ENGLAND have an “embarrassment of riches” to start Sunday’s post-Sarah Hunter era against Italy.
The Red Roses are massive favourites to make it two wins from their first two Six Nations clashes in Northampton.
ReutersEngland boss Simon Middleton is happy with the squad available to him[/caption]
AFPThe Red Roses defeated Scotland 58-7 last time out[/caption]
Kelsey Clifford, Liz Crake, Ella Wyrwas and former Canada star Mackenzie Carson all made England debuts in last weekend’s 58-7 win over Scotland.
And with 141-cap No 8 Hunter signing off in style, Bristol lock Delaney Burns, 21, will be the latest to make her Roses bow.
Boss Simon Middleton said: “She was absolutely thrilled and probably a little bit ‘wowed’, which has been great. I was thinking about this because of the injury situation.
“It’s an unbelievable testament to where we’ve tried to get the English game to where we are now.
“We’ve gone from having a 30-plus really high-quality squad to a 50-plus really high-quality squad.
“It’s an embarrassment of riches but we’ve had to work hard to do it.”
Flanker Emily Robinson could be set for a debut and there are big calls to start blindside Sadia Kabeya.
The Loughborough star, 21, already has over a year of international rugby under her belt and has been compared to her idol and England captain Marlie Packer — not least from Packer herself.
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Packer, 33, said: “I don’t think she’s got a ceiling — she’s incredible and she’s so young.
“Sadia and I are very different but both very exciting players and she has a very long career ahead of her.”
The Scots suffered another defeat as they lost 34-22 to Wales yesterday.
In the early game, France ran in nine tries to beat Ireland 53-3.
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