SIMON Middleton has backed Emily Scarratt to spearhead England’s latest Grand Slam charge ahead of a make-or-break seven days.
The 32-year-old centre is set to be the eighth player, male or female, to reach 100 caps for England when she runs out against Ireland at Welford Road.
Emily Scarratt in England training ahead of a defining week of actionGetty
Win that and England will head to Bayonne next week for a Super Saturday showdown with France, who are also chasing the Grand Slam after seeing off Wales on Friday night.
Middleton has rotated his team in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations but when the heat is on, Scarratt is the first name on in his XV.
The 32-year-old has eased her way back from a broken leg but head coach Middleton thinks she’s back to her best.
“There’s nothing she can’t do. The quality she has is phenomenal,” he said.
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“How she dealt with what was a horrendous injury is incredible. The touches she has in a game, the influence she has on a game, she’s the ultimate big-game player.”
England are set to play in front of a record crowd, with more than 15,000 tickets sold so far, but it’s likely to be a procession against Ireland, who have eight of their best players at the World Rugby Sevens.
“I think it’s a shame because they were going really well,” Middleton added.
“We’ll keep our eyes on ourselves. Our responsibility is to perform as well as we can.”
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Scarratt is not the only England player celebrating a milestone, with scrum-half Leanne Infante set to win her 50th cap.
World player of the year Zoe Aldcroft makes her first appearance of the Six Nations, while fly-half Helena Rowland starts at full-back for the first time.
The TikTok Women’s Six Nations is more accessible than ever before. To find out how you can watch the Women’s Championship visit: womens.sixnationsrugby.com/tv/