emma Sing (Gloucester‑Hartpury).
New Zealand’s starting lineup will be: 15 Braxton Sorensen‑McGee, 14 Mererangi Paul, 13 Logo‑I‑Pulotu Brunt, 12 Amy Du Plessis, 11 Ayesha Leti‑I'iga; 10 Hannah King, 9 Maia Joseph; 1 Chryss Viliko, 2 Georgian Ponsonby (captain), 3 Veisinia Mahutariki‑Fakalelu, 4 Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 5 Laura Bayfield, 6 Liana Mikaele‑Tu'u, 7 Elinor‑Plum King, 8 Kaipo Olsen‑Baker. Replacements: 16 Atlanta Lolohea, 17 Maddison Robinson, 18 Santo Taumata, 19 Maama Mo'onia Vaipulu, 20 Layla Sae, 21 Tara Turner, 22 Justine McGregor, 23 Alena Saili. Both teams enter the match with a clear purpose: England seeks to re‑establish its dominance at home and extend its unbeaten streak, while New Zealand aims to reclaim the psychological edge they held after the 2022 World Cup final.
The clash will not only be a test of skill and strategy but also a showcase of the growing popularity and professionalism of women’s rugby, underscored by the massive crowd expected to fill Allianz Stadium and the global audience tuning in via broadcast and streaming platforms. The outcome will likely influence rankings, momentum heading into the remainder of the WXV Global Series, and set the tone for future encounters between these two rugby powerhouses.